Gentian Violet stains

[JabbersMom]

We're using Gentian Violet to treat Thrush/Yeast. Anyone have a great solution for getting the purple stains out? I've already tried soaking in Sun Oxygen cleaner. It discolored (to green) some of the items. The others still have purple. I've got a nursing gown that I sprayed purple breastmilk all over this morning and I'd REALLY like to get it out.

[Max'sMama]

I don't know if my suggestion will work, but it worked for me when I tried (successfully) to get out walnut stain-y stuff. I used Tide HE liquid, I put about 2 capfuls of water into a lukewarm sink with enough water to just cover the items I was trying to 'de-stain' I was planning to leave them sit about 3-4 hours and within 30 minutes the stain was gone.

On a later item with more walnut juicey stain I did leave it sit about 2 hours to get it completely out, but it worked.

[zylph]

Originally Posted by JabbersMom

We're using Gentian Violet to treat Thrush/Yeast. Anyone have a great solution for getting the purple stains out? I've already tried soaking in Sun Oxygen cleaner. It discolored (to green) some of the items. The others still have purple. I've got a nursing gown that I sprayed purple breastmilk all over this morning and I'd REALLY like to get it out.

I realize it's probably kind of late for this now, but gentian violet is about 12x more soluble in alcohol than water. If you don't have everclear or 100% ethanol, rubbing alcohol will probably work. Most dyes are more soluble in alcohol than water. Like sharpies - alcohol works like a dream to get that out. I'd test the alcohol out on a corner of your clothes first though to make sure it's not going to dissolve the colors in it.

I've never actually used it for thrush, but one of the things it's great for is looking at viral infections on petri dishes. You use a much higher concentration than 1%, so it stains pretty much everything it touches purple. We call it crystal violet, which I think is a lot nicer.

[SNRPMom]

: Have to agree with what Zylph said. Only way I could get it out of my lab coats and tops was with the alcohol. Try a corner first.

Some fabrics seem to hang on to the color better than others (poly blends being the worst) so you may not be able to get the stain completely out.

Good luck!