tips for removing stains Archives

From spit up to spinach, there’s nothing less attractive than when your baby sports a sweater with a yellow stain running down her side. While stains from food and bodily fluids can be stubborn, they are not impossible to remove.

Here are 5 tips for removing stubborn stains from your baby’s clothes:

1. Use an enzyme detergent to remove protein based stains. By breaking down the proteins found in food, formula, and bodily fluids such as vomit and diarrhea, enzyme based detergents are powerful stain busters. Detergents like Wisk or Era Plus are formulated to eat away at protein based stains and can restore fabrics to their prior stain-free conditions.

2. Use cornstarch to remove oil and grease stains. By absorbing the oils left from diaper cream, petroleum jelly, or baby oil, cornstarch or talcum powder may lift off the stain. Apply cornstarch to the affected area and let it sit on the stain for about 20 minutes. Scrape off the cornstarch before laundering.

3. Use a paste made of club soda and baking powder. For stubborn, set-in stains, make a paste of club soda and baking powder. Put it on the stain and let it sit for a half hour before scraping it off and laundering as usual. You may need to use a gentle bristled brush to work out the stain.

4. Make a Biz bin. Combine ¼ cup Biz Stain fighter, ¼ cup clear liquid dish soap, and 1 ½ gallons of boiling water. Soak your item until the stain is removed and launder as usual. If the water gets dirty, drain and repeat before laundering.

5. Pre-treat fruit, veggie, and berry stains with a solution of rubbing alcohol and water. After washing your baby’s clothing item in cold water, apply an equal solution of rubbing alcohol and water to the stain. If the stain does not come out, treat with a product such as Shout or Spray ‘n’ Wash.