Can Those Yellow Stains Come Out of Baby Clothes?

Updated on October 12, 2009
L.N. asks from Fillmore, CA
21 answers

So I recently pulled out my baby clothes from my first child that are only about 1-2 years old and many of them have yellow stains on the tops that were not there when I packed them up. I am guessing they are milk/spit up stains that showed up after time passed. Does anyone know if there is any way to get rid of the stains or are these clothes just done for?

3 moms found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for yoru feedback - I had a GREAT success and got about 80% of the stains out - wonderful! This is what I did - Sprayed with Oxy Clean Stain Spray. Let sit 30 minutes - 1 hour. Soaked in Oxy Clean Powder according to directions on back for stain removal (Like 4-5 TBsp for gallon I think) - hot water works best if it is okay for your clothes. Soak OVERNIGHT. Run through wash cycle and dry and ta-da - clean clothes! I was amazed at the results!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

dry them in the sun, they'll come out good as new. If they don't go away with one sunning, wet them again and dry until it's gone.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've always used Spray & Wash but after reading everyones responses, I'm going to give Oxy Clean a shot! I got a bunch of hand me downs from a very maticulous mom and I think that's what happened to those clothes too. Now I know how to deal with it - those clothes are too cute to let go to waste!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I recently did the same, pulling out the clothes for baby no.2 and finding stains on them. I was amazed at how well everything came out with Biz. I did it in batches and put the Biz and hot water in a plastic bin, added clothes, added hot water until clothes were covered and let sit outside for a few days. I would check on them every day and stir it up a bit. I also let the sun hit the bin. I then put them thru a regular wash cycle and voila, no stains!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

The same thing happened to me when I unpacked baby clothes for my second baby. Soaking in oxyclean worked for me.

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

I have the same thing-spitup, milk & poop stains. As everyone has said Oxiclean is working, sometimes I need to do it more than once. I would recommend the oxiclean for babies as it is unscented. I bought the powder as that was all my store had at the time. I heated up 2 cups water in a measuring cup in the microwave and dissolved the one scoop it calls for and poured it onto the various stains, let it sit and then washed it like normal. It looks like it got out quite a bit. They sell it as a spray as well which I just bought yesterday after having found it. The non-baby spray I felt has far too strong a smell and everything in that load smells like it when you're done. But when I used the non-baby spray it was working well. You might have to soak some of them longer to get some of the tougher stains out or do it more than once but it's working well. I've got 5 years between my second and my third child so mine sat longer which may be why some of it's taking longer to come out. It can be done though :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I used a spray on stain remover directly (for hard stains) on the spots and it did come out. We have had that happen as well.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.T.

answers from San Diego on

Hi L.,

Yes! It's called Nature Bright Laundry Booster and Stain Remover. Add a scoop to your laundry or for tough stains, fill a mop bucket with water and add a scoop of the Nature Bright. I usually soak my daughter's clothes until I do the next load unless it's something dark. Only soak darks for a couple of hours. Nature Bright is the best at removing stains (60% more effective than Oxyclean) and I don't know what I would do without it. I save so many articles of clothing from stains and I get hand-me-downs that I'm able to get stains out of. Yes, set in stains come out! And, it's safe and non-toxic. You can check it out at www.greennutrition.info and register to win $200 of free products at www.freegreenproducts.info. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

My sister gave me some 10 year old baby things like some sleepers, bibs, and diaper covers. I soaked them in hot water and lots of Oxyclean powder for a few days and, amazingly, the yellow stains all disappeared! Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.L.

answers from Visalia on

Yes, I had some the same problem, I used SHOUT Advanced gel. It worked wonderfully. My daughters cloths had been packed away for 6 years; I sprayed it and then let it dry for 2 days. I use it now for all my cloths.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

Oxiclean worked wonders for me! Good luck and congratulations!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had success with Biz & Zout when this happened to me. Not everything came clean, but a lot of it did. I'm now hooked to Oxiclean and actually find that much better than Biz and Zout. There is an Oxiclean spray that is ultra powerful. It's not the regular spray but their super one whose name I don't remember that works fabulous. I've had success making a paste from powdered Oxiclean and leaving it on the stain or soaking in HOT water with Oxiclean. These are my suggestions. Good luck!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from San Diego on

sme thing happened to me. i used the spot cleaner that has oxi cleaner and shout and dried them in the sub. i got ssome of the clothes clean. good luck. i cried when it happened.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Spray on stain remover and then sprinkle them with Oxiclean. Leave them sit overnight. Put them in the washing machine (the oxiclena will be hardened but that's ok) along with the detergent and one of those new Tide stin packets. The stains should come out. I just washed all of my first daughter's stuff that way and the stains came out...I think if the clothes rest against the plastic containers for a long period they get yellow.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi,
I found the same yellow stains on my sons packed away clothes too when i took them out for our upcoming baby. The way to get them out is to get Oxyclean powder and make a very concentrated solution with water.You have to soak, scrub,rinse, then keep repeating untill they are gone. Let them soak for a while. Took me about two hours!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have to put my vote in for the Oxy Clean spray. They have an "advanced" version that's in a smaller bottle and it gets everything out. I'll bet that would work! It is amazing. I actually gave some to my friend as part of her shower gift.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

I was in the same situation with timing. I sprayed on the Dreft Stain Remover Spray, tossed them in the wash as I normally would, and EVERYTHING came out! It didn't work for the old yellow poop stains - but I should have tackled those better when they happened!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Double up on the Dreft and after the wash, put it through the rinse cycle a couple more times. Cold wash and let air dry the first time to be sure the yellow is out. If it goes through the dryer, it will set and be harder to get out.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

I used to soak everything overnight with Oxyclean. Worked like charm.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Dear L.:

I just wanted to mention that if any of these clothes are heirloom clothing, I've used lemon juice and sunlight to bleach out their "phantom" stains. It happened with my white linen christening gown. When my mom gave it to me, it had the stains. I got them out and my daughter wore the dress. I washed it again, stored it and forgot about it. After we moved (ten years later), I noticed the stains were back so I treated it again and they disappeared.

Also, as someone mentioned before, don't store your clothes in plastic bins. They're like ovens and they make the stains set even more. I got the breathable bags by Martha Stewart and the christening dress looks fine now (it's been three years since I last washed it.)

Best wishes,

M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

Shout advanced gel in the blue spray bottle worked wonders! I got out poop AND old spit up stains. Most of the clothes had been in storage for 4+ years and I got almost every single stain out.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Reno on

Oxi Clean Spray. I was trying not to follow the trend but once I tried it I was HOOKED. I had yellow stains that had been washed and dried and took up permenant residency on my babies clothes. Used the Oxy Clean Spray once and GONE! Anyway L., hope it helps.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions