Easy Ways on How to Get Poop Stains Out of Baby Clothes Without Buying Anything
Peekaboo! At first, there is nothing inside, and you make a sigh of relief. But, after a few minutes, you see stains running from her diaper up to her back, and it means the end of the world for you.
I have many baby poop stories to tell, from sudden pooping right after you changed the diaper to poop leaks inside the car. These endless dilemmas can make a parent go crazy especially when you are out somewhere away from home, and you have only very few resources in your baby bag.
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But, if there is one thing everyone finds difficult to swallow, it is baby poop stains. The first time that I encountered them, I kept on asking myself while doing the laundry, “How to get poop stains out of baby clothes?” I was shouting this question every after attempt to rub off the stain.
Getting rid of poop stains is hard, and I do not want to end up throwing stained clothes and buying new ones. It becomes impractical, and my baby will only grow out of the new clothes fast. I want to look for ways on how to remove stains on my own and not have to spend too much on them.
Now, I found the best solutions to get those stains out, and I am sharing my secrets with you.
What You Need to Know in Cleaning Baby Poop Stains
Seeing poop stains on your baby’s clothes can be intimidating at first. But, remember that all stains can be removed by using the right supplies. When it comes to cleaning off stains, you will need warm running water, stain remover, mild detergent and rubber gloves.
Warm Water
- Always use running water. Stagnant water in a basin does not have any pressure that helps in taking away the residue off the clothes. Running water, on the other hand, gives you enough pressure to push the outer dirt from the clothes.
- Also, using stagnant water can be unsanitary because the poop residues are staying in the basin and not flowing down the drain. Your baby clothes will get contaminated by bacteria again even after cleaning off the dirt. With running water, you can be assured that all the grime that travels with the water flows down the drain.
- Put the stained area just below the faucet, so the hard pressure of the water will flow through the stain. Use warm water instead of cold because it is more efficient in removing bacteria and dirt. Some germs are killed by a higher level of temperature so warm water is preferable than a cold one.
Stain Remover
There are two kinds of stain removers that you can use: homemade solutions and artificial products you see in stores. Applying stain removers will break down the components of the stain on the clothes thus making it easy to remove. It is also more powerful since stain removers have added ingredients that are designed to fight off the stain.
Homemade solutions
These are mixtures that you do by yourself at home. Ingredients are usually found at the comforts of your kitchen and bathroom such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar and dishwashing liquid soap. The kind of ingredients you use depends on how deep the stain is on the clothes.
Natural solutions are less expensive than artificial ones you buy at the store. When you have all the ingredients at home, there is nothing else you need to buy. Also, natural ingredients are safe to use especially on your skin.
Sample Natural Stain Remover Solutions
- An example of a homemade solution is by mixing 1 part of baking soda, mixed with 1 part dishwashing liquid soap and two parts hydrogen peroxide. Create a paste out of these ingredients and apply on the stain.
- You can also use lemon juice on top of the stain and let it soak under the heat of the sun. Once the clothes dry up, the stain is also gone.
- Mild stains can be removed by rubbing baking soda directly on the stain and letting it soak on the ingredient before washing off.
Important Things To Note When Using Natural Stain Remover
- Treat stains a quickly as you can. Fresh poop stains are easier and faster to remove than a day old stain. When you see a stain on your child’s clothes, wash it immediately and treat with the solution.
- When putting your clothes to dry under the sun, it is best to do so when the clothes are still very wet. Make sure that it is a full sunny day and the clothes are outside for several hours.
- For old stains, soak the clothes in the solution overnight. Rub the solution directly on the stain and leave it for several hours before rinsing off so the solution can deeply seep through the clothes and work efficiently.
- Store your homemade solutions in a clear glass rather than on a plastic bottle. Some ingredients can corrode plastics. Other ingredients have a more potent effect on plastic when combined with other elements.
- Always check your stored solution for signs of discoloration or molds. If you see them, throw your solution away and make a new one when needed. I would prefer making only the amount that I need for the stain, so there is no need for me to store leftovers.
- Choose good quality ingredients. Most natural materials work best when they are in excellent condition. For instance, use lemons that are still juicy and fresh.
Artificial Stain Remover
via flickr.com
Check out the grocery stores, and you can find a lot of stain removers varying in sizes and brands. Artificial stain removers are factory-made solutions. They incorporate synthetic ingredients that are designed to deal with stains effectively.
Using artificial stain removers can make your life easy. Many products can easily get rid of a stain in just a few minutes. There are those that do not need scrubbing while others require a bit of soak and scrub.
While these synthetic products may be useful to utilize, there are harmful ingredients found in some artificial solutions that you need to watch out for.
For instance, avoid products with quaternium-15, ammonium hydroxide, disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulfonate and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (C10-16). These elements can irritate your respiratory system and may trigger asthma. Other studies show that they release an allergenic chemical that can lead to cancer.
Still, some synthetic ingredients added to the stain removers are less risky on the body. Examples of these ingredients are acetic acid, washing soda, hydrogen peroxide and citric acid.
While artificial stain removers can be more expensive than natural solutions, most of these products are faster and more beneficial in treating stains.
Sample Artificial Stain Remover Products
Oxiclean Stain Remover
Oxiclean is 100% chlorine-free solution. It can be used to pretreat stains or soak overnight for tough marks. You can use it other stain marks aside from baby poop.
This product uses oxygen to remove stains from clothes safely. It is also water-activated and can be utilized on any surface.
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover
You can choose between a spray and a liquid solution. A spray gives you better precision, so there is no wastage of solution. The liquid solution is helpful for bulk loads since you can soak everything in one basin.
