Natural Stain Removal Hacks

It’s one of those truths about becoming a parent: you’ll be surprised how quickly you get used to life with your little bundle of joy…and all of the spit up, leaks, and spills that come with him or her that may have grossed you out in a previous life, but now are par for the course! Suddenly you impose a three-stain minimum before changing clothes. Carrying an extra top, and an abundance of wipes and burp clothes are the new norm. You also find the stains that have just been introduced into your life come with their own set of rules and just because they are all natural does not make them easy to get out! Plus, finding equally as natural ways of getting the stains out can be hard to come by and even the heavy duty cleaners out there aren’t always the solution or one that you may want. Here’s our favorite Stain Removal Hacks for the most common (and pesky) offenders:

#MommyIQ: hot water will set a stain, especially protein-based stains. Always pre-treat a stain with cold water. We recommend soaking in ice water for 30 minutes.

Breast Milk

This is a tough one and maybe a little shocking to you, but ladies, just because its light in color doesn’t make it easy to remove! Very few products are capable of removing breast milk stains. Even if you think a piece of clothing is clean, you may find, after setting it aside for months, a telltale yellow stain will appear once the wetness has dried. Fortunately, Enzyme-based products are able to break down the stain. We like natural Enzyme pre-washes.

Another amazing natural stain fighter (that’s easily available, too): a dose of sunshine (seriously!). It’s a total nuisance when it fades a favorite couch—but its natural bleaching abilities come in handy for freshening your baby’s whites. Simply leave garments outside to dry after a regular wash.

Spit Up

Blot the stain with a damp cloth and remove any chunks (sorry, but its the truth ladies). Pour baking soda on the stain and add club soda until the powder is wet and fizzing. Wash with the hottest water the garment will allow and your preferred detergent. Do not place the garment into the dryer until you’re satisfied the stain has been removed (the dryer will set the stain!). Considering spit up in inevitable its a smart idea to use burp cloths and either cover your glider or get one with a removable cover that you can wash. Failing that, just choose a color or print that will hide the stains for an easier life!

Poop

Breast milk-based poop is especially difficult to remove. Run the stained garment under cold water as soon as possible, removing as much of the stain as you can. Head to the pantry for these mildly acidic treatments that work on protein-based stains. Pre-treat before washing by blotting one of the following solutions on the stain:

One-part lemon juice to two-parts water.
One-part vinegar to two-parts water.
A paste made of cream of tartar and water.

Blood

Pour whole milk on the stain (better than skim) and let the milk soak in. Scrub with a stiff brush or a cloth, and the stain will come out. If the stain has been there for a while then soak in whole milk over night before washing. The effect is quite brilliant!

With all stains, we’ve found that the longer we wait to treat it, the harder it is to remove. It should go without saying, treat all stains as quickly as possible, but…. if you just don’t have the energy in the middle of the night after an explosive diaper and spit up experience, we don’t blame you!  Luckily we just received new deliveries of our adorable baby collection with 5 pack bodysuits and other gems that will make your life easier (and cuter!).