Every parent will tell you that the hardest part of doing laundry is figuring out how to remove stains from kids’ clothes. This post will teach you four important tips on keeping your kids’ clothing stain-free.
We all know kids experience severe difficulty in keeping mud, chocolate, ketchup, and other liquids away from their clothes. After all, taking good care of and preserving one’s clothes is a habit which takes years to establish.
If you always go through their wardrobe only to find he or she has stained her best piece of clothing, there might be a way to save it.
Know the Stain
Different types of stains require different treatment. You probably can’t stop what you’re doing and start a load of laundry at the very moment your kid messes up his or her clothes.
Spray the stain with a pre-treatment product. You may also consider soaking the clothes in water overnight (the temperature will be determined by the fabric and stain) with some washing powder or detergent.
Oil Stains
Oily stains like Automotive oil, Hair oil, Bacon fat, Hand lotion, Butter/margarine, Lard, Car door grease, Mayonnaise, Collar/cuff greasy rings, Salad dressing, Cooking fats and oils, Suntan oil or lotion, and Face creams can be treated with heavy-duty detergent and hot water. If you are not sure on what to use visit Best This great guide to learn more about detergent sheet.
Rust Stains
Use table salt – sprinkle some over the spot, squeeze lemon juice on it, and spread the garment in the sun to dry. Allow it to set for a few minutes and the stain will come off much easier.
Protein Stains
Protein stains (Baby food, Milk, Baby formula, Mucous, Blood, Cheese sauce, Mud, Cream, Pudding, Egg, Urine, Feces, Vomit, Gelatin, White glue or school paste, Ice cream) should be soaked in cold water with a liquid detergent.
Ink and Marker Stains
Ink and marker stains can be rid of by rubbing acetone or alcohol on the spot. Place stain face down on a clean paper towel. Blot with a sponge or cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. If stain remains, spray with hairspray and gently rub stain from back. Rinse fabric. Launder normally.
It is very important to know what the stain is, the type of fabric, and the appropriate water temperature to use in order to remove stains successfully.
So bottom line is, know what stains you are dealing with!
Related post: Laundry Stain Removal Guide
Treat Right Away
If a stained piece of clothing spends a couple of days in the laundry basket, it will be more difficult to remove the stains. The longer they sit, the more difficult it will be to wash away the mess. These stains may end up becoming permanent.
You also have to know when to quit. Some stains won’t come out, no matter how hard you try to remove them. This is especially true of set in stains.
Keep Stain Fighters on Hand
Here are my Amazon affiliate links to some of my favorite stain fighting tools:
- Ammonia
- Hair Spray
- Clorox 2
- Bleach
- Dawn Dish Soap
- Liquid Laundry Detergent
- Oxi-Clean Powder
- Paper Towels
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Stain Remover
- Vinegar
Use a Homemade Solution
Children’s’ skin is very soft and can be much more sensitive compared to that of most adults. Many detergents and pre-treatment products are rather aggressive, which may lead to undesirable skin irritation, rashes, and other allergic reactions.
You may want to try a natural solution when removing stains from your kids’ clothes. Baking soda and dish soap are a good option.
Begin by filling a bucket with warm water, then adding 1/4 cup of baking soda. Rub the stain with some dish soap and soak the dirty clothes in the bucket. Leave them in the backing soda solution over night. Throw them into your washing machine the next day.
You may have to repeat this procedure once or twice, but at least your child’s skin won’t come in contact with harsh chemicals.
Related Post: Money Saving Natural Cleaning Products
Protect Their Clothes
When it’s time to draw, paint, or work on a craft project, use a plastic smock. Full-coverage smocks protect clothing from messes, so kids can just focus on the fun. When your child is done creating for the day, the smock can easily and quickly be wiped clean.
If your child is helping you with cooking, use an apron. These machine washable garments are easy for kids to wear over their clothes to protect them from the messes made while cooking.
For young children, another alternative is to use a bib at meal times. There’s no guarantee that it will prevent all messes and stains, but it would at least minimize the possibilities. Using a plastic bib is an even better idea, as you won’t spend much time and effort washing it.
Related Post: 5 Practical Laundry Tips for the Busy Mom
Whatever you opt for, remember kids and stains go hand in hand. Know the stain, keep stain fighters on hand, treat stains right away, use homemade solutions when possible, and protect their clothes.
More Laundry Tips:
- How to Remove Paint Stains from Clothes?
- How to Remove Stains from Kids’ Clothes
- Top Mom Tips for Ensuring the Laundry is Always Super-Clean
- 6 Common Mistakes To Avoid On Your Laundry Day
- 5 Practical Laundry Tips for the Busy Mom
The article was contributed by CityCleaners Mill Hill.
Thanks for the laundry guide. Always get confused on what needs to be used for what. This is a great resource. Much appreciated!
Thanks for the laundry guide. Always get confused on what needs to be used for what. This is a great resource. Much appreciated!
I find too difficult to remove the oil stains from the clothes. I have also tried the method that you have mentioned here to remove the stains, but I find it not effective. By the way I will try some other ways.
Thanks for the post. I am a great fan of home made natural cleaning solutions. Most of the time, I end up using one of vinegar, baking soda, alcohol or natural oils. They do the job well for most of the cleaning.
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Excellent article. I will be facing some of these issues as well.