Once you become a parent, you will notice that washing baby clothes is a never-ending task. Baby poop, pee and the occasional throw up can dirty the baby clothes very fast. Sometimes you will notice yellow stains on the baby’s clothes even after washing. These are stains caused by breastmilk. What is the best way to get breastmilk out of clothing?
There are a variety of ways of getting breastmilk out of clothing, one of my favorites is letting the items soak in water and OxiClean Baby Stain Remover for 30 minutes. You can also use a natural stain remover like lemon, baking soda, and white vinegar.
If you don’t act quickly, it can ruin the look of the clothes. Getting it cleaned properly at the right time is very important to have you and your babies clothes looking pristine.
In todays post we will cover all the ways you can get breastmilk out of baby clothes, even when it’s already set…
Why Does Breastmilk Causes Stains?
Breastmilk is a superfood for babies. It contains all the nutrients required for the healthy growth of the baby. Apart from vitamins, it contains fat and protein required for the overall health of the baby.
The stain caused by breastmilk is called protein based stain. Protein-based stains are stubborn stains that need to be removed without delay. Otherwise, it leaves a mark on the clothes. This type of stain should be kept away from heat and requires enzymes to clean them.
What Are The Products Available For Removing Breastmilk Stains?
Detergent
There are two types of detergent available in the market – biological detergent and non-biological detergent.
Biological detergent contains enzymes that help to break down protein stains. You can use this type of detergent in cold water. But this type of detergent can irritate the baby’s sensitive skin. Thus, if you plan to use this type of detergent, remember to rinse the cloth thoroughly to remove any traces of the detergent.
Non-biological detergent, on the other hand, does not contain enzymes that can break down protein stains. Thus, they may not be as effective as biological detergents in removing breastmilk stains. If you really care for your baby’s delicate skin and is ready to compromise on mild stains, non-biological detergent is a great choice.
Synthetic Stain Remover
Synthetic stain removers are very effective in removing breastmilk stain.
If you are not concerned about using chemicals for cleaning purposes, synthetic stain removers are a great choice. Always remember to use the product as per the instructions given.
Natural Stain Remover
- Lemon: Lemon is a natural bleaching agent that helps remove breastmilk stain from cloth. You can use a mixture of lemon and water or lemon and salt and apply it to the garment. Let it sit for some time, and then wash it thoroughly.
- Baking soda: Baking soda is another universal cleaning agent that is very effective in removing breastmilk stain. You can make a paste of water and baking soda and use it for removing a stain.
- White vinegar: You can use white vinegar as such for removing breastmilk stain from clothes.
Can You Use Normal Bleach For Removing Stains?
Though bleach is a very effective product for removing stains, it is a harsh chemical. Traces of bleach on the cloth can irritate the baby’s eyes, nose and skin.
It can even cause issues with the respiratory system if the baby smells the bleach continuously. Thus, it is best to avoid using bleach for removing breastmilk stain.
How To Get Breastmilk Stain Out Of Clothing?
- First, wash the cloth to remove the breastmilk residue from it.
- Next, soak the cloth in cold water for at least 15 minutes. By soaking in cold water, you can easily break down the stain and prevent it from getting stuck to the fabric.
- Rub the stain softly with a brush. A toothbrush would be a good choice. Since baby clothes are made of soft material, you should be extra careful while rubbing.
- Now wash the cloth as per the care instruction provided.
- Dry the cloth in the bright sun.
How To Remove Breastmilk Stain That is Already Set In On the Cloth?
You need to put some extra effort to remove stains that are already set in.
- Rinse the cloth in cold water. You should scrap and remove any breastmilk stain present in the cloth.
- Pretreat the fabric with any of the products mentioned above. This helps to break down the protein in breastmilk.
- Now work the pretreatment product into the stain with the help of a soft-bristled brush.
- Allow the product to sit on the cloth for a few minutes. You can follow the ‘direction for use’ as mentioned in the product.
- Wash the cloth as per the care instruction provided.
- Dry the cloth in direct sunlight.
What Are The Things To Consider While Removing Breastmilk Stain From Clothes?
- Always wash the stain immediately before it sets in. Once the stain dries, it penetrates the fabric fibre and makes it difficult to remove. Also, the protein molecules in the stain break down and make the color turn yellow.
- You should always wash the cloth in cold water. If you wash it in hot water, it can cook the protein in the breastmilk, thus making it difficult to remove.
- Do not use products with a strong odor and harsh chemicals as it can be dangerous for the baby.
How To Prevent Breastmilk Stains On Clothes?
To prevent breastmilk stain from setting in, you should follow the below tips.
- Clean breastmilk stain immediately before it sets in.
- Use a nursing pad. This prevents the stain from setting in on your garments.
- Use an old cloth or towel to soak up on the breastmilk that spills while feeding.
- Keep a stain removal wipe handy for quick clean up after a spill.
- Store the baby’s cloth in such a way that it gets good air circulation.
If the breastmilk spills on your dry-clean-only clothes by accident, it is best to hand it over to a professional dry cleaner for cleaning.
Conclusion
Breastmilk stain is a stubborn stain that you cannot remove easily. If you are a first-time mother, you will be uncomfortable dealing with this type of stain. There are different types of products available in the market for treating stains.
Whether to go for a natural or synthetic product is purely your choice. You can figure out the best possible way to remove the stain through the trial and error method.
Always remember to use a product that is less sensitive to the baby’s skin and treat the stain immediately before it sets in.
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