Washing your baby's winter clothes: jumpers, fleece and jackets that stay soft and dry faster

Quick answer: turn your baby’s winter clothes inside out, wash on a gentle programme in cool or warm water, use a moderate amount of detergent and rinse well. Dry jumpers and fleece flat; hang jackets on hangers where air moves. Above all, make sure clothes are completely dry before wearing or storing them.

Have enough changes

Winter clothes take longer to dry, so keep more outfits than in summer to rotate, rather than putting on anything still damp.

Baby jumpers

1. Turn inside out and use a mesh bag if machine washing.
2. Choose the Wool or gentle programme in cool water.
3. Don’t rub or wring; if hand washing, squeeze gently.
4. Press water out with a towel and dry flat. See also: How to wash jumpers without pilling or shrinking

Fleece tops and trousers

• Turn inside out so the outside pills less.
• Wash separately from jeans and items with metal zips.
• Cool or warm water as the label allows.

Jackets and puffers

• Zip up, fasten buttons, empty pockets.
• Gentle programme, extra rinse.
• Hang on a hanger and pat gently to loosen the filling if it’s a puffer. See: How to machine-wash a puffer jacket

Drying faster on cold, damp days

• Spin at medium speed to remove more water (where the label allows).
• Space clothes out; don’t layer them.
• Dry where air moves, or use a fan; avoid closed bathrooms.
• Check collars, underarms and thick seams before storing: they dry last.

Detergent for baby winter clothes

Abby is a Mother & Baby 5-in-1 laundry liquid with enzymes that washes and softens in one go, leaving clothes soft and gently scented. In winter you might choose:

• Abby Goodnight: soft and gentle, for pyjamas and bedding.
• Abby Merry Day: soft and fresh, for daytime and nursery clothes.

If your baby’s skin shows anything unusual after wearing freshly washed clothes, stop using the product and ask a doctor.

Read next: Washing nursery clothes for toddlers