How to Wash GOTS Certified Baby Clothes Without Damaging Them

Quick answer

Wash GOTS certified baby clothes at 30°C or cold on a gentle cycle with a mild, fragrance-free detergent, and skip fabric softener and bleach. Turn prints inside out, wash muslin separately from zips and velcro, and air-dry flat or line-dry in the shade. That routine protects organic cotton fibres, keeps prints from cracking, and helps pieces like swaddles and blankets stay soft enough to pass down.

Organic cotton is not fragile, but it does respond badly to heat, harsh chemicals, and rough tumbling. The GOTS certification on Cam Cam Copenhagen pieces such as the Swaddle - GOTS Classic Stripes Camel tells you how the cotton was grown and processed, not how it should be laundered, so the washing decisions are still yours to make.

The good news is that a single simple routine covers almost everything in a baby's wardrobe, from jersey swaddles to quilted gift-set baskets. Below is the order we recommend, with the mistake to avoid at each stage.

Why GOTS certified cotton behaves differently in the wash

GOTS certified cotton is grown and processed without conventional pesticides and with restricted chemical inputs, which is why it is a common choice for newborn skin. That processing also means the fibre has usually been treated more gently than conventional cotton, so it can feel softer from the first wear but also show heat damage faster.

In practice, the risks are the same ones that ruin any delicate cotton: hot water causes shrinkage, a hot dryer sets wrinkles and can shrink muslin further, and bleach weakens fibres until they thin and pill. Fragrance-heavy detergents and fabric softener leave a residue that coats the fibre, which reduces absorbency and can irritate sensitive skin.

• Check the care label first; if it gives a lower temperature than 30°C, follow the label.
• New organic cotton pieces often shed a little lint in the first wash, so wash them separately from dark knits.

Sort by fabric weight, not just by colour

Most laundry advice stops at lights and darks. With baby textiles, fabric weight matters just as much. A four-layer muslin blanket and a thin jersey swaddle should not share a cycle, because the heavier weave needs more agitation to clean while the lighter one only needs a gentle swirl.

Build three piles: light cotton and muslin, darker or printed cotton, and anything with zips, velcro, or quilting. Keep the first two piles small so items move freely, and fasten velcro tabs before washing so they cannot snag muslin.

• Wash muslin and blankets together, and keep bibs and cloths in the same load.
• Never mix a heavily soiled load with freshly washed items you plan to store.

Choose a detergent that rinses clean

A mild, liquid, fragrance-free detergent is the safest default for organic cotton and for babies with reactive skin. Liquid formulas dissolve more readily in cooler water, which matters when you are washing at 30°C rather than 60°C.

Use the dose on the bottle for the load size and water hardness, and resist the urge to add extra. More detergent does not mean cleaner clothes; it means more residue left in the fibre, which is exactly what you are trying to avoid with organic cotton.

• Skip fabric softener entirely; it coats fibres and reduces absorbency in muslin and cloths.
• Skip bleach and optical brighteners, which dull prints and weaken cotton over time.

Set the machine for a gentle, cool wash

A 30°C or cold gentle cycle with a low spin speed is enough for everyday baby soil. If a piece is heavily soiled, treat the stain before washing rather than raising the temperature, since heat can set protein stains from milk or food.

Turn printed items inside out before they go in. This protects the print surface from friction against the drum and other garments, which is the main reason prints crack or fade before the cotton itself wears out.

• Use a mesh laundry bag for small items such as pacifier holders and rattles with fabric parts.
• If your machine has a hand-wash or wool cycle, it is a good match for jersey swaddles.

Dry flat or line-dry in the shade

Heat is the single biggest cause of shrinkage in organic cotton, so air-drying is the easiest way to protect sizing. Lay muslin and blankets flat to dry, and hang smaller items on a line or drying rack. Direct sun will fade prints and can make white cotton look yellow over time, so dry in the shade when you can.

