Remove Your Worst Toddler Laundry Stains (No, Really)!
You have a toddler — that means you have laundry stains.
If you’re a lazy laundress like I am, you throw your worst toddler stains in the washer and pray for a miracle. It works about 20% of the time. Those are some pretty sucky odds.
I need my toddler’s clothes to go the distance. In fact, I want his clothes in good enough shape to pass on to a grateful mommy friend.
Nothing on earth pains me more than a splurge at Gap Kids only to be ruined by a marker stain on the first wear, grrr!
Let’s tackle your worst toddler laundry stains to keep your kids looking fresh (if only for a moment).
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Stain Removal 101
Rinse stains immediately in cold prior to washing. Fresh stains are much easier to remove so don't delay. When attempting to remove a stain, test for color fastness in a hidden spot on the clothing first.
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Crayons
Dampen the stain and rub with bar soap, wash with laundry soap and 1 cup of baking soda in the hottest temperature the fabric will allow.
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Chocolate
Scrape (don't lick) off what you can. Soak the stain for 30 minutes in cold water. Apply liquid laundry detergent containing enzymes to the stain and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash on warm.
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Fruit Juice
Soak the stain for 30 minutes in cold water. Blot white vinegar on the stain and let sit for 30-40 minutes. Wash.
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Blood
Soak fresh blood stains in cold water (hot will set the stain). For dried blood stains, pretreat the stain with a liquid laundry detergent containing enzymes and soak the stain in warm water for 30 minutes. Wash.
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Markers
Place a white rag under the stain and treat with dry-cleaning solution and attempt to transfer the stain onto the rag. Work from the outside of the stain in so the stain doesn't spread. Rinse and wash (and pray).
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Grease
Place the clothing stain side down on a clean white rag. Using a sponge, dab the back of the stain with prewash, working from the center of the stain out. Allow the stain to dry. Rinse. If stain remains, pretreat and wash using the hottest temperature the fabric will allow.
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Ketchup
Run cold water through the back of the stain. Treat stain with a liquid laundry detergent containing enzymes and rub the stain in the circular motion. Treat stain with prewash, let sit for 10 minutes. Wash.
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Grass
Treat with prewash spray. Let sit for 30 minutes. Wash on the hottest temperature the fabric will allow.
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Mud
Allow the mud to dry, wet mud is harder to remove. Once dry, brush off the excess mud. Pretreat stain with a liquid laundry detergent containing enzymes. Wash.
Laundry Tips You Want to Know:
- Sorting sucks, but do it anyway. Read your garment care instructions (if your toddler let you keep the tag) and sort by washing method and color.
- Don’t wash really dirty stuff with only slightly dirty stuff. All that does is spread around the dirt (don’t get me started on the irony).
- Wash the big, bulky stuff (towels, sheets, etc.) separate from the little stuff (socks, underwear, shoelaces).
- Never, under any circumstance dry a garment that still has a stain you’re trying to remove. If the stain didn’t come out on your first try, try to remove it again. Like a diamond, a dried stain is forever.
Have any laundry stain removal tips to share?
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For blood, soak a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide and dab on the stain, let it bubble and then throw immediately into the washing machine. If you let it set on the stain for very long, it can wear down the fabric.
For grease/melted chap stick/melted crayon/lipstick etc… saturate the stain with liquid dish soap (like the blue dawn) and grind in powdered oxy clean. Let it rest at least a few minutes before tossing in the wash.
Like Katy said, Peroxide is a lifesaver when it comes to blood. I worked in a daycare and had a child bite me (fun stuff) and just prior he had apparently bumped his mouth on something and so blood got on my white long sleeved shirt. Peroxide takes it right out and makes it look brand new.
Someone told me to try WD40,that it would get any stain out. My little one had an accident and got blood on one of her toys. I put the toy up to wash until I had time to deal with it. About 3 weeks later, with no real hope that it would work I sprayed it with WD40 and threw it in the washer. Could not believe my eyes when I took it out and it was as good as new!
How about poop? C’mon people, this IS about toddlers, right?!? I have tried Oxi-Clean which works pretty well, but would love any other suggestions!
Great post! I have 2 toddlers and a laundry service I run from my home with a friend. I came across a trick with the Oxi-Clean to cut down on the lengthy soaking period. Take the Oxi-Clean powder, add just enough boiling water to make it a paste consistency. Apply the mix to the stain area and then toss into the washing machine.
Philadelphia Laundry Care