Fels Naptha
Fels Naptha is a laundry soap that is also made to remove a stain. You can rub the soap on the stain and leave it for a few minutes before washing.
Important Things To Note When Using Artificial Stain Remover
- Check the label. Know the ingredients of each product for you to be more aware of what you are using. Understand what each ingredient does, or you can set a list of ingredients to avoid.
- Test it first. When you want to try a new product, it is ideal to buy in the smallest quantity and test its effects on your fabric. There are times when it calls for removing the stain but cannot remove at all.
- Know what kind of clothing material you use. There are care instructions on your baby’s clothes that you need to follow to maintain its usability. If the fabric is too fragile, choose a safer and lighter stain remover.
- Understand how to use it. Read first how to properly use the product before trying it out. You will find products that need more time to soak or products that must not come into contact with the skin. Understanding its instructions can increase its effectiveness while also keeping you and your baby’s clothes safe.
Mild Detergent
You may be asking, “What is the mild detergent for?” After removing the residue from your baby’s clothes and pretreating them with stain remover, you will need to wash it thoroughly to keep it bacteria-free. A mild detergent will clean off residue from the stain remover, making the clothes spic-and-span.
Rinsing with water after rubbing the clothes with the solution will only leave behind the chemicals or elements from the remover products. What you need to do is to wash it like you are doing laundry, so it goes through another cycle of cleaning.
Rubber Gloves
Think of your safety when cleaning the poop stains out of your baby’s clothes. Direct contact of the products to your skin can lead to damage and the transfer of bacteria and germs. Use a pair of rubber gloves to add a layer of protection on your hands.
My Recommendation
I have tried using the different products, and most of them work well depending on how long I kept the stain on the clothes and how deep the stain is. For tough stains, I go for Oxiclean Stain Remover since it can deeply penetrate on the fabric after an overnight soak.
For easy and immediate stains, nothing beats safe and eco-friendly solutions. These stains are easily removed so there is no need to try harsh chemicals on baby’s clothes.
If you have the time and energy to make yourself a homemade solution, I would recommend creating a mix out of dishwashing liquid soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. A simple and easy paste works best on baby poop stains without the added risk.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Procedure
STEP 1
Prepare your stain remover solution. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a glass bowl with 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap and two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Using the same spoon, mix all ingredients to create a paste.
STEP 2
Turn on the faucet and place the stained area under the running water. Gently rub the poop stain to remove excess residue. Scrape off as many residues as you can so the stain remover will have to work less to penetrate deeper.
STEP 3
Using the back of the spoon, rub the paste solution on the stain until fully covered. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour.
STEP 4
Check the fabric to see if the stain has gone. Once fully removed, rinse it off with clean water. Add mild detergent on the fabric and wash as usual. Rinse and hang it to dry outside.
Alternatively, you can include the wet clothes with your other laundry after you have rinsed off the solution. It will reduce your time and effort in cleaning. Mix it with your other laundry when in time for laundry day.
The Dos and Don’ts of Cleaning Baby Poop Stain
- Do have all the ingredients you need on hand. You may never know when you might need to create a solution. It is best to stock up ingredients even in small batches.
- Do check your baby’s diaper once in a while. One of the tricks to avoid baby poop stains is to make sure that you changed your baby’s diaper. A full load needs changing immediately to prevent leaking.
- Do wash your hands carefully after cleaning. Make it a habit of washing your hands after you clean your baby's bottom, change her diaper and wash off the stain. Doing so will stop the germs from spreading in other places around the house especially to your baby.
- Do store your solutions properly. If you have leftovers, store it in an airtight glass container. Keep it in a dry and cool place to prevent mold growth, and bacteria build up. Lock these solutions in a cabinet along with your cleaning supplies and out of reach of children.
- Do rinse your cleaning area with water. If you are soaking your baby’s clothes on top of a counter or table, rinse it off with water and soap to clean off the residue of the solution.
- Do disinfect after cleaning. Apply disinfectant on your hands such as alcohol or hand sanitizers after washing with soap and water. It will kill the rest of the germs and sanitize you as you hold your baby once again. Disinfect your cleaning area as well.
- Do not freak out when you see a poop stain. It is normal for a baby to stain their clothes with anything so do not let the situation get to you. Whenever I see a stain, I take a deep breath rather than venting my frustrations out.
- Do not let the stain dry. If you see a stain, deal with it immediately. Dry stain becomes hard and will be too tough to remove.
- Do not add stained clothes with the other garments. The bacteria on the poop stain will transfer to the other garments. So, even if you do clean up the stain, the germs have already spread out.
- Do not let your child near when cleaning. The fumes that your solution release can get in your baby’s body and cause illnesses. Do your cleaning procedure outside or in your laundry area.
- Do not leave poop residue on the sink. After you are done scraping off the residue from the clothes, rinse the sink with running water to flush the rest of the poop stranded on the sink.
You Can Do It!
Baby poop stains can be a challenge, but it is not something you cannot get out of. It takes patience, determination to rid of it and lots of effort. Despite all of these requirements, you will be relieved to see clean and fresh baby clothes.
Follow the steps above, and it will be easy every time you clean off your baby's poop stains. Use a remover to make the process easier for you. Remember, a soak for a few minutes really helps.
I also followed through the process, and now I no longer feel gloomy inside of me every time my baby poops out of her diaper. I feel like a super mom!
So, did you like the tutorial above? How many times have you tried to remove poop stains but did not work? Tell me more about your poop stories!