help from USA moms

Shri · Jul 12th, 2008, 19:50 PM

Where can I find
- cold water sterilizing tablets/solution
- laundry detergent and conditioner (non bio, non perfumed etc)

suitable for baby things? the sterilizing for bottles etc and the detergent for clothes and bedding.

I don't want to buy a steam sterilizer as we do not have much space at all and we do not have a microwave and I can't get into boiling everything every day.

Since I intend to bf, it will only be for the ocassional thing.

In UK you can find these things easily, everywhere, but I can't seem to find them here!

**Vickie** · Jul 12th, 2008, 20:16 PM

I'm in Canada but we've found the non perfumed, dye free laundry detergent at Wal-mart here. We bought Cheer (because I'm not allergic to Cheer), but they had several brands including Tide.

Samantha675 · Jul 12th, 2008, 20:19 PM

I use Charlie's Soap for all our clothes and linens now. It is a veg based detergent that has nothing in it. I don't even bother with softner now, and I love how my clothes feel. I switched over all my washing as I figure that baby would be in contact with my and DH's clothes, bedding and such. You can find it at http://www.charliesoap.com/

Shri · Jul 12th, 2008, 20:30 PM

Thank you ! I'll look into these. What do you use to clean all the baby gear with? I've been given some second hand stuff - crib etc and I want to clean them really thoroughly but not use any toxic chemicals, of course. I can't seem to find out if vinegar is ok to use with baby stuff.

maybebaby · Jul 12th, 2008, 20:32 PM

My girlfriend recommended Cheer as well, and of course, most stores sell Dreft which is supposedly made for babies. My gf said she hated the smell of it so switched to Cheer. I'm pretty useless when it comes to the tablets though...

Sarahkka · Jul 12th, 2008, 20:53 PM

Another product I'm pretty sure you can get in the States as well as Canada is the Ecover line for laundry (and cleaning).
I think it's actually a euro product, originally? So you might already know it.
Try health food stores like Whole Foods.
It's a bit pricey, but it's super gentle and great for baby stuff. I use a bit of it with Nellie's Laundry Soda (you could try borax), to make it stretch further.
Borax is very gentle and safe for skin and fabrics.
I never use fabric softener. I've never found I needed it with the products mentioned above, but Ecover does make one if you like.
And yes, vinegar is safe for baby things.

brownhairedmom · Jul 12th, 2008, 20:53 PM

I'm in Canada as well, my mom told us we need to buy Ivory Snow laundry detergent for the baby's clothes.

chefamy1122 · Jul 12th, 2008, 20:55 PM

your best bet would probably be a store like Whole Foods....

**Vickie** · Jul 12th, 2008, 20:56 PM

Vinegar should be fine for baby's items

I also haven't used any fabric softeners, and have had no problems with the clothes/bedding coming out stiff.

Ivory is supposed to be pretty good--my MIL used it with her kids, but I'm not fond of powder detergents and couldn't find a liquid version of it.

BeanieMummy · Jul 13th, 2008, 21:32 PM

Almost every major brand of Laundry detergent is making the free of everything detergents now, I was able to find them in Walmart Kamrt target Jewel and Dominicks. As for washing down the baby stuff I bleach the hard plastics then rinse VERY welll in clean water and the fabrics go into the wash

Jul 12th, 2008, 19:50 PM	#1
Shri Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,936	help from USA moms Where can I find - cold water sterilizing tablets/solution - laundry detergent and conditioner (non bio, non perfumed etc) suitable for baby things? the sterilizing for bottles etc and the detergent for clothes and bedding. I don't want to buy a steam sterilizer as we do not have much space at all and we do not have a microwave and I can't get into boiling everything every day. Since I intend to bf, it will only be for the ocassional thing. In UK you can find these things easily, everywhere, but I can't seem to find them here!

Status: Offline

Jul 12th, 2008, 20:16 PM	#2
Vickie Mum (Mom) Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 75,678	I'm in Canada but we've found the non perfumed, dye free laundry detergent at Wal-mart here. We bought Cheer (because I'm not allergic to Cheer), but they had several brands including Tide.

Status: Offline

Jul 12th, 2008, 20:19 PM	#3
Samantha675 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 8,123	I use Charlie's Soap for all our clothes and linens now. It is a veg based detergent that has nothing in it. I don't even bother with softner now, and I love how my clothes feel. I switched over all my washing as I figure that baby would be in contact with my and DH's clothes, bedding and such. You can find it at http://www.charliesoap.com/

Status: Offline

Jul 12th, 2008, 20:30 PM	#4
Shri Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,936	Thank you ! I'll look into these. What do you use to clean all the baby gear with? I've been given some second hand stuff - crib etc and I want to clean them really thoroughly but not use any toxic chemicals, of course. I can't seem to find out if vinegar is ok to use with baby stuff.

Status: Offline

Jul 12th, 2008, 20:32 PM	#5
maybebaby Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 3,290	My girlfriend recommended Cheer as well, and of course, most stores sell Dreft which is supposedly made for babies. My gf said she hated the smell of it so switched to Cheer. I'm pretty useless when it comes to the tablets though...

Status: Offline

Jul 12th, 2008, 20:53 PM	#6
Sarahkka Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 8,747	Another product I'm pretty sure you can get in the States as well as Canada is the Ecover line for laundry (and cleaning). I think it's actually a euro product, originally? So you might already know it. Try health food stores like Whole Foods. It's a bit pricey, but it's super gentle and great for baby stuff. I use a bit of it with Nellie's Laundry Soda (you could try borax), to make it stretch further. Borax is very gentle and safe for skin and fabrics. I never use fabric softener. I've never found I needed it with the products mentioned above, but Ecover does make one if you like. And yes, vinegar is safe for baby things.

Status: Online

Jul 12th, 2008, 20:53 PM	#7
brownhairedmom Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,444	I'm in Canada as well, my mom told us we need to buy Ivory Snow laundry detergent for the baby's clothes.

Status: Offline

Jul 12th, 2008, 20:55 PM	#8
chefamy1122 Trying to conceive (TTC) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Orleans, LA... USA Posts: 2,401	your best bet would probably be a store like Whole Foods....

Status: Offline

Jul 12th, 2008, 20:56 PM	#9
Vickie Mum (Mom) Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 75,678	Vinegar should be fine for baby's items I also haven't used any fabric softeners, and have had no problems with the clothes/bedding coming out stiff. Ivory is supposed to be pretty good--my MIL used it with her kids, but I'm not fond of powder detergents and couldn't find a liquid version of it.

Status: Offline

Jul 13th, 2008, 21:32 PM	#10
BeanieMummy Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 146	Almost every major brand of Laundry detergent is making the free of everything detergents now, I was able to find them in Walmart Kamrt target Jewel and Dominicks. As for washing down the baby stuff I bleach the hard plastics then rinse VERY welll in clean water and the fabrics go into the wash

Status: Offline

Similar Threads
USA moms - I recommend	General Chatter
Character toy wanted: Help from USA/Canada/abroad?	Buy, Swap & Sell
Brilliant diaper company coupons for USA moms	Baby Club
Need help from USA	Breastfeeding
Importing sperm from USA	Long Term Trying To Conceive

User Name		Remember Me?
Password