Your best tips: Removing stains from old baby clothes

[welldone]

My first two daughters were spitters. And breastfed spit-up stains! And stains darken after time in storage! Now that I'm sorting through baby clothes to get ready for this little guy, I'm noticing that quite a few have ring around the collar, baby-style. Oh, and there are random yellower stains--prolly BF poop.

What do you use to remove stains from used baby clothes and hand-me-downs?

Here are my tips, all of which are mildly successful (depending on the severity of the stain):

-If the garment is white or white with a print, I've had success with the bleach pen.
-Bac-out (natural stain remover) helps some stains.
-Best success, for me, has been with oxygen bleach (I use Oxyclean). I get a five gallon bucket, fill it with clothes and boiling water, and add several scoops of Oxyclean to it. (Do not add the boiling water to the clothes and Oxyclean--volcano!) Mix gently with wooden spoon or broom handle, weigh it down with a bowl or something heavy to submerge, and leave for a couple hours to overnight. Most stains don't stand a chance.

(The oxygen bleach-boiling water method may be harsh on some clothes, but all of ours are cotton. Plus, I'd rather have it more worn out from washing and CLEAN than yellow and gross.)

I'd love to read your tips. Some of my sleepers are on their fourth or fifth kid, and I'd love to revive them!

[scheelimama]

Thanks for the tips Serina. I did throw a scoop of Oxyclean in the washer when I washed all the baby clothes and they look okay, the stains are a bit better, but most of them are not gone completely. It doesn't bother me too much. But if I find the extra time I think I'll try your Oxyclean method. Thanks!

[wwisdomskr]

:

Thanks, Mamas!

[melissakc]

I have found that Stain Stick works on any stain at any time. It never fails me. It even works on grease stains. I think it's called Shout or Spray and Wash stick now, but I still call it Stain Stick.

[crunchywannabe]

I only use oxyclean to get it out. I've tried just about all other stain removers, and they just never worked.

what i do:

put in sink hot water (or if you have a top loader washing machine, fill it up with hot water)

add a big scoop of oxyclean, mix (you really do need to mix this up well or it won't permeate stains as well) - then add clothes. let soak over night.

it does hold heat better in the washer, which is really kind of vital with the oxyclean soak

then wash on a normal cycle.

I have removed 6 year old FORMUAL stains that way! LOL

[sandiegokristi]

Originally Posted by melissakc

I have found that Stain Stick works on any stain at any time. It never fails me. It even works on grease stains. I think it's called Shout or Spray and Wash stick now, but I still call it Stain Stick.

I am going to try that out! Thanks for the tip...I just happen to have a stain stick in my laundry cabinet and have not tried it out yet.

[myjulybabes]

My mom swears by Biz laundry detergent. The method is similar to the Oxyclean thing. Bucket of hot water, bunch of Biz , let it soak all day or overnight, maybe stir it up a few times if your remember. ("but put the bucket where the dogs can't get it!"...dont' wanna know how she learned that lesson )

Now the question in my mind is, will this work on cat pee smell? I have found very little in my collection that's stained, but somehow, the cats managed to pee on stuff that was in sealed plastic bags! ewwwwww

[Mom2ManyBlessings]

OxyClean works on the cat pee smell... You don't want to know how much of that I've cleaned off of various things in my time...

And I used to swear by Biz, but I must admit, I'm an Oxy Clean fan, now. But I used Biz before OxyClean came out, and it did work...

Also, if you have just one or two stains (say around the neckline), make a strong solution with HOT water (to the point where you can't dissolve any more powder in it), and rub/dab on the stain. Let it set overnight, and wash. Voila! No more stain!

[Momma Aimee]

-Best success, for me, has been with oxygen bleach (I use Oxyclean). I get a five gallon bucket, fill it with clothes and boiling water, and add several scoops of Oxyclean to it. (Do not add the boiling water to the clothes and Oxyclean--volcano!) Mix gently with wooden spoon or broom handle, weigh it down with a bowl or something heavy to submerge, and leave for a couple hours to overnight. Most stains don't stand a chance.

I was going to post this. Sis told me about it after we ruined some clothing on vacation when i son feel in love with fresh blueberries and strawberries Glad he likes them... but we had a bunchof onies and a few outfits that were stained even after washeing.

I have since used it on dingy diapers and stained clothing out of storage --

so far i am at pratically 100% success

I use our deep kitchen sink.

and after a few hours, i drain the water 1/2 -- refill with more boiling water and another scoop.

I tired it with the Biokleen ozgyn bleach -- but found Ozyclean to work better.

