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Home › Articles › Family › No Shouting Required

No Shouting Required

Tackling Common Baby and Toddler Stains

By Alex Powell

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Unfortunately, the stains are often permanent. The best method for dealing with mildew is prevention, says Joni Hilton, author of Housekeeping Secrets My Mother Never Taught Me (Prima Publishing, 2001). "If you can't get to your laundry, put it in the freezer," Hilton says. "It will keep the mildew from forming." When you are ready to wash the clothing, simply toss it into the washer.

Taming Toddler Stains
You know you've got a toddler when you begin dealing with juice stains. Fruit stains are water soluble, which means detergent or soap may actually set the stain. Try rinsing the stained area out in cool water first. If the stain has set, try dabbing it with white vinegar, and then pre-treating it with detergent before laundering.

It won't be long until your little walker is bringing home grass stains. The most commonly recommended method for knocking out these pesky green streaks is to pre-treat by rubbing with liquid detergent, and then soak them overnight.

Toddlers love to draw and paint – all over walls, floors and their own clothing. There are as many methods for removing stains caused by art supplies as there are colors in a jumbo box of crayons. Perhaps your best bet is to check the product's packaging. The manufacturer will often provide stain removal advice, especially if the product was intended for use by young children. For instance, "washable" markers will generally wash right out of most clothing.

It's best to keep a philosophical outlook about your child's laundry – there will be some stains you'll never get out. "For the really bad stuff, there's always the rag bag!" says Grunder.

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