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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that DD's school should use paint that washes out?

33 replies

neuroticmumof3 · 05/09/2012 19:42

My PLB DD started school yesterday, when I picked her up her white shirt was covered in red paint. I wasn't bothered, if she's messy/grubby it probably means she has had a good time. That said I have now washed the shirt twice and the red paint is still there. She used to go to nursery full time and come home covered in paint but it always washed out before. Surely the school should use paint that washes out easily? AIBU to be annoyed and a bit worried about just how many white shirts DD is likely to get through?

OP posts:
CailinDana · 05/09/2012 19:44

Some supposedly "washable" paint doesn't wash out at all for some reason, particularly blue and red. It's annoying but not really the school's fault, they do buy washable stuff but clearly it's a bit shit. Consign the shirt for under jumper midwinter duty.

sittinginthesun · 05/09/2012 19:47

Just wait until she gets let loose with the black "whiteboard" pens...

CailinDana · 05/09/2012 19:48

Oh dear god those whiteboard pens.

Rosebud05 · 05/09/2012 19:49

There's also a bit of a trend in our area for reception classes using permanent markers for the children to practice their phonics with. Dd used to come home with pen everywhere that didn't wash out. Somehow, I didn't feel slovenly sending her in in a marked uniform as I would if it had been ordinary clothes, so she wore them all year .......

Petsinmypudenda · 05/09/2012 19:49

Ah yes those pen, whoever invented the whiteboard pen deserves death by staple gun

Hulababy · 05/09/2012 19:52

The paint probably does say washable - jsut some of it doesn't always come out. Try a decent stain removal thing but even then they are not always out. The dye they use in the water tray can be the same. And whiteboard pens are a nightmare!

However - even if it doesn't come out, still send her in the same clothes. It doesn't matter if they have some stains on. The teachers will NOT think bad of you; infact most will think you are sensible.

januaryjojo · 05/09/2012 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CaliforniaLeaving · 05/09/2012 20:18

When my boys were little the teacher used to put some liquid laundry detergent in the paints, it helped to get them out for the clothes a bit better, you can put washing up liquid in them too.

CaliforniaLeaving · 05/09/2012 20:19

If the red is still showing on her white shirts try socking them overnight in a bucket with Oxyclean in the water.

CaliforniaLeaving · 05/09/2012 20:20

Soaking, not socking!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 05/09/2012 20:21

Peg it up on the line on a sunnyish day. Usually works well for us.

And don't worry about sending her in wearing slightly stained tops - uniform is ppe (personal protective equipment) at the end of the day. I'd be more worried if they came home squeaky clean tbh.

I think YABU

WelshMaenad · 05/09/2012 20:22

Milton! Gets all sorts of shit out of white polo shirts.

Midwinter under jumper duty too. I save all her dingy slightly grey ones for cold days!

LauraShigihara · 05/09/2012 20:23

Also, cold water will usually shift it, rather than hot water which will 'set' the stain. I soak uniform in cold water in the sink for a while and it loosens up nicely so it can be washed normally.

ilovesprouts · 05/09/2012 20:26

tell me about it paint glue etc ,never comes out .

Bert2e · 05/09/2012 20:33

Just bleach it out - that's the advantage of white shirts!

Now I just need to find a way of getting things (inc. whiteboard marker) out of blue shirts.

DowagersHump · 05/09/2012 20:39

DS wears yellow tops to school. Last year's ones have been binned because of the sodding whiteboard markers Angry

MigGril · 05/09/2012 20:44

God yes those wipe board pens, not even bleach gets that out. DD came home one day last year and they looked like they'd been drawing on each other not the wipe board.

Original poster
neuroticmumof3 · 05/09/2012 20:49

I hadn't thought of saving it for under sweatshirt duty, that's a good idea. I will try the washing up liquid tip tonight and see if that helps and in future will do a cold soak overnight prior to washing. Not liking the sound of these wipe board pens!

OP posts:
stargirl1701 · 05/09/2012 20:50

Uniform is meant to get messy. Learning is messy.

AngryFeet · 05/09/2012 20:52

I have this problem every year and end up spending loads on new polo shirts. This year I have a bucket in the kitchen which I fill with water and vanish powder and leave to soak overnight. Fingers crossed it works! I also bought DS (the worst offender) tank tops in black so he has a bit of protection even if it is a warm day.

iggi777 · 05/09/2012 20:55

Mine was the same. It is rather annoying when it's their first day! What happened to aprons?

melody1771 · 05/09/2012 21:02

I just have to jump in about the white board pens....I bought 'washable' white board pens for my class of 6 year olds....they come out of clothes really easily but don;t wipe of the &&&&&&& boards!!! Rather useless really!!!

DowagersHump · 05/09/2012 23:11

Someone should design whiteboard pens that come off clothes and whiteboards. I must have spent about £20 on tops last year that I've had to consign to the bin.

I also spent a very long time making DS an 'apron' out of an old shirt which he doesn't appear to have worn even once. And I didn't get it back at the end of the year either :(

catwoo · 05/09/2012 23:15

The sun will bleach nearly anything out of a white top.

McHappyPants2012 · 05/09/2012 23:17

try a yellow t-shirt after 3 years and countless new tops i have given up, that what uniform is for to protect there normal clothes