The hands-free part of babywearing is one of our favorites. There’s nothing more convenient than having baby close and comfortable while being able to tend to laundry, toddlers, or a meal at the same time. But being able to carry on with life while caring for baby also means that real-life happens. Like grease splatters from cooking, diaper blowouts, or a dollop of avocado from your breakfast burrito missing your mouth. And the victim of all those real-life events? Your Solly Wrap.
The good news is: We knew that would happen, which is why we designed the Solly Wrap to be functional for everyday, real-life use (and to be used for multiple babies or passed on to others when you’re finished using it). To keep your wrap in top condition, here are some of our best care tips.
Washing + Drying
The great thing about the wrap is that, unlike many other carriers on the market, it can be machine washed and dried. We recommend washing your Solly Wrap on a cold, gentle cycle and then tumbling dry on low. Yes, you read that correctly! It might be tempting to hang-dry your wrap because the fabric feels so soft and delicate, but putting it in the dryer is actually the best way to maintain the shape of the fabric. If your washer has an agitator, wash your wrap in a delicates bag.
What if My Wrap has a Hole in It?
While wearing, we recommend avoiding clipping anything (such as pacifier clips) to the fabric to avoid unintended holes. When washing and drying, avoid other clothing or items that have snaps, buttons, Velcro, or zippers, which can snag the fabric or create holes.
If your Solly Wrap has any type of hole/tear/snag/run in a weight-bearing area, it should be retired. Wraps with holes on the opposite side of the double knot near the tails are okay, but you should keep an eye on them.
If your wrap has a hole or snag that you’re unsure about, please feel free to send a photo of your babe in the wrap to advice@sollybaby.com, and our babywearing educator will provide guidance to ensure you and baby are safe and comfortable!
Stain Treatment
We get it, life (with babies, especially) is messy, and stains happen. If you get a spot of something on your Solly Wrap, pretreat it as soon as possible with a product containing enzymes to avoid setting the stain.
For a grease stain, treat with baking soda or baby powder. Lay the wrap flat and cover the spot generously, so the soap or powder can pull the grease out. Let it sit for 4-24 hours, then wash the spot with cold water and spot treat with a little blue Dawn dish soap or Buncha Farmers stick. From there, wash on cold/delicate and lay flat to dry in direct sunlight. Note: We don’t typically recommend laying flat to dry except in the case of spot removal.
If you’ve already dried your wrap in the dryer, the stains may be set, but not always. Parents on our team ,as well as many of our customers, have experienced great results using this stain treatment spray not only on wraps but other materials and baby products as well.
Storage
To store your wrap while you’re regularly wearing it, you can stuff it into the pocket at the end of the tails or hang it in a place where it’s convenient to grab when you need it. Be sure to keep it separate from any Velcro or sharp objects (especially if keeping it in your diaper bag where you might also keep nail trimmers, etc). Here are four ways to store your wrap, including a tutorial for how to braid the wrap (the cutest storage option by far!).For long-term storage, keep your Solly Wrap neatly folded in an airtight container, away from any moisture or extreme temperatures.