19 answers

Laundry Stains on Baby Clothes

I am shocked at how much my baby's clothes get stained by his baby food. I try to scrub the stains that I see (I actually use dish soap and a dish scrubber) and it usually works. But even stains that are really little that I think will come out don't seem to come out ... and there's always little spots that I miss. I've used stain stick and a pre-treatment stain remover, and nothing seems to work. I use cold water for all of my washes. Also, I put bleach straight on a onesie and it came out of the washer in shreds. Are there any tips on detergents that work well (I use regular Tide) or pre stain treatments (I've used Baby Oxiclean and it isn't doing much). Any tips would be appreciated! (also, any tips on getting Poly Vi Sol out? I spilled it on my glider chair and it wont' come out!)

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Featured Answers

I love oxy clean liquid stain remover. It's in a blue bottle in the laundry department... it is the best I've ever found!! It even works on baths, etc.
S.

My two favorites that do the job nearly every time are regular OXYCLEAN (for soaking clothes with multiple stains) and ZOUT (for spot cleaning). Good luck! We moms know how vigilant we have to be with all kinds of stains!

More Answers

I love oxy clean liquid stain remover. It's in a blue bottle in the laundry department... it is the best I've ever found!! It even works on baths, etc.
S.

I finally started putting a full scoop of Oxyclean in every load and that has helped a lot. If I don't think it will come out that way I will soak it in extra concentrated Oxyclean for a couple of days. I was able to get a whole bunch of taco sauce out of white linen pants this way. Take a look at the stained clothing when it comes out of the wash and if the stain is still there soak it in Oxyclean again. Warm and hot water remove stains better than cold water. I always wash lights in warm and whites in hot.

Try spraying Kids N Pets on there before you wash them. I haven't tried it with baby food because my kids never ate it very well but it works great on poop!

I don't like the baby oxi-I much prefer the regular stuff. It works better-even got some green acrylic paint off of my 2 YO's onesie & he had wiped his hands on his shirt. I've heard vinegar will help to get the formula stains out-I use a regular detergent-sized full load cup of vinegar w/my funky big boy loads now.

Poly Vi Sol will not come out once it is dry. I ruined my favorite shirt with a spot in an inopportune place -- I spent close to an hour using everything I know to get it out. My pediatrician recommended giving it to them in the bathtub to avoid stains.
I use spray and wash for babyfood/spitup stains -- it works great in combination with the regular oxyclean. But I also wash baby clothes on hot. Straight bleach will dissolve your clothes -- as you have discovered, unless you rinse it out right away. If you are worried about detergent residue, just give the clothes an extra rinse -- and unless you wash your own clothes with baby detergent he'll get it from being against your clothes.
Good luck in the battle against stains!

B. - I agree - Oxyclean powder works wonders on those protein and spit up stains.

It will discolor colored clothes so be careful. I fill the sink with HOT water, add alot of Oxyclean, especially right on the stains and let them soak, adding hot water along the way. I found you need a lot stronger solution of Oxyclean that is noted on the instructions to get these stains out.

I was able to save many of my first son's whites this way so I didnt have to buy them for my 2nd.

I have found a naturally based laundry soap that does wonders. It does not have the caustic chemicals like bleach so it will not eat the clothing. There is a liquid soap and brightener. I use them together. It even gets out the chocolate Pedisure.

They are also 6x concentrated so it doesn't take up too much space in my little apartment. They use a 1/2 oz pump (which is one load)so I do not have to use the little cup. There is also a stain pre-spot for harder stains. I order them online at Melaleuca. If you want more information I would be happy to get it to you.

S. Broadbent
Mother to Kai (18 months)
www.HomeWithKai.com

Finally on my last baby I have figured out how to get those pesky stains out. First if the stain is large I take her clothes off right away and scrub it out. If that is not a possibility (with three kids I do not always have the luxury of time) then when I give her a bath at night I use the Johnson's baby shampoo (silly huh?) and actually wash her clothes right in the bath water and just put the soap right on the stain itself and rub the clothing together and rinse until it is gone. When the bath is done then I just hang the clothes over the currtain rod and they are dry and perfect the next morning ready to put away. The only time I have a hard time getting stains out is when I leave them until laundry day. They just get too set in. Good luck!

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