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HOW TO MAKE WASHING CLOTHES AS ECO-SUSTAINABLE AS POSSIBLE?
Washing baby's clothes may seem just like one of many daily routine activities, but in reality, doing it correctly brings enormous benefits both to the little ones and to the environment.
Here are some golden rules for a wiser and more environmentally friendly laundry!
One of the most important starting points for sustainable laundry is the correct use of the washing machine.
It is important to learn not to wash the garment more than necessary. Ideally, you should use it a few times before washing, and possibly leave it to air out for a few hours between uses.
This will save energy and water, and the fibres of the garment will be less damaged and will last longer. Furthermore, when you only have a few items to wash, it is advisable to use the "half load" option to save water and energy. Finally, it is only recommended to use hot water (above 30°) when dealing with stains that are really difficult to remove.
The same applies to the tumble dryer: the ideal solution is always to dry clothes in the sun and in the open air. The sun also acts as a natural whitener and disinfectant on garments, especially light-coloured ones.
Two other important factors in preventing the creation of bacteria are related to the way the garments are laid out.
To ensure that clothes are perfectly sanitised after washing, they should be hung up immediately so that no humidity or unpleasant odours are created.
It is also advisable to remove the washing as soon as it has dried. In the long term, dust and pollutants are deposited on the garments and can cause health problems.
Natural remedies: create your own detergents!
It is also important to choose environmentally sustainable, biodegradable, ecological and environmentally friendly products and detergents, which can generally be recognised by a certification label.
But in addition to these, there are also many natural remedies for making natural detergents or disinfecting clothes.
One of the products not recommended for ecological laundry is fabric softener.
To get soft laundry without using commercial fabric softener, you can make your own at home. To make it, pour 100g of citric acid into a container containing one litre of hot water and always shake it before using it. For each wash, just pour 50 ml of the solution into the softener tray.
Marseille soap is perfect for removing stains. Simply rub the item to be cleaned with a damp bar of soap. To reinforce the removal of stains, flakes can be added in water or in the washing machine.
Marseille soap can also be combined with bicarbonate and salt, to unite the cleaning action with softening and whitening effects.
For stubborn stains, rub the dirty fabric directly and leave the natural detergent to act for half an hour before washing. This system also works on annoyingly stubborn "patches" such as oil or grease.
HOW TO REMOVE THE MOST DIFFICULT STAINS FROM BABY CLOTHES?
Baby laundry is probably one of the most delicate (as well as bulky) things to deal with, as bodysuits and onesies are made of delicate, lightweight fibres. Added to this are the pee, vomit and baby food stains that appear on the garments every few months and are often difficult to remove permanently.
Regardless of the type of stain, it is very important to act immediately, otherwise it will become even more difficult to remove.
To remove most of the dirt (baby food, fruit, poo, vomit) without spreading the stain, it is necessary to scrape it with something rigid, such as a knife, without rubbing it, otherwise the dirt will penetrate even further into the fabric.
Then apply a natural stain remover (such as Marseille soap) and leave it to work for a few minutes, then wash in the washing machine.
HOW TO TREAT DIFFERENT STAINS IN PARTICULAR?
Removing milk stains
Milk stains are difficult to remove because they stick slowly to the fabric fibres, they are often not visible from the start and can reappear even after one wash. To eliminate them: 1) pre-treat the stain with dishwashing detergent by rubbing the affected area and then proceed with the usual washing; 2) remove the stain by applying a "slurry" of bicarbonate of soda and sparkling water over the stain.
If the milk stains are dry, before treating the stain, it is advisable to scrape it with a brush. To remove them 1) soak the garment in lukewarm water with a little borax powder; 2) treat with mild bleach (oxygen bleach).
Remove fruit stains
To remove fruit stains try: 1) scraping them with a butter knife; 2) putting the stain under cold running water while rubbing the fabric; 3)soaking the clothes in warm water and baby detergent for about 30 minutes.
If necessary, add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda or some lemon juice with a little salt and rub on the stained spot. Then wash your child’s-stained clothes according to the instructions with a mild children's laundry detergent.
Regurgitation stains
Newer stains can be removed with a some cold water, but for best results a some soda can be dabbed on .If the stain is old, soak the garment in white vinegar.
Medicinal stains
Wash the fabric immediately in cold water and apply a preparation of borax and water. Leave it for a couple of hours and wash the garment as usual.
Poop stains
To clean poo stains from bodysuits and romper suits you need to act immediately with water, Marseille soap, an old toothbrush and scrub them very patiently!
Vomit stains
Scrape off the solid parts, then wash under running water. Obviously, to remove the unpleasant smell, it is necessary to proceed more thoroughly with soap and water, and to rinse with water and vinegar. A mixture of water and vinegar is also useful for removing egg stains if the usual detergent is not sufficient.