If you have a baby, you most likely have experienced a poop blowout before! If you haven’t… what are your secrets?? Baby poop very easily stains clothing so if you’re looking for a way to save that cute outfit you love, you’re in the right place! In this post, we’ll go over how to get baby poop out of clothes so you’re not throwing out clothes every time your baby has a poop explosion.
How to Get Baby Poop Out of Clothes
The Basics
If your baby has a bowel movement that turns into an explosion, start with the basics! Remove any poop from the clothing by rinsing with cold water. Avoid using hot water as it can sometimes lock the stains into the clothing and make them harder to remove.
After you’ve rinsed with cool water, treat with your product of choice and throw in the washing machine as normal. Baby poop stains can be really stubborn, so you may need to treat and wash them a second time.
If it was a really large blowout or it’s a poop stain that’s been set into the clothing for a few hours, try soaking the poopy clothes! Use a stain remover product and soak in warm water. You can do this right in the washing machine, in your sink, or in a designated bucket.
Pre-Treat the Stain
There are a few different ways you can pre-treat stubborn poop stains. I’ve included my three favorites here! These stain removers have never failed me.. and I’ve experienced many stubborn stains in my motherhood journey.
You will get the best results if you pre-treat the stain and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes before throwing it in the washing machine.
Dish Soap, Hydrogen Peroxide, & Baking Soda
This is the best stain remover for many different types of stains. I especially love it for baby poop stains because of the hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is an enzymatic cleaner that helps break down the proteins in the baby poop.
The combination of dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda is also great for the bright yellow stains that come from breastfed baby poop.
I usually just measure with the heart. It doesn’t need to be an exact amount. But if you’re looking for a guideline, try this: two parts hydrogen peroxide, one part dish soap, and one part baking soda.
I prefer to use the clear Dawn dish soap. It’s great at removing all stains and doesn’t leave any leftover color. I like to mix a little in a dish and pour it out to cover the whole affected area. Or if it’s a small stained area, I usually apply it with an old toothbrush.
OxiClean
OxiClean is another amazing stain fighter that I can depend on. There are two products that I love using. I like the OxiClean Max Force Stain Remover Spray because it comes in a spray bottle. This way I don’t have to directly touch the bottle to the poop to get the product out.
I also love the OxiClean Baby Stain Remover. It’s great for all of baby’s clothes, bedding, cloth diapers, accessories, and more. It’s free from perfumes and dyes, and is chlorine-free and color safe. You can use it to presoak the really dirty stuff or throw a scoop into the washing machine and treat the stains that way.
Hate Stains Co.
I discovered Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater when my first started solid food and was making a huge mess. But man did it come in handy with my second baby any time he had a diaper blowout!
This stuff is seriously magical when it comes to fruit stains. Literally disappears as soon as you spray it on! As for treating poop stains, just spray it on the stained area and let it sit for about 10 minutes before throwing it in the washing machine.
You will be so impressed by this product. It comes in a small spray bottle but seriously packs a punch!
Dry in the Sun
I remember the first time I tried this trick, I was truly shocked that it actually worked! Some stains are really stubborn, especially those bright yellow stains from a blowout. If you’ve washed it multiple times and that stubborn stain still won’t come out, leave it out to dry in the sun!
You can hang it or just lay it over top of something in a place with direct sunlight on the stain. And it’s pure magic! Check on it a few hours later and that stain will be completely gone!
How to Prevent Poop Stains
Preventing poop stains all comes down to preventing diaper blowouts!
If your baby has diaper blowouts at a particular time, like in the car seat, try covering their disposable diaper with a cloth diaper for extra protection. Cloth diapers may also work better to contain poop for some babies, so they may be worth a try if you’re having frequent diaper blowouts.
You’ll want to make sure the diaper your baby is wearing is the right size and the proper fit. Some diapers run more narrow and the sizing can vary between different diaper brands.
For even more of my top tips on how to prevent diaper blowouts, check out this post!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get baby poop out of clothes after drying?
If you’ve already dried your baby’s clothes and they still have a poop stain on them, I recommend using the soaking method and then laying them in the sun.
Soak your baby’s clothes with your stain remover of choice (I like the OxiClean Baby Stain Remover for this) for about an hour, then throw in the washing machine as normal. When you take the clothes out, instead of throwing them in the dryer, place them in direct sunlight to dry.
How to remove poop stains from baby’s clothes naturally?
If you don’t want to go the stain remover route, lemon juice can also be effective at removing baby’s poop stains. You can either squirt lemon juice directly onto the stain or mix 1/4 cup of lemon juice with 1 cup of water. Just be careful with this method as lemon juice may bleach dark clothing.
You can also try a dish soap of your choice, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.
