Babywearing International of Knoxville: Spring Cleaning April 2015

By: Anna Hurley, VBE & Librarian

It’s that time of the year again! April is the month where we open our windows, scrub the baseboards, and set out the summer clothing. Have you ever thought about a spring cleaning routine for your carriers, also? Most of us use suck pads and spot clean our carriers when the baby spits up but submerging our beauties in water can be a bit intimidating. Hopefully this blog post will leave you with a feeling of confidence when it is time to scrub out the yuckies!

Cleaning your carriers:

You should ALWAYS check the manufacturer’s recommendations when washing a carrier. For instance, the Ergo and the Tula are the same type of carrier - soft structured carriers. The Infantino Mei Tai and the BabyHawk Mei Tai are also the same type of carrier. BUT, just because they are the same type of carrier does not mean they can be washed in the same way. Ergos require hand washing with mild detergent as do the BabyHawk MTs, while Tulas can be washed on the gentle cycle using cold water and mild detergent, as can the Infantino MTs. It is important to follow manufacturer guidelines so that no warranties are voided in the case of an accident. If you are using an older carrier that may not be manufactured anymore it is always better to err on the side of caution and hand wash the carrier with cold water.

Some wrap fibers can be washed in the washing machine on cold or warm. The exception to this is wool which should be hand washed in lukewarm water. There is a picture attached that describes the specific wool washing technique that needs to be followed. It is also recommended to wash bamboo by hand in cold water. One thing to remember when washing wraps is that one should follow the recommendations of how to wash the WEAKEST fiber if the wrap is a blend. There is a little saying that “hemp loves heat” but in reality heat can be damaging to a wrap if the material is both hemp and cotton. Here is a breakdown of wrap fibers from strongest to weakest:

hemp, cotton, linen, bamboo, silk, wool. Therefore, to wash a wrap that is 75% hemp and 25% cotton you should follow the wash routine for cotton since it is a weaker fiber than hemp.
More information about washing these fibers can be found on a table near the bottom.

Wool can be intimidating but with a picture guide you shouldn't let
intimidation stop you from being wool curious!

Cotton in the washing machine

Jenny's woolie getting a scrub down in the tub

When drying your carriers you should check manufacturer recommendations. Most padded carriers should be air dried so that the padding does not twist or shift. Wraps are different and pending the fiber are okay to be dried in the dryer on low heat. Linen is a material that can be over dried. If this happens the carrier will begin to feel brittle and dry out. When this happens it is no longer safe to use this linen carrier. When in doubt, as always err on the side of caution and air dry your carriers.

Once your carriers are dry (especially the wraps and Asian style carriers) it is a good idea to iron them to keep them from permanently creasing along the rails, but again, follow the material’s guidelines for heat/steam.

Sometimes carriers will have a laundering code like this one on them. At the bottom there is a link for learning how to read these codes.

Storing your carriers:

Most people have different ways of storing their carriers based on what works for their families. Some larger stashes are kept inside duffle bags or stackable containers. Others are stored on shelves in closets. I’ve even seen full walls with shelving and hooks dedicated to the carrier stash! One thing to remember while storing carriers is to keep them out of extreme temperatures and sunlight. This is because leaving carriers in extremely cold or hot conditions could compromise the integrity of the buckles since they are not safety tested for use after sitting in a 115 degree car all day. The sunlight can also fade the color of your carrier which is not as much a safety issue as it is a resale value issue. Keeping carriers in safe places away from pets and unforeseen accidents like water leaks can save a lot of heartache and money in the future.