What To Do With Stained Baby Clothes | Natural Stain Removers And Other Tips!

Babies are beautiful little humans, but they’re pretty messy. Stains from baby food, formula and other smelly accidents, every parent knows how many laundry loads a baby can pile on them.

You have to pay extra attention to what to wash baby clothes with because of their sensitive skin. This article will give you the best stain treatment options and other things to do with beyond-stained baby clothes.

All the stain treatments are natural, btw!

How To Remove Stains From Baby Clothes?

Your best bet is to wash or wipe the baby’s clothes as soon as possible.

This will prevent the use of different chemicals and stain removers on the clothes and prevent the stain from getting embedded into the fabric. There are stain-resistant baby clothes around, so you can simply wipe off the mess without worry!

But if this isn’t possible for you, read on to see some of my favorite stain removal hacks.

White Vinegar

White vinegar may be a gift from the Gods because who knew a simple cooking and flavoring agent could be so versatile?

Dab a good amount of white distilled vinegar on the stain and leave it to soak in for some time. Then wash as normal on a warm setting, and the stain is gone! If the stain is difficult or is from poop (pinches nose), let the garment soak overnight in a solution of some vinegar, detergent, and a bucket of water. Wash as normal the next day. 

Essential Oils

Essential oils are great to wind down and relax, but they can also be used as a stain-busting agent. Especially lemon essential oil.

The citric acid is perfect for removing tough stains. You can apply some to the stain but be careful not to let it soak in as it can cause discolouration. Alternatively, you can add some drops of the oil to a vinegar and water solution and let the garment soak for some time. Then rinse to remove the stain.

Baking Soda Paste

I like using baking soda because it can shoot 2 birds with one strong. It can also take out any odor stuck on the clothes.

Make a paste of baking soda and some water and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for a while and the baking soda will literally lift the stain right out. You can also use vinegar in the mixture if you’d like. Wash as normal.

This is a quick fix to difficult stains without the use of chemicals.

Mr. Golden Sun

The sun is mother nature’s bleaching agent and will remove unwanted stains from clothes. It’s really good for keeping white clothes super white. I feel this is a good option for baby clothes as there’s no possible irritant.

Wash the garment as normal with your washing detergent, then hang it outside or put it in direct sunlight.

The sun’s UV rays get into the stain and destroy its structure, which causes that nasty stain to disappear. Any UV exposure will help you lighten stains, so cloudy days don’t stop you from benefitting. Just make sure you take it out if it starts raining!

The sun also kills any germs that are in the clothes. This method goes well with the lemon essential oil, as the sun makes the citric acid perform at its best.

Can I Use Oxiclean For Yellow Stains On Baby Clothes?

Yes, you can!

Set your washing machine on a medium load, hot water setting. You should put a scoop of Oxiclean or similar (NapiSan, for example) for every litre of water. This seems like a lot of detergent, and it is, but trust my directions!

Let it soak overnight, then run a cycle the next morning as usual. You’d see the yellow stains completely gone. Not only does it get that annoying tinge of yellow out, but it also brightens the clothes as well, like brand new.

Can I Donate Stained Baby Clothes?

There’s no coming back with certain stains, and you don’t particularly feel right throwing your baby clothes away. Donations and recycling are the next options.

Now, most charities won’t accept stained clothing, however, some thrift stores may take them and send them to a textile factory where they will be recycled into clothes and rag toys. Many places in Australia have a ‘rags bin’ in their store so that you can keep an eye out for that.

You can also put them up on Facebook. Many people are looking for pre-loved clothes, even if they are stained, as they upcycle them to make something else or creative reuse.

You’d be surprised at some creative minds and how they extend the life of your stained baby clothes! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do baby clothes get yellow stains even when they are washed and put away?

This is common for stored baby clothes to come out with some discolouration. Usually, the reason is the protein from milk. Even though you washed them before putting them away, you probably missed some residue, which bonded to the garment. This makes the clothes have a yellowish colour. 

How do you keep baby clothes stain-free?

You should wash baby clothes in warm water. If you want to maintain the colour of clothes, you can wash them in cold water using liquid laundry detergent. Sometimes, powdered detergents can leave a residue.