Stains in diapers and clothes

Georgia - posted on 01/21/2009

Well, I am ancient, or close to it. Both my kids were raised in cloth diapers. I used Ivory Soap to wash & Borateem to clean the stains out. I just soaked them in a combination of it then washed them really good before drying. Hanging out doors does help. You can use bleach but wash them several times and the very final rinse use a softner. Watch the child to be sure it does not give them a rash or burn them. Shouldn't if you wash 2 or 3 times.

Blessings,

Mari - posted on 01/21/2009

It depends on the type of cloth diapers you have too!! Always always pre-wash in cold, then wash hot with detergent, then wash cold with 1 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda. Then rinse once more.  If you have AIO's I wouldn't recommend using oxyclean, but if you have just pre-folds then it might work. Just rinse them well so that it won't irritate baby's bottom.

Megan - posted on 01/21/2009

If you are interested in non-toxic green cleaners that work, I recommend Shaklee Nature Bright (a natural brightner) and their laundry soap. I use the laundry soap concentrate as a stain pre-treater before I launder the clothes. I have a three month old, a three year old, and a 6 year old. Their products work great on all kinds of stains. If you are interested in more information as to where to get Shaklee products you can e-mail me at

megan _richert@yahoo.com.

Amy - posted on 01/21/2009

I put all of Lillie's stained clothes in the sink with hot water and dish washing liquid and it works great!

Morgan - posted on 01/21/2009

Something my mother taught me that I found to work great is to make a paste of Spray and Wash and Biz detergent directly on the stain.  Let it sit for a while and then wash.  I have used it get out many poop stains.  it even seems to help on stains that are already set in.  Good luck!

Jennifer - posted on 01/21/2009

I read in a magazine to pretreat with a spray that is met for pet stains... I've never tried it, but they swore it worked! Good luck!

Abby - posted on 01/21/2009

Shout Advanced works miracles!

Dolcie - posted on 01/21/2009

Electric dishwasher detergent will get alot of things out just make sure that you get the kind that doesn't have bleach in it or else it can ruin the color.  suave shampoo works good for dookie stains.  even the dried in ones.  wet it apply it rub it in and let it set. 

Beth - posted on 01/21/2009

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful ideas.  I'm looking forward now to a stain so I can try some of these ideas (did I really say that? oh well).  Thanks again

Becky - posted on 01/17/2009

i like oxiclean. :) I'll have to try the shout stuff.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/17/2009

The best thing I have found that works wonders is Shout Advanced from the grocery store- it is next to the regulat Shout, but in a smaller blue bottle. If you follow the directions- the stains will be long gone!

Nichole - posted on 01/17/2009

Get a BIZ bucket.  Biz laundry detergent (powder).  Fill a couple gallon bucket part way with water...add a scoop or so (depending how many clothes need stains removed).  I just throw stuff in as it gets dirty.  When it is time to do my son's laundry I dump the whole bucket laundry, water and soap all into the wash machine.  Add detergent as usual and most everything comes out.  I usually just use this for bibs and some shirts that get messy.  He is also 16 months now...so we know he really don't have to worry about skin allergies with the BIZ detergent.  BUT IT WORKS AWESOME.  I have also tried the same thing with oxyclean...but I think the BIZ works better for us.  Never used it on cloth diapers tho!!

Janelle - posted on 01/17/2009

oxyclean...it really really works

Nicola - posted on 01/17/2009

i use vanish stain remover spray before i wash them. its a godsend!

Petina - posted on 01/16/2009

be careful on using abrasive stain removers on your diapers.  its also bad for baby's gentle skin and can eat away and thin out your dipes.  they are also carcinogens.

Bioklean oxygen bleach works great (also add your detergent - bioklean detergent is great too).  over time your stains will really fade. then when you have a nice hot summer sunny day go over to a friends house and lay them all out for 6 hours and your dipes will be pristine again!  sometimes only takes a few hours of direct sunlight.   stains go away in time. dont' stress it.  try to blast of the poop right away with your toilet diaper sprayer.  its the dipes that sit with the poo for days that stain the worst.  breast milk poo stains bad but suns out in a couple hours or fades over time. 

good luck!

Jennifer - posted on 01/16/2009

I am a mom of 4 & I can tell you that the Shout Advanced spray works miracles! I have been able to get stains out of hand me downs that sat in bins for months to years from friends. It's a blue spray bottle & you'll love it! It gets out pretty much anything! Good luck!  

Betsy - posted on 01/16/2009

I like the Dreft concentrated spray

Kathy - posted on 01/16/2009

Greased Lightening works great on all kinds of stains and it does not fade color out of clothes.

Amanda - posted on 01/16/2009

We use the Spray & Wash stain stick. It seems to work much better than any other product we have tried including regular Spray & Wash.

Gabrielle - posted on 01/16/2009

Oxy-clean is a great stain remover. I soak the stained clothes in cold water and rub in some Oxy-clean. Then when I wash them, I add color-safe bleach to the load, along with my regular detergent. It works almost every time.

Kim - posted on 01/16/2009

I use liquid dish detergent and rub it in gently in a circular motion with a toothbrush. Just make sure you don't get the kind with bleach on colored clothes!

Cassi - posted on 01/16/2009

My daughters spit up a lot and their meds often stained clothes.  We used a product called Zout to pre-treat before washing and it did the best job of anything I tried.

Kristina - posted on 01/16/2009

i know this sounds weird. but club soda. soak the clothes and the diapers in enough to get the article wet for an hour. then throw in your regular wash.

also coke does it too. coke can take blood out of clothing as well.

let the washer fill with cold water  before you put the coke in then add the soap and the clothes.

Valyrie - posted on 01/16/2009

before the stain sets in spray hair spray on the area. The laquer in the spray helps keep the stain from setting in. Use Spray and Wash right before washing and see how that works. Once the stain has set there isnt a lot you can do unfortunately. I tried it 20 years ago and it worked like a dream. Good Luck