Key steps:
Read the clothing label to check how best to wash the garment
Rinse or soak the soiled item in cold water.
Pre-treat the stained area to help get the baby poop stains out.
Wash as normal with a gentle detergent.
Ideally, dry in natural sunlight for a gentle bleaching effect.
Every new parent finds themselves wondering how to tackle poop stains at some point—and this guide is here to help! Let’s get started.
How to get rid of baby poop stains: 5 steps
(Make sure you wipe off as much of the poop as possible before you start.)
Step 1: Read the label and, if you need to, do patch test
The golden rule of washing is to always read the care label on the garment. If the fabric is unusual or fragile, then it may be worth doing a quick patch test, too.
Step 2: Rinse, rinse, rinse
Once you’ve checked the washing instructions, the next thing to do is rinse the item in cold water. The best way to do this is under running water, as pressure from the tap will help remove the poop particles. Always use cold water—hotter temperatures risk setting the stain. You might also need to soak the garment. The longer the poop stain has been there, the longer it’ll need to soak.
Step 3: Pre-treat with detergent
After soaking, remove the item and dab a small amount of stain remover or laundry detergent onto the area. Use a gentle detergent that’s suitable for your baby’s sensitive skin. Leave it to work its magic for a few minutes.
Step 4: Machine wash the item
As long as the label doesn’t recommend otherwise, you should machine wash the clothes as soon as possible. Use the highest temperature permitted, as this will help eradicate bacteria. Don’t let the clothing dry after washing if any of the stain still remains—just keep repeating steps 2-4 until it’s all gone. You can use a gentle fabric softener on baby clothes, but never on cloth diapers (as it can make them less absorbent).
Step 5: Dry in natural sunlight wherever possible
Sunlight is one of the best natural stain removers. So, if the weather is good, place items outside to dry naturally. If it’s raining, dry the clothes inside near a window that gets direct sunlight.
And that’s all there is to it...