How To Remove Baby Poop From Clothes (Simple Method)

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Baby had a blowout? Is it just me or do they save the most poop for when you’re just walking out the door?

So how do you get those baby poop stains out of your little one’s cutest outfit?

I’ll show you the best way to save even white clothes from stubborn stains with these simple steps.

Step 1 – Damage Control

It’s best to tackle a poop stain straight away to prevent the stain from drying and setting in the clothes.

  • If you have someone with you give them the baby and get to work on those poopy clothes immediately.
  • The first step is to remove any chunks first if your baby is on solid food.
  • Use rubber gloves, or if you don’t have any a plastic bag over your hands can work as a substitute.
  • Run the baby clothes under some cold water to rinse out as much of the poop as possible.
  • Breastfed baby poop is water-soluble and so won’t clog up pipes, but you may want to rinse into the toilet if your baby is formula-fed.

If you’ve got a messy crying baby and you’re on your own this isn’t easy.

Strip your baby and prioritize their care first.

Once the baby is clean and calm if you can, run those baby clothes under some cold water to rinse out as much of the poop as possible.

Then fill a bowl with warm water and place the clothes inside to soak until you are able to clean further.

Step 2 – Soak That Stain Away

Fill a bucket or tub with warm water and leave the garments to soak for a few hours.

This will help to loosen the stain and make part 3 much easier.

You can use warm or cool water but avoid hot water as it may cause the stain to become set into the clothes.

You may find that soaking alone is enough to remove the stain and you don’t need step 3, so if there are no visible stains move straight onto step 4.

Step 3 – The Removal Options

If you’ve soaked the clothes but you can still see the stains, don’t worry! There are a few different options you can use to get rid of those stubborn poop stains.

If you prefer natural cleaning products then try:

  • Lemon Juice – This is a great natural cleaner and bleaching agent. Use very on cautiously dark clothes to avoid ruining the fabric. Cut the lemon in half and rub it directly on the stain.
  • White Vinegar – Mix white vinegar with equal parts of plain water to create a natural stain remover. Pour directly onto the clothes or use in a spray bottle to focus on the affected area. This is also really good at treating urine stains

If you don’t have either of those to hand, then these common household products will help you out:

  • Dish Soap – Pour a small amount directly onto the stain,
  • Enzymatic cleaner – Either use a specially designed stain stick, or small amount of biological washing powder

With all of the above options, you will want to scrub the stain with a brush, or old toothbrush for a few minutes and then leave it to stand in the solution for at least 10 minutes.

Step 4 – Wash As Normal

A modern washing machine should be well equipped to deal with faeces stains.

Don’t forget to use a suitable non-bio washing detergent that will be safe for your babies skin

You do not need to wash the stained clothes separately from your baby’s normal clothes even if the stain is still visible provided you have soaked and rinsed first.

Check the labelling on the clothes and use the highest temperature suitable on your machine.

Step 5 – Harness the Power Of Sunshine

Once the baby clothes have been through the machine don’t worry if they still look a little stained and yellow.

This is especially true for breastfed babies as their poop leaves strong yellow stains.

The sun is a fabulous natural bleaching agent and natural stain remover.

Not only will it kill harmful bacteria, but it will also get those yellowy-stained clothes back to brilliant white.

Even the winter sun is strong enough to do this if you are able to place the clothes in direct sunlight.

Where possible dry your stained clothes outside, but if this is not possible display your clothes in front of a south-facing window.

The strongest sun rays are between 11 am and 3 pm so you should prioritise your drying time in this window.

baby poop infographic

Cleaning Cloth Diapers/Nappies

A little aside on cleaning cloth diapers as there are a few differences:

  • You will still need to remove as much of the solid poo as possible.
  • Cloth diapers should not be left to soak as this causes the fibers to degrade and will shorten the lifespan of your diaper.
  • Either rinse the diapers thoroughly under cool water or set your machine to pre-wash to run a rinse cycle first.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s advice regarding the temperature and setting of your machine, but usually, this will be a hotter temperature
  • You should not leave your dirty cloth diapers waiting longer than 48 hours in the pail or the fibers will start to degrade.

Cloth diapers are great at preventing poop stains from getting on your baby’s clothes.

The elastic gussets around the legs and waist will do a much better job of halting poop than their disposable counterparts.

Using fleece liners will help contain the poop further and make for an easier diaper change.



FAQ’s

Will This Work For Other Common Baby Stains?

Yes, this method will work for baby food stains and other baby-related messes.

Are There Stronger Chemicals I Can Use?

There are other harsher chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, chlorine bleach, and isopropyl alcohol that can be used on infant poop stains. Personally, I have found all of the above effective methods of faeces stain removal. If you do use harsher chemicals please wash clothes thoroughly and rinse with plenty of clean water to avoid skin irritation.

Does This Remove The Poop Smell?

Yes this method will remove the smell as well as the baby poo stains

Help! I’ve Got An Old Stain, Will This Still Work?

If you find a stained area while doing laundry then start the procedure exactly as you would for fresh poo stains. It is more challenging to remove a set stain, so repeat steps 3-5 if needed.

Will This Work For Dog Poop?

Yes, this will work for removing dog, or any other animal faeces. If you are cleaning animal faeces I would recommend rubber gloves and washing any fabrics separately from your normal clothes.