How to Remove Stains from Children's Clothes

With a child who is always on the go and loves to get dirty, laundry can become a real chore. These home remedies help remove stains and keep clothes looking as good as new.
How to Remove Stains from Children's Clothes

Last update: 14 March, 2018

If you’re wondering how to remove stains from your children’s clothes, read these tips: they’ll save you time and money.

However hard you might try to keep your children neat and tidy, getting dirty is part of childhood. Dirt on your children’s clothes is a sign that they’re exploring the world around them.

Whether stains are old or fresh, these home remedies are sure to work. You can also use them to restore clothes and keep them looking as good as new. These techniques aren’t just for children’s clothes, either: they’ll also work for your wardrobe.

How to remove stains from children’s clothes: the most effective remedies

Talcum powder

This works like a charm to soak up sauce stains or oil splatters. All you need to do is sprinkle talcum powder liberally over the fresh stain and wait for it to absorb the grease.

Once the talc has done its work, wash the clothing on your regular laundry cycle, using warm water and a good detergent.

How to Remove Stains from Children's Clothes

Lemon juice

The substances present in lemon juice make it an ideal way to remove stains from children’s clothes. If your child has stained a white shirt with mud or dirt, squeeze a few drops of lemon juice onto the mark.

Let the shirt dry in the sun and then wash it as normal.

“A child who does not play is not a child, but the man who doesn’t play has lost forever the child who lived in him and who he will miss terribly”

-Pablo Neruda-

White vinegar

To refresh white or colorful clothing, add a little white vinegar to your laundry. Put half a cup of vinegar in your washing machine for the rinse cycle and you’ll notice the change immediately.

You can also leave soiled clothes soaking in vinegar. This will easily remove marks caused by food or deodorant.

Hydrogen Peroxide

This works for even the most difficult stains. Mix hydrogen peroxide with a little toothpaste (not the gel type).

Stir the mixture well and rub it into the stained item using a soft cloth. Let it soak in for 30 minutes before rinsing. Whatever the stain was, it’ll have disappeared completely.

Baking soda

Baking soda is great for getting walls, floors and bathtubs sparkling clean, and it also works on your children’s clothes. Even better, it’s cheap and easy to find.

Baking soda can remove stains from children’s clothes, soften fabric, remove unpleasant odors and enhance the effects of your detergent.

Mix a smooth paste of water and baking soda and rub this gently onto the item. You can also add a few spoonfuls of baking soda in with the laundry detergent you use in your machine.

Table salt

When a stain is still wet, table salt can soak up the liquid. Once the salt has dried, brush it off the fabric and then wash the item of clothing.

If you have clothes that fade with washing, you can add a little salt to your laundry to fix the color.

Toothpaste

Another trick to remove stains from children’s clothes is to use toothpaste. Make sure the one you use is a paste rather than a gel.

Squeeze a little toothpaste onto the stain and rub it in with a clean toothbrush. Let the toothpaste work for a few minutes and then wash it off with a wet brush or cloth.

How to Remove Stains from Children's Clothes

A final trick especially for getting pillows clean is to use shampoo. Over time, grease and oil from our hair and skin can build up on pillowcases.

Use whatever shampoo you normally buy to create a lather. Let it sit on the fabric for a few minutes, then rinse as normal.

These home remedies will help remove stains from children’s clothes and keep the whole family’s wardrobes in top condition. Remember to choose gentle laundry products for washing delicate baby clothes.

With the tips above, the problem of getting stains out of children’s clothing will be a thing of the past.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.