If you do use a tumble dryer for convenience, choose the lowest heat setting and remove items while they are still slightly damp. That shortens the time they spend in heat and makes them easier to shape back into place.

• Reshape swaddles and blankets while damp so they dry without deep creases.
• Never dry a printed item on high heat; the print will crack before the cotton does.

Store clean, dry, and away from damp

Once everything is fully dry, fold and store it in a dry cupboard rather than a damp bathroom or basement. Residual moisture is what causes musty smells, and it can also encourage mildew on natural fibres.

Keep a small basket for outgrown pieces you plan to pass on or store. Washing them before storage, then storing them clean and dry, means they come out ready to use rather than needing a refresh wash later.

• Avoid storing baby textiles in plastic bags for long periods; cotton needs to breathe.
• Wash stored hand-me-downs before the first use, even if they look clean.

Your step-by-step organic cotton wash routine

1. 1. Read the care label and check for stains: Confirm the temperature and drying guidance on each item, then treat milk, food, or nappy stains before washing with a small amount of mild detergent and cool water. Common mistake: raising the wash temperature to shift a stain, which sets it permanently.
2. 2. Sort by fabric weight and colour: Keep light muslin and cotton together, darker or printed pieces in a second pile, and anything with zips, velcro, or quilting separate. Fasten velcro before washing. Checkpoint: loads should be loose enough that items tumble freely, not packed tight.
3. 3. Turn prints inside out and bag small items: Turn printed swaddles and blankets inside out, and put pacifier holders, rattles, and other small pieces into a mesh laundry bag to stop them snagging. Common mistake: washing printed cotton right side out, which scuffs the print against the drum.
4. 4. Wash at 30°C or cold on a gentle cycle: Use a mild, fragrance-free liquid detergent at the recommended dose, choose a low spin speed, and skip fabric softener and bleach completely. Checkpoint: if the load smells strongly of detergent when wet, you used too much.
5. 5. Air-dry flat or in the shade: Lay muslin and blankets flat, hang smaller items on a rack, and keep everything out of direct sun. If you must tumble dry, use the lowest heat and remove items slightly damp. Common mistake: high-heat drying, which shrinks organic cotton and cracks prints.
6. 6. Reshape, fold, and store dry: Smooth swaddles and blankets back into shape while damp, let them finish drying completely, then fold and store in a dry cupboard rather than a damp room. Next step: wash hand-me-downs and stored pieces once before their first use.

How this routine fits Cam Cam Copenhagen pieces

• Swaddle - GOTS Classic Stripes Camel: Printed version of our 100% organic, GOTS-certified swaddle for the baby in the softest cotton muslin. Because it is printed cotton muslin, wash it inside out at 30°C and air-dry it, so the print and the soft hand-feel survive repeated washing.
• Muslin Baby Blanket - GOTS Classic Stripes Blue: Soft and breathable blanket made with 4 layers of breathable, organic GOTS-certified cotton. Four layers hold more water than a single swaddle, so give it a separate, low-spin cycle and dry it flat to keep the weave from distorting.
• Jersey Swaddle - GOTS - Sea Garden: Soft and stretchy, made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, and versatile enough to be used as a swaddle or a cozy blanket. Jersey knit stretches with handling, so use a hand-wash or wool cycle and avoid hot drying to prevent the fabric from losing its shape.
• Baby Essentials Gift Box - Augusta: Offering a varied selection of bestselling baby must-haves; 1 Muslin Cloth, 1 Pacifier Holder, 1 Bandana Bib, and 1 Petite Rattle, made from 100% organic and GOTS-certified cotton. The mixed contents mean different care needs in one box, so sort the cloth and bib with muslin and wash the pacifier holder in a mesh bag.

GOTS certified cotton rewards a simple, cool, gentle routine: 30°C or cold, mild detergent, no softener or bleach, and air-drying in the shade. Follow that order and your swaddles, blankets, and everyday cotton pieces will stay soft, keep their prints, and hold up well enough to be used again by the next baby.