Need Help Getting Out Stains!

Updated on March 07, 2008
K.M. asks from Orient, OH
28 answers

Does anyone have any secrets for getting out baby food stains? We just started our 6 month old baby on "solids" and have stains on every outfit she has eaten in! :-)

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R.H.

answers from Youngstown on

For protein based stains, H30, Hydrogen Peroxide. That includes meat, formula, blood, eggs, etc.
Rinse/soak in COLD water. Otherwise you will cook the food into the clothing.

For whites, use 20 mule team borax. Make into a paste, then throw in cold bucket of water overnight. Soaking helps remove all stains.

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A.E.

answers from Dayton on

I use totally toddler and it works great! I pretreat the stain for a few min, and add some to the wash as well...I also use All detergent and these two together get out almost all of my daughters stains!

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C.F.

answers from Rochester on

I finally switched to Tide Free detergent, and it seems to be working a lot better than the cheaper brands, and is also fabulous on grass stains. I use Zout stain remover, but it works best on new stains. I spray it on all the stains before I wash them and almost everything comes out. I've used Clorox 2 with mixed results. One thing I love is the Clorox Bleach Pen! It is fabulous for bleaching small areas, and even works on small areas of white if you are careful where you put it. I've saved more clothes this way than I can count. I also just started to use Kids 'N Pets, which claims to be the best at getting out kid and pet related stains, but it has to be the first thing you use on the stain. Another thing my mom always used was Phelsnaptha (sp?) soap- it comes in a bar, and you just wet the item and rub the bar on it, then scrub lightly with a brush. Good luck- some things just seem to not come out sometimes.

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L.M.

answers from Columbus on

For stains that are on white areas, Clorox bleach pen is fantastic.

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P.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi Sarah. What worked for me is washing clothes with Dreft.I use Zout stain remover on both fresh stains and set in stains depending on the severity. With bad set in stains I use a small amount of Calgon water softner and Borax in a bucket of warm water, soak 1+ hours(or overnight). Check your stains, they should be gone. These tips have always worked for me.
Also, as a fabric brightner/whitener I can't use bleach on laundry due to sensitivity so I use Blueing. It's very old school, my mother used it, but it works. After soaking or pre-treating use Dreft, it's the best for baby things. I hope these tips help. Good luck!!

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K.I.

answers from Cincinnati on

Dreft spray and wash gets out everything my boys stain in.

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T.B.

answers from Youngstown on

My son is the "King of Messes", and i use Shout. We have used so much of it we should probably own the company by now! Even as an infant, I used it on bibs, onesies, shirts, and everything else and my family would ask how in the world I got the stain out. If nothing else it's worth a try! Good Luck

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M.H.

answers from Cleveland on

I have a stain stick remover that I use on all sorts of stains. You just wet the clothes and then use the stain stick where the stain it. It works great. They have a couple different kinds out there.

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M.A.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi-You might try making a paste of hot water and Oxyclean powder. Apply it with a soft toothbrush,allow to sit for a few minutes and then pour very hot water over the stain and allow to sit again. Wash as normal and the stain should come out. I have had great luck with this tecnique on both old formula stains and baby food. Make sure to check for colrfastness before doing. Good Luck!

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A.B.

answers from Dayton on

HI!
I sell a product called NFB All Purpose Cleaner and I takes out EVERYTHING. I've personally taken hair color out of shirts with this product. What is so amazing about this product is that it is all natural (really it is). I absolutely love this stuff, if I ever stopped selling it...I would still buy it.
If you're interested feel free to drop me a line. My email is: ____@____.com and my website is: www.NatureWiseFamily.com.
Good luck!
A.

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K.

answers from Cleveland on

Carbona Carbona Carbona it is the best!
find it a Joann Fabrics--the entire line--or parts of it at grocery stores
K.

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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

ok one more idea for you to add to the list there is a toddler stain remover look in the baby care aisle at wlmart or something it's in a white and pink spray type bottle and it gets out anything even those stains from the times the diaper leaks. good luck.

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L.M.

answers from Columbus on

If you are trying to get stains out of light-colored clothes, try rubbing dish=washer detergent into the stain and then washing as you normally would. It takes the color out of some darker colors but works very well on light colors.

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S.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi Sarah,
You already have lots of advice. I will caution you to think about the safety of the products you use. You want to eliminate as many toxic ingredients from your home as possible. Please check out this blog that explains the products that are the most toxic free of any I've found. I have a health business and always encourage people to look closely at everything they come in contact with when trying to improve their health. And by the way, these products outclean products such as shout, and other store brands but cost much, much less. http://getclean.blogspot.com

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S.Z.

answers from Cleveland on

I have Spray and Wash Dual Power. I have gotten old stains out of my childrens clothes. However dont let it stay on for very long if will fade them. I would say wash within 1/2- 1 hour of putting it on. If your worried about her being an infant you could wash it again after but it should be fine. Good luck!
S.

