Laundry Day Hacks for Busy Parents

The tiny tornadoes we call toddlers and the constant outfit changes of babies – these little bundles of joy sure know how to generate a mountain of laundry! But fear not, fellow busy parents! Here are some laundry day hacks to help you conquer that ever-growing pile, all while keeping the planet in mind:

Sorting Smarts:

- Ditch the Color Sorting (Maybe): Modern washers are pretty amazing. Unless your child has a wardrobe full of red silk next to white cotton, you can probably skip the traditional light/dark sorting. Opt for separating by fabric type (delicates, towels) instead.

- Double Duty Hampers: Consider having two laundry baskets in your little one's room: one for "regular" clothes and another for "heavily soiled" items like poop-explosion outfits or food-fight casualties. This helps with pre-sorting before laundry day.

Stain Solutions:

- Be a Stain Slayer: Keep a stain remover pen readily available, ideally near where you change diapers or have messy mealtimes. Treating stains immediately increases your chances of successful removal. Check out our full range of baby-safe cleaning products: Bottle Sterilisers, Cleansers & Baby Laundry.

- Pre-Soak Power: Heavily soiled items like bibs or blowout clothes can benefit from a pre-soak in warm water with a gentle detergent before hitting the washing machine.

Stain Specific:

- Milk Spills & Drool: For these protein-based stains, act fast! Blot up excess liquid with a clean cloth. Pre-treat with a laundry stain remover or a dab of white vinegar. Wash in warm water with your regular detergent.

- Food Stains: Identify the culprit!

- Fruits & Vegetables: Pre-treat with a paste of baking soda and water. Let it sit for 30 minutes before washing in warm water with detergent.

- Greasy Stains: Blot up excess grease with a paper towel. Pre-treat with a grease-fighting dish soap. Wash in hot water with detergent.

- Blowouts: Scrape off any solid waste and pre-treat with a stain remover or a paste of baking soda and water. Soak in cold water for at least 30 minutes before washing in hot water with detergent. Never use hot water first, as it can set the stain.

Eco-Friendly and Sensitive Skin Tweaks:

- Concentrated Power: Look for concentrated laundry detergents. These often pack more cleaning punch in a smaller dose, reducing packaging waste and the amount of detergent needed per load. Follow the dosage instructions carefully to avoid oversudsing.

- Go Cold: Most modern detergents are formulated for cold water washing. Switching to cold water washes can significantly reduce both energy consumption without sacrificing cleaning power and help to lessen sensitive skin irritation.

- Air It Out: Ditch the dryer and opt for air-drying clothes on a drying rack or clothesline whenever possible. This is gentler on clothes, saves energy, and is good for the environment!

- Ditch the Harsh Chemicals: Avoid detergents with dyes, perfumes, and harsh chemicals. These can irritate delicate baby skin. Look for formulas labelled “hypoallergenic” and “fragrance-free.” Our Pigeon Baby Detergent is suitable as it is dermatologically tested and non-irritating. It comes in powder and liquid form: Pigeon Baby Laundry Detergent and Pigeon Baby Laundry Detergent Powder.

Hanna, one of our reviewers, wrote:

"Baby clothes are really sensitive. That's why I only use Pigeon Baby Laundry Detergent. It really cleans stains! I don't need to use an additional stain remover as it destroys the fabric. Plus, it smells good and gentle on my baby's skin. I bought one container and now will just buy the refills as I will continue to use it."

Laundry Washing Time Saving Tips:

- One Load a Day: Aim for a "wash a load, dry a load, put away a load" daily routine. This keeps the laundry from snowballing and prevents that overwhelming feeling.

Laundry Basket Blitz: Turn laundry duty into a quick game with toddlers. Challenge them to race you to put their dirty clothes in the basket. You might be surprised at their enthusiasm!

Clothing Metamorphosis:

- Hello, Play Clothes!: As your baby becomes mobile, their clothes will take a beating. Invest in durable, easy-wash play clothes like cotton or fleece. These can often be washed together in larger loads.

- Goodbye, Bibs (Mostly): Toddlers are learning to eat independently, which means less bib use. However, spills still happen! Keep a few bibs on hand for messy meals and transition to stain-treatable shirts for everyday wear.

Shoes Make an Entrance: Shoes add a whole new element to the laundry equation. Wash them regularly (especially after outdoor play) and consider keeping a designated laundry bag for them.

Remember, adapting your laundry routine is an ongoing process. But laundry doesn't have to be a chore. With a bit of planning, these handy hacks can help you can conquer that laundry mountain, save time and crush those laundry piles with confidence! To find out more about other baby-safe cleaning hacks, check out our previous article: Keeping It Clean: A Guide to Bottle Sterilisers, Cleansers & Baby Laundry Essentials.