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Original poster

Three things I really need help with!

27 replies

NoNameNoGane · 19/02/2022 17:08

Just that really - I have three mundane problems that I need your help with:

  1. Cleaning 3YO DC's belly button. It's gross in there, but the second I go near it I am greeted by all manner of kicking and screaming. It's physically impossible to clean the thing properly (in the bath isn't really cutting the mustard), when DC was a baby I used a cotton wool bud and really went to town on it. I've tried bribery and distraction - both failed.

  2. Removing dried on gloss paint from a coat. I tried just washing it in the machine with stain remover before it fully dried, it didn't completely work so now it's really set in.

  3. Similarly, removing a dried in oil mark from a light grey sweater. We've all been there, frying eggs and didn't notice until it had fully set in. One of my favourite sweaters.

Any advice on these three matters gratefully received Grin

OP posts:
Allthebubbles · 19/02/2022 17:25

Number 3- I'd try fairy liquid- rub into the stain and then wash as normal

The other two I'm not sure!

Original poster
NoNameNoGane · 19/02/2022 17:28

@Allthebubbles

Number 3- I'd try fairy liquid- rub into the stain and then wash as normal

The other two I'm not sure!

Thank you -I will try that! I asked Google but there's a lot of suggestions and I wasn't sure where to start 😵‍💫
OP posts:
SpellitwithaY · 19/02/2022 17:29

Also 3... elbow grease spray. Gets most stains out even curry.

NeededAction · 19/02/2022 17:30

Could you try 1) when little’uns asleep?

CornedBeef451 · 19/02/2022 17:32

I haven't cleaned my DCs belly buttons since their unbilical cords fell off so I think you can just leave that one alone now.

Fungirls · 19/02/2022 17:33

Number 1 - not got a clue, sorry.

Number 2 - white spirit

Number 3 -talc, cover the oil stain in talc and wash.

Crucible · 19/02/2022 17:34

Rub the fairy liquid into the front and back of the stain, and do it twice over before you give up on the garment. Second time through the machine with the front and back trick usually gets out the most stubborn set grease stains

Re belly buttons, I'd put a big Squidge of pawpaw cream in and grease it out that way, make it a very yukky game they can join in on. Maybe it's infected and hurts to touch

The coat sounds like it's screwed unless the mark is somewhere you could add an applique. Dry cleaners might do it.

Original poster
NoNameNoGane · 19/02/2022 17:34

@CornedBeef451

I haven't cleaned my DCs belly buttons since their unbilical cords fell off so I think you can just leave that one alone now.
I was really hoping someone would say this sort of thing. I didn't really want to ask my group of wonder-mum friends how often they did it just in case the answer made me feel crap about myself!
OP posts:
Stellaris22 · 19/02/2022 17:36

Number 1 is a thing you need to do?? Don't think I ever did ...,

Tittyfilarious81 · 19/02/2022 17:37

Number 1 not sure other than to ask them to do it themselves .
Number 2 you can try scrubbing at it with an old tooth brush with hot water and soap might take a few goes though
Number 3 rub washing up liquid into the stain and scrub then rinse and wash normally

Original poster
NoNameNoGane · 19/02/2022 17:39

@NeededAction
Imagining myself commando rolling across his bedroom floor in the middle of the night wearing a head torch!
@Crucible
Thank you- I will try the pawpaw cream. It's definitely not infected and I don't think it's painful, just very sensitive 🤔 Maybe if that doesn't work I could just leave it alone as PPs are suggesting...
@Fungirls
Have you actually used white spirit on something similar? It's a lovely coat and I am scared!

OP posts:
VioletCharlotte · 19/02/2022 17:40

Try fairy liquid for the paint stained coat as well as the oil. I got anti climb paint off of DS2's jeans with it (don't ask!!)

Belly button - can you do it when he's asleep? With DS2 (again!) I used to have to cut his finger and toe nails and clean his ears when he's was sleeping, as he wouldn't let me get near him awake! He even had his haircut once asleep in the buggy.

MaizeAmaze · 19/02/2022 17:50

I'd leave the bellybutton.
Dried gloss paint will be very hard to remove. But of the coat is ruined anyway, you might as well try something. White spirit??
Fairy liquid.

Original poster
NoNameNoGane · 19/02/2022 17:56

The coat isn't entirely ruined, the stain does back a bit when it was washed and is on the hood / shoulder so not immediately obvious. I would like it to be completely gone, but don't want to risk making it worse. So anyone who has actually successfully removed this sort of stain - I would love to hear from them!

OP posts:
ChocolateMassacre · 19/02/2022 17:57

If the belly button actually needs to be clean, I'd get him to clean yours first and make a game of it. This was how I got my DS to let me brush his teeth properly.

Other than that, bribery? I cut my DS's hair, which he hates, and bribe him with one mini marshmallow every five cuts.

Sorry, I'm not very domestic so no advice on the other problems Grin.

GeneLovesJezebel · 19/02/2022 17:58

I’ve never cleaned my kids belly buttons since the cord fell off.

ChocolateMassacre · 19/02/2022 17:58

cleaned

NewYearEveryYear · 19/02/2022 17:59

I had a deep and gunky belly button as a kid, my mum used to pour a little warm olive oil (not hot) in it, then clean it with her finger wrapped in tissue.

Could you bribe him with the excitement of pouring olive oil in his navel?

Fungirls · 19/02/2022 18:02

White spirit - I’ve used it on carpets and clothes. Once in a restaurant a really rude customer barged me out of the way into a freshly glossed door and my handbag was covered. It was a cheap handbag but the white spirit got it out The other option is nail varnish remover.

Just try a small area e.g. wet a cotton bud with white spirit and try it.

BruceAndNosh · 19/02/2022 18:03

Belly button. Child's bath sponge really soaped up foamy. Firmly dab sponge over navel, imagine you're plunging a toilet. The sponge will push foam in and out of navel. Rinse with hand hose. Make a game of it. Do yours first!

labyrinthlaziness · 19/02/2022 18:05

No 1 - turn it into a game and get them to do it themselves - I would have a competition to see who can dig out the most potatoes, try to make her laugh? Do your own at the same time so you can show her it does not hurt.

However - how much do you really need to get in there???? I have obviously washed my kids in what I thought was the normal way but at no point did I need to go to extreme belly button excavation lengths.

thaegumathteth · 19/02/2022 18:07

All this talk of belly buttons is giving me the boak. I've never cleaned my kids after their gross cords fell off. I don't even clean mine in any kind of deep clean way.

Original poster
NoNameNoGane · 19/02/2022 18:52

@thaegumathteth

All this talk of belly buttons is giving me the boak. I've never cleaned my kids after their gross cords fell off. I don't even clean mine in any kind of deep clean way.
Sorry! Belly buttons are a bit gross 🤢
OP posts:
Original poster
NoNameNoGane · 19/02/2022 18:56

Thanks everyone!
I will try something oily/ greasy on the old belly button and try to make it into a game. If that doesn't work I will just forget about it - already feeling less worried now that I have heard this isn't really a thing...

I'll try white spirit on a small patch of the coat.

I'll try washing up liquid on the greasy top.

Excellent advice all round - bingo!

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 19/02/2022 21:01

Regarding the bellybutton. Ifs it not properly dried after a bath it can get infected. It could just be very sore which is why he cries. Since he is three maybe encourage him to use a dry flannel wrapped around his finger and let him dab at it himself after you have dried the rest of him? If it is sore then try a little sudacrem. Dont forget its a little button hole and you have large adult fingers in comparison.