How to remove poop stains from baby clothes

As most parents probably know, babies are messy. When your baby has a blowout that results in poop getting all over their onesies, it can leave nasty poop stains behind. Fortunately, you can remove these pesky stains using liquid detergent, lemon, or commercial stain remover products.

Read on to see how to effectively get rid of poop stains on your baby’s clothes. If your baby hasn’t started on solids yet and is still exclusively breastfed, you can find more information about how to remove breast milk poop stains here. 

Create a liquid detergent solution to remove poop stains

Poop stains can be challenging to deal with, especially when they dry up on your baby’s clothes. Luckily, you can get rid of these stains using liquid detergent. It’s one of the best and most cost-effective remedies in removing poop stains, as it contains cleaning properties that can easily cut through the toughest filth.

Follow these handy steps to remove poop stains from your baby clothes using a solution of liquid detergent.

1. Try to remove as much poop as possible from the garment. You can use wet wipes to remove the solid portion of the poo to make the stain removal process easier.
2. Once all the solid portions are gone, rinse the stain by placing it under cold running water. It’s best to rinse from the opposite side of the cloth to avoid pushing the stain into the fabric.
3. Avoid using hot water to treat the poop stain because it can set the stain deep into the fabric. After rinsing, use a soft brush or a clean cloth to apply an ample amount of liquid detergent directly on the stained area.
4. Let it sit on the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes. Doing this gives the cleaning agent of the detergent enough time to break down the stain.
5. Check the care label of the fabric before tossing it in the wash. This will help you know what maximum wash temperature you should use and what cleaning agents you should avoid.
6. Machine wash and rinse the affected garment using the maximum temperature allowed for the fabric, eliminating bacteria from the stain.
7. After washing, when you see the stain is no longer visible, let your baby’s clothes dry out in the sun. The sun will bleach any remaining stain.

Video: How to remove poop stains from baby clothes with a liquid detergent solution

Lemon and sunshine: a natural poop stain remover

Lemon juice is one of the best natural stain removers because it has a high level of citric acid, low pH level, and antibacterial properties. It is also fabric-friendly and a natural deodorizer that’s perfect for dealing with poop stains on white clothes.

Here are the steps to using lemon juice to eliminate pesky poop stains from your baby’s clothes.

1. Remove as much poop as possible from the affected area. If it’s dry, you can try scraping the poop using an old knife or thin cardboard. Dispose of the waste properly.
2. Rinse the fabric with cold running water from the other side. By doing this, the water pressure will flush the poop residue from the fabric.
3. Squeeze or pour enough lemon juice to cover the whole stained area.
4. Let it soak for 20 minutes. During this period, the cleaning properties of the lemon juice will work to break down the stain.
5. After soaking, rinse the garment with clean, cool water.
6. Toss the garment in your washer with the maximum temperature allowed in the fabric’s care label.
7. Hang the garment outside to dry in the sun.

Lemon juice and sunshine are also highly effective on how to remove poop stains from a cloth diaper.

Using commercial products to remove poop stains

Getting rid of poop stains can be tough to do if the stain has been sitting on the fabric for a while, but you can remove it without much elbow grease by using some commercial cleaning products. One of these is OxiClean, a fabric and eco-friendly cleaning agent that can easily dissolve the stains on the fabric.

Easy steps for using OxiClean

1. Scrape the poop residue away from the fabric and dispose of the waste properly.
2. Wash the stained fabric with cold running water, wash it from the opposite side to push the stain away from the fabric.
3. Mix 4 scoop of OxiClean with 1 gallon of water in a bucket.
4. Soak the garment in the solution for 6 hours.
5. After 6 hours, wash the garment following the fabric’s care label instructions.
6. Sun-dry the treated fabric outside if possible. This will effectively help to eliminate the stain.

Enzyme stain remover

Enzyme cleaners are natural stain removers that are gentle on your health and the environment. Read here to learn more about what an enzyme cleaner is and how to use it to get rid of stains and odors in your home, including from baby poop.

Fels Naptha

Another mom-approved commercial stain remover is Fels Naptha, commonly known for treating poison ivy and other skin irritants. This heavy-duty laundry bar soap is also an effective stain cleaner, especially on poop stains. Make your baby’s clothes look clean and fresh again by following these simple steps.

1. Remove poop residue from the fabric using a scraper.
2. Rinse the clothes in cold running water.
3. Dampen the laundry bar with clean water and rub it against the stained area and its opposite side.
4. Soak the treated fabric in a bucket with clean cold water. Let it sit overnight.
5. After soaking, machine-wash the garment according to its fabric care instructions.
6. Hang the garment outside to sun-dry if possible.

Common questions about poop stains

Should I wash poopy clothes in hot or cold water?

Cold water is best for treating poop stains on clothes, and it helps to prevent stains from setting on fabric. In contrast, using hot water risks setting the stain deep into the garment’s fibers, which is the last thing you want to happen when trying to get rid of poop stains.

Does baking soda remove poop stains?

Yes, you can use baking soda to remove poop stains, its mild alkaline properties allow it to strip stains away from the fabric. You can make a baking soda paste by mixing water and baking soda and then applying it to the stained area to get rid of poop stains.

Will hydrogen peroxide remove poop stains?

One of the best natural stain removers is hydrogen peroxide. It’s very effective because its oxidizing property specializes in breaking down tough stains, such as protein-based stains like poop stains on clothes. This cleaning agent is also fabric and eco-friendly cleaner. It not only removes stains, but also get rid of germs and odors on the fabric.

Final thoughts

Having a baby is a blessing, but sometimes they can make a mess. Poop stain removal from clothes can be one of parenthood’s most unpleasant tasks, but every parent is bound to deal with it at some point. It’s their rite of passage of being a parent. By following the methods we’ve listed above, you can now deal with poop stains without resorting to throwing stinky clothes away.