Stains on Infant Clothes

Updated on April 12, 2010
D.C. asks from New York, NY
16 answers

Hi Moms,

As I pull out the clothes I had stored from my 1st child, I've found that around the collars, what must have been the very light (unnoticable) stains from spit-up/baby drool have yellowed and are now much darker. I've tried the normal stain removers (Shout, Spray n Wash) as well as Clorox 2, but they've had no effect.

Any tips on how to get these stains out of baby clothes?

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R.F.

answers from Dallas on

I know you said you've used Shout, but have you tried the Shout stain STICK? That works miracles for me... even with dried-on stains. It's worth a shot if you haven't already tried that.

2 moms found this helpful

E.G.

answers from York on

My baby has very sensitive skin plus I'm very environmentally conscious. I've found 2 great products that really work wonders! Found them on basin.com. They are Dr. Spot and ECOVER. Both basically like stain remover sticks. Though you'll need water to rub the Dr. Spot in. Amazing!!

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R.M.

answers from Nashville on

I had this same thing happen, so I went online and googled it. I knew the stuff wasn't stained when it went in and I couldn't figure it out! And I was so upset everything seemed to be ruined.

What I saw the most recommendations for was to treat the stains with something that has enzymes in it. I had already tried oxy, and the usual stuff. I didn't try the sun, but nothing else I saw suggested worked until this. Those stains are protein stains, and they keep coming back even if they are invisible, unless you get enzymes to "eat" the stains. Just like pet stains on carpets will pop back up months later. It seemed like it really didn't matter what you used, I saw pet carpet cleaner, dreft stain stuff, and a bunch of other things, but they all had enzymes. So I went and bought Era laundry detergent, it was what they had that was cheap. Everything I read said the enzymes need 24-48 hours to work. So what I did was pour half-strength Era straight on all the spots, put the clothes in the washer and leave them for 24 hours. Then I came back, turned on the water and filled it just enough to get all the clothes wet (I had no idea if the enzymes would work once the detergent was dry, so I did this to be safe in case they needed to be wet.). I put in another capful of detergent and left them soaking for another 24 hours. Then I went back and ran the cycle the rest of the way through, with an extra rinse. I got out all but a couple of stains, and I had a lot of clothes, probably 2 loads. For those I tried going back with the other methods again, but nothing worked. Oxyclean will bleach things also, I found out the hard way.

I might have overdone it, but I got it all clean. Now I make sure to do at least a 24 soak on any clothes before I pack them away. I just save up a load and soak them with an enzyme detergent, then finish washing them. I plan to re-wash everything in baby-friendly detergent before the next baby wears it, since Era is harsh on skin I'm sure. Hope that helps!

3 moms found this helpful
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K.Z.

answers from Cleveland on

Pour lemon juice on stain, put clothes out in the sun to bleach. Try soaking in oxyclean, then washing in hot water. don't dry in dryer, that may set the stain.

Good luck!

K. Z.

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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

I've had the best luck with the Shout GEL, not regular Shout. There are 4 years between our older one and our twins. When it came time to pull out the baby clothes, I noticed several stains all over the fronts of alot of the clothes. I used the Shout gel, making sure to rub it in a bit and then allowed to sit over night. When I washed everything the following day, almost every piece of clothing came out like new. Good luck!

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E.F.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Oxyclean... start with the recommended amount, and go up from there if it doesn't work. I've never had it bleach anything I didn't want it too, but obviously you'll have to decide if it is worth risking it on very special clothes, but if they are just play clothes, I'd try 2 or 3 times as much Oxyclean as recommended if you need it.

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K.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

That happened to me too, but I had good luck with Oxiclean Baby spray (I didn't like the powder so much). I found it at Target in the baby shampoo aisle. Spray until really wet and let sit overnight. Wash in HOT water to activate the enzymes.

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M.F.

answers from Sioux Falls on

Totally Toddler from Kmart did an amazing job of removing stains when my kids were little. I would spray it on stains before I tossed them into the hamper, and when I washed the clothes, no stains! It worked on formula, spit up, blood, and grass stains. I loved it!

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T.B.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I'm due tomorrow and just went through this - my mom showed me how to use hot to boiling water in a bucket with a scoop of OxyClean. Stir it to make sure all the crystals are dissolved and then soak just enough clothing so that they are all submerged. We left it for a few hours, then dumped clothes and water all into the washer, and did on the hottest setting with Clorox 2 - all the breastfeeding spit up is gone! Don't know if it works for formula stains, but we're all set:)

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C.P.

answers from New York on

I use Dreft and it has taken out most of the stains left on my son's hand me downs after 1-2 washes, better than Tide or Shout. I recently found Dreft spot pre-treatment at Buy Buy Baby but I haven't used it so far. The best prices for these are Target and BJs (about $20 for 64 loads) - ignore the one on amazon, the price is crazy, unrealistic.

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D.G.

answers from Philadelphia on

I had this happen too, and I knew I did not put them away like that. I guess something in storing them brought the stains out. I soaked the clothes in oxyclean baby for 12 hours and then washed them like regular clothes and they came up good as new with no fading!

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

Diane,
When I pulled out clothes I had saved from my first son, I was so disappointed to find stains had shown up on them. I just threw them in the laundry thinking I would just use them for feeding times etc. I had just switched to Shaklee's laundry products. To my amazement all the stains were gone without any stain treatment. Everything looked good as new. They also make a laundry brightener that awesome. And it's all nontoxic. If this interests you, you can find the products at http://www.shaklee.net/healthforlife
Victoria

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.M.

answers from Casper on

oxiclean definitely works also.

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E.B.

answers from Scranton on

Hello Diane,
Yes, I have the answer if you care to contact me. Call me at ###-###-####. I can make some suggestions.
E. B

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L.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hello,
I am a faithful user of Oxyclean Spray Stain Remover and love it! Works great on blood, berries, markers, etc. I would leave it soak as well.

Good luck!
L.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Have you tried soaking the clothes in OxyClean? Let them soak for at least a couple of hours, and then wash as you normally would.

Good luck!

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