Baby textiles go through more washes than anything else in the house. Spit-up stains, spilled milk, a diaper blowout at the wrong moment. That's normal, and it's precisely why you need to know how to treat those fabrics.
The good news: there's one rule that makes the most difference.
The rule: no tumble dryer
Never put teddy, velvet, corduroy, and muslin in the tumble dryer. Not on low heat, not even for a short time.
The reason is simple. What makes these fabrics soft are the upright fibers. The heat and tumbling in a dryer flatten those fibers and make them clump together. What comes out feels rough and cannot be restored. Air drying takes one day longer and saves years.
This applies to all baby nests, decorative pillows, and footmuffs. Without exception.
Teddy and bouclé
Delicate wash at 30 degrees, or hand wash if it's just a stain. Spin at the lowest setting.
Then lay the textile out to dry flat, not hanging. Wet teddy is heavy and will stretch out of shape if hung on a line.
Once dry, give it a few vigorous shakes. The fibers will stand up again, and the fabric will immediately look as good as new.
Velvet
Also delicate wash at 30 degrees. Velvet best retains its slight sheen if not washed too often and not ironed.
For small stains: dab them away with a slightly damp cloth instead of putting the entire piece in the wash. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the fiber.
Muslin
This is the easiest fabric of all. Muslin can go straight into the machine at 30 degrees and gets a little softer after each wash. That's not wear and tear; it's part of its nature.
Expect some wrinkles. That's the nature of the fabric, and it largely disappears if you shake it out and hang it up.
Decorative pillows
For most decorative pillows, the filling is fixed inside the cover. So, you cannot wash them separately.
Therefore, treat them mainly locally: a slightly damp cloth, possibly with a drop of mild soap, and allow to dry thoroughly. Regular shaking maintains the shape better than washing does.
If absolutely necessary, cold hand wash is an option. Then let dry flat and shake vigorously.
What you better not do
- Bleach — damages fibers and removes color from blended fabrics
- Fabric softener on teddy — creates a layer on the fibers, making them less airy
- Ironing — melts the top layer of teddy and velvet, which is irreparable
- Overloaded drum — baby textiles need space to get clean
Before first use
Wash new baby textiles once before using them. Not because there's anything wrong with them, but because a first wash makes the fabric softer and removes any dust residues from transport and storage.
How often, actually?
Washing more often than necessary causes wear faster than the dirt you remove. For a nest or bumper, once every few weeks is usually enough, unless something has spilled. For decorative pillows: shaking and airing often do more than the washing machine.
Maintenance instructions are also included with each product, so you don't have to remember them.
View the assortment at Baby Nests, Bumper Pads, and Decorative Pillows.
What teddy bouclé is exactly and what it's made of, you can read in What is teddy bouclé, and why does it feel that way?