When you buy baby clothes, read the instructions on the label and follow washing instructions. The fabric chosen and the embellishments on it decide whether you can put the clothes in the washing machine or dry-clean them. When the first-born child arrives, parents are extra careful about hygiene, infections etc. When they have more children, they slowly adapt to the fact that babies adapt to environments much faster than humans in a similar situation.
Materials used for washing
Manufacturers use a finish called “sizing” to brand new clothes for a nice look and this can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, preferably wash new clothes before use. Use very little gentle detergent to wash baby clothes and put them through a double rinse cycle to make sure no soap lingers on the garments, as baby skin is very delicate and prone to itchiness, redness and allergies. It is advisable to invert the clothes and shake them out to loosen loops etc., before putting them in the machine. Tumble or line dry rather than run the clothes in the dryer. Use soap that has no dyes or scent. New baby Dreft, Ivory Snow and Carezyme are some of the recommended products, which are gentle on clothes.
White versus colored baby clothes
Wash colored clothes separately to ensure that colors do not run into the whites. Use cold water for colored clothes and do not bleach as this can ruin the clothes. Baby clothes include towels, blankets, bedding linen and cloth diapers. Each one requires careful handling and pre-treating of stains etc. before washing in the machine.
Baby sheets and linens
Organic cotton clothing is ideal for babies as they can withstand high temperatures and allows the skin to breathe. Organic cotton has ultra-thin fibers and is grown naturally with no harmful toxins or resins and dyes and therefore safe for baby. Sheets washed in warm water will retain that nice soft feeling if it is removed immediately from the dryer and smoothed out by hand when still warm. Use gentle fabric softener on baby towels and make sure to open up all loops and shake it out. To remove spit stains, soak the garment for about 30 minutes in an enzyme detergent after quickly sponging the affected areas with cold water. Then machine wash as usual. Rinse organic cotton diapers separately in cold water and then soak in a solution of warm water, detergent and chlorine bleach. It is a safe practice to rinse the baby clothes twice in warm water to remove all traces of bleach before use.
To remove stubborn stains
Make a paste of Oxi-clean available in all supply stores with a little gentle detergent and soak the stained clothes for a while. Several stain removers like Zout work well on white clothes. Avoid using harsh chemicals and disinfectants on baby clothes. Make sure that you change baby clothes regularly and try not to keep dirty clothes piled for too long.
Buying clothes for baby is always a pleasurable experience for anyone. When a friend or relation announces a baby shower, the first thing that comes to mind is purchasing clothes for the newborn. The mother to be is generally flooded with baby clothes which may not all be used.
EBay offers excellent shopping opportunities
The most popular online marketplace today is EBay. Both buyers and sellers benefit registering online with them. From topmost brands, newest items, to hardly used and used items, avail of the great deals offered and buy them outright or place your bids at their auctions. Check out all options available for buying, selling and auctioning before buying or selling baby clothes online. Very often new tags with designer brands find their way on EBay sales and auctions as mothers sell these unused items to recover costs and buy other important items required by them.
Advantages of buying online with EBay
EBay describes all items of baby clothing clearly with pictures, price, size, make and style to make online shopping a pleasurable experience. They do not spring hidden surprises on you and even comply with safety standards, protecting their clients in cases of disputes etc. Shoppers can crosscheck quality, price and other factors with local shops or big departmental stores before buying baby clothes online. EBay uses secure systems of payment through Paypal accounts and let you join their community or groups to voice your queries and share opinions with other buyers and sellers. They allow you to have direct conversations online with the buyer or seller to find out all pertinent details and the deal is closed when both sides are satisfied. Mothers dispose of baby clothes once they are outgrown and these buys prove beneficial for mothers who can get a whole range of sizes for all seasons at a bargain price, especially when most of them are hardly used or have new tags still on them.
Suggestions to get the best out of buying baby clothes on EBay
Use the tools provided on EBay to advantage. Visit a baby shop in your area and check out prices and quality of fabric etc. Make sure that the clothes you are buying do not have cheap buttons, drawstrings or broken zippers on them. Make sure there is a layer between the cloth and the zipper. It is a good idea to register with Auction Sniper on the internet, which automatically places your bid a few seconds before the end of the auctions. This prevents you from overbidding and keeping to your budget. Check shipping prices and make sure you do not end up paying more for baby clothes with shipping and delivery costs. Do not have direct dealings with buyers and sellers outside of EBay to protect you from disputes. Look for bargains with manufacturers and clothing stores that stock good brands and make a note of it. When the price is right, place your bid or buy them outright.