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A.W.

answers from Columbus on

the best ever secret: combine 1 cup clorox2 with one cup cascade powdered dishwashing liquid (stir)... in a sink full of hot water. let clothes soak overnight. it does wonders!!! i have even gotten stains out of clothes that someone has given me (passeddown) and who knows how long some of those stains where on there. good luck! ~A.

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R.

answers from Cleveland on

CLorox pen for white clothes or clothes with a white colar and sleeves. Use it right before you toss them in the washer. Oxyclean works great too. I soak the clothes in the powder overnight then wash them. I've used it on black berry stains and they came off after.

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H.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but how 'bout using a bib?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of...something. How's that saying go? Aw, I forgot, but you know what I'm saying. Anyway, feeding your baby naked from the waist up is a good idea, however, a little impractical if you're in a restaraunt! I would suggest using those bibs that have the plastic backing and a large pocket at the bottom. I personally have the worst luck when it comes to stain removal. We always look like our clothes just came from the bottom of the hamper...

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A.R.

answers from Columbus on

Spray 'N Wash Stain Stick - the greatest invention EVER!

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S.H.

answers from Cleveland on

In my opinion none of the toddler stain removers work! for pen spray with aerosol hairspray and wash, babyfood/formula spray asap with spray & wash scrub stains with a toothbrush let sit for awhile spray again, soak in water with alittle bit of detergent for a while or a day or 2 depending on how bad, throw in the wash, check before throwing in the dryer to make sure its out, if not repeat. ALWAYS works for me!

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N.B.

answers from Cleveland on

just a little southern secret. try wasinhg them with a can of coca-cola. sounds strange but the acid from the soda eats the stains. trust me it's gotten car oil out of my clothes before. a 12oz can should be enough for the baby's clothes.

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S.

answers from Cleveland on

Try peroxide. I'm not saying it will work for sure but it does on blood spots. The only other thing I'm aware of that really works is super strength Mean Green. It's a white bottle with a green and orange label. Spray it on the clothes, let them sit over night and then throw them in the washer. Hope it works, sometimes it does even if the clothes have been thrown in the dryer and maybe it won't. Good luck~

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K.S.

answers from Columbus on

It sounds like you're getting lots of different opinions, so I'll add mine. I have used Totally Toddler. It has worked great for me. The only "drawback" is that it is a prewash. I have to spray & let it sit for a short time, then use a small amount of soap & hand wash spot. Then wash as usual. I would usually do this while in the bathroom while my son would play in the tub. It worked great for me.

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A.P.

answers from Cleveland on

How about feeding your baby in only a diaper and a bib when you are at home so you don't have to worry about getting it on your favorite outfits you put her in? I also used dreft stain remover on my sons clothes and it got out most of the stains. He is 2 and i still use it on his clothes. Also the other things you ahve to worry about if you use tide or other harsh products is a skin sensitivity to the product. My son and I both have skin sensitivties and tide and oxyclean break us out like crazy. So if you decide to use one of these products you may have to double wash your clothes so that is also something to think about. Also i washed my sons clothes in all baby detergant and it was not expensive and worked really well. Also i looked at the website that was posted and it seems to be a good one. Check it out. Good luck

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J.R.

answers from Cleveland on

I use Oxyclean, and it works great. Dissolve it in water, and apply it directly to the stain. Let it sit a few minutes, and then rub the fabric together, or use a soft brush if it's a textured fabric like terrycloth or velour.

My other trick that works great on tough stains like tomato sauce, chocolate, and mud is Cascade dishwashing crystals. Use the same method described above.

Good luck!!

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D.K.

answers from Cleveland on

I have found that using Shout on my daughter's clothes works the best. I try to spray them as soon as possible, usually when she is in the bath tub or after she gets her pajamas on. I have also found that Shout works well on carpet stains too. I hope this helps!

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J.R.

answers from Dayton on

Hello! I have an 11 month old daughter and she can make a mess too. What I have found to work wonders is Dreft stain spray. It works best if you are able to get the stain wet immediatly, however it still usually works if not. You just need to use a little rubbing action and it works GREAT! The other secret weapon I use are the Tide On The GO pens. Those work instantly on any food or drink stains that aren't quite as big. But they are the best things that have come out recently, I carry 1 in the diaper bag, 1 in my purse, and 1 in the car if all else fails! Hope this helps and good luck on stain patrol!

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