I thien was whatever it is 2 full washes both with extra rinses to be sure it is all clean, as the OC is harsh on skin .. or so we have found.

[pixiesmommy]

Sometimes Lysol (the aerosol version you spray to disinfect the bathroom.... I know, I know... I'm *trying* to go green!) will work. I don't use the kind with bleach and I've never had it ruin anything.

There is another product called "Zout" that is a stain remover. Walmart doesn't carry it, but you can find it in most grocery stores. It's my favorite of the "stain removers." Spray and Wash doesn't ever work for me, but I've never tried the stick version.

Manda

[welldone]

I've used stain stick in the past, but have not found it to work on old baby stains, like spit up. Is there a trick that I'm missing?

Here's a tip for some pre-emptive action, for the first timers with new clothing:
If your baby is a spitter, use bibs! It will save you a lot of laundry later.

I have sooooo many clothes to Oxyclean in the coming weeks. It's not difficult, just time consuming, and I have to leave these big buckets in my kitchen (small) until the soaking is done.

[monocyte]

I love this stuff put out by Holloway House - although, its nearly impossible to find - its in a white bottle with green on it, and it looks like its from the 50's. But, its amazing. Grease, ink, stains from clothes washed a million times, it works. Rub it in, throw it in the wash...gone.

[sora]

isn't Oxyclean harmful for baby's skin?

I would love to use Oxyclean to get all the stains out of my baby clothes. But I wonder if it won't be harmful to baby. I've used orange peel stain remover - doesn't work very well. Looks like people don't have much success with natural products.
All my baby's clothes have stains. So it' not even good enough to donate. Today, there are horrible cherry stains in brand new white outfit! I usually try to wash the stains right away with soap and laundry brush but it's time consuming and most of time, I can't get to it right away.

[scheelimama]

Sora, I think it would be okay. If you are soaking it to get rid of stains and then washing them, most of the Oxyclean would be washed out. You could always wash a second time if you were really worried. But, and maybe I'm wrong, isn't oxyclean more gentle than a lot of stain removers?

[Maeve]

I've soaked in oxyclean before and it's worked on most of the stains. I'm trying it again on some more of the stained baby clothes I found.

I just make sure to rinse well and wash after.

[Isaac'sMa]

Originally Posted by scheelimama

Sora, I think it would be okay. If you are soaking it to get rid of stains and then washing them, most of the Oxyclean would be washed out. You could always wash a second time if you were really worried. But, and maybe I'm wrong, isn't oxyclean more gentle than a lot of stain removers?

I think you're right Alisha. And you can find a dye/perfume-free version if you look hard enough. It took me a while to realize there are a few versions of Oxiclean out there. I've been using a small scoop too when I wash dipes --I started when we were getting stink problems with pockets and haven't had a problem since!

[GinaRae]

I told the hubster we'll try the Oxyclean because stains absolutely drive me BONKERS and I have paid for a couple of things at consignment shops that when I got them home in a better light, they have stains. : : : :

Wish I had Oxyclean years ago when literally 100 pieces of my precious baby clothes from my first son came back from my then SIL completely stained and worthless. I donated most :

Plus, my friend's baby clothes are all stained and maybe I can help get the stains out for the next babe or for resale.

[JamesMama]

I do a soak in hot water and Oxyclean for up to 8 hours (I tried the baby Oxyclean it didn't seem as strong to me) and then I douse them with Spray And Wash Dual action and let that soak for 5 minutes and then I spray them with Spray and Wash and scrub with a knuckel brush and THEN I wash them on warm with Era and another scoop of Oxyclean. I cannot stand stains, LOL

[Momma Aimee]

I would love to use Oxyclean to get all the stains out of my baby clothes. But I wonder if it won't be harmful to baby.

I have found, as JamesMama, that eh Baby stuff is not as strong.

I simply wash everythign TWICE -- after soaking it, and do the "extra rise" on each wash. I have been useing it on DS clothing -- he loves blueberries and strawberries and rolling int he grass ahhhhhhh -- and while he does react to some detergants and have issues with dry sensitive skin, i've had no reactions with the 2 rinse sysetm. My DN with really bad exmza what also not reacted with the 2 rinse system ... so i think it is pretty safe

[JamesMama]

yeah, like Aimee said, I just do 2 washes, one for the stain remover and one to rince the soap off. I'm doing all that now and I'll wash it all again in Dreft closer to baby time.

James had SUPER sensive skin as a newborn, even touching mine and DH's clothing and our sheets washed in Era made him break out, we had to start washing all our clothes in Free & clear stuff.