Frugi x GreenScents: How to Keep Children’s Clothes Adventuring for Longer: Tips & Washing Guide
Here at Frugi, we’ve chosen organic cotton since day one because of its softness, durability and its low impact on the planet little ones play on; from the very beginning of its journey, organic cotton is grown with consideration of people and the planet.
Organic cotton clothing is a great choice for growing families, providing all-day comfort and durability from their first snuggles to everyday adventures.
And when clothes are cared for well, they last longer, stay looking their best and can be passed on and loved again and again. That’s why we’ve partnered with our friends at Green Scents to bring you an easy guide on how to wash your little one’s clothes. Choosing organic cotton reflects care about how our children’s clothes are made, so it makes sense to take the same care over what we wash them in.
You can also view our repair & care guides, which include handy videos showing you things like learning how to sew on a button and patch up a hole in your clothing, as well as outerwear and welly care guides.
Start with the wash
For most everyday children’s clothes, 30°C is usually enough, always following the care label. Turn bright or printed clothes inside out, choose a gentle cycle and line dry outside wherever possible.
The laundry product itself deserves just as much thought. Clothes are in close contact with children’s skin all day, so choose a gentle product that rinses cleanly from the fabric, without unnecessary ingredients such as enzymes or optical brighteners.
And resist the temptation to use extra detergent for a particularly grubby wash. More detergent doesn’t necessarily mean cleaner clothes and can make thorough rinsing more difficult. Follow the recommended dose, don’t overload the drum and remember that water hardness can affect how much detergent you need.
Clean doesn’t have to mean heavily fragranced
For the first six months, Greenscents recommends washing babies’ clothes with Nonscents, our completely fragrance-free range, keeping their laundry routine as simple as possible.
From six months, if you prefer a scented wash, Tinyscents offers a fresh, fruity fragrance made entirely from organic essential oils - Red Mandarin, Grapefruit, Lavender and Petitgrain. It was developed especially with young children in mind, but the fragrance is designed for the whole family to enjoy.
Whatever you choose, look beyond words such as natural, green or eco.
They are easy to put on a label. Independent organic certification means the ingredients and manufacturing have been assessed against a defined standard, rather than simply relying on a brand’s own claims.
One bottle every parent should keep by the washing machine
Children and stains are inseparable, which is why a bottle of Castile Soap is one of my favourite laundry essentials.
It is wonderfully versatile on the everyday organic stains children produce - food, fruit, milk, grass, mud and general grubby marks. Apply a few drops directly to the stain, leave for 5-10 minutes, then wash as normal. For stubborn stains, treat again rather than automatically reaching for a hotter wash.
There is one useful rule that surprises many people: for protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, start with cool water. Heat can set protein into the fibres and make the mark harder to remove. And always check that a stain has disappeared before tumble drying, as heat can set stains too.
Good laundry care needn’t be complicated: wash cooler, dose carefully, line dry and treat stains promptly. It is better for the clothes, better for the environment - and often much simpler than a cupboard full of specialist products.
Greenscents has been making Soil Association-certified organic household and laundry products in Somerset since 2012, without enzymes, optical brighteners or synthetic fragrances.
Christina Hawkes, Co-founder, Greenscents
Meet our Guest Contributor
We’re delighted to welcome Greenscents to the Frugi blog. Greenscents create certified-organic, cruelty-free cleaning solutions, from laundry liquid and dishwasher powder to washing up liquid and cleaning products. They are GOTS certified, meaning their products include over 70% certified organic ingredients, including organic essential oils and organic and natural ingredients.
Want to find out more? Discover Greenscents