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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to throw baby's clothes away if soiled?

228 replies

inftup · 14/04/2023 11:28

Putting in the washing machine seems gross!! DH says most people wash anything a baby has used but I can’t think this would come out clean?! We have an eco friendly machine that doesn’t go higher than 60 degrees and below 90 just makes me even more nervous about it.

OP posts:
HappiestPenguin · 14/04/2023 12:56

Stains come out with sunlight. I used cloth nappies too and even on a dull day it comes out, just takes a few days

Isledelaray · 14/04/2023 12:56

I've thrown away a few things. I.had to cut a couple of vests off mine when he was a baby and I chucked then away. I wasnt pulling a poo soaked vest over his head.

A couple of things got covered in lumpy sick as well. They weren't worth keeping so I threw them away rather than scrape off sick, rinse and wash.

Blessedbethefknfruit · 14/04/2023 12:57

Slaistery · 14/04/2023 11:30

Get a grip. If you’re really worried get a bucket and soak them in napisan before washing them. You realise you get shit on your hands every time you wipe your bum but you don’t boil wash your hands, do you?

😂😂😂

Tophy124 · 14/04/2023 12:57

I throw away heavily soiled clothing, especially if it’s a size they’ve nearly grown out of. Poo explosions are rare and so it’s not a ‘huge waste’ as others make out. I throw some bleach in the machine after washing anything with vomit on, you just need to run nothing else with the bleach and do another empty cycle after to be sure it’s all gone. You’re not crazy for not wanting poo in your machine!

Supergirl1958 · 14/04/2023 13:00

Sorry but you will be going through an awful
lot of clothes if you bin everything soiled!! YABU and no stains are just stains, it’s fine!!

Aw273 · 14/04/2023 13:01

The stain is just a molecule called bilirubin which is a breakdown product of food - nothing to do with bacteria. Rinse off any solids and spray with stain remover and you’ll be fine!

FictionalCharacter · 14/04/2023 13:01

inftup · 14/04/2023 11:34

I did wash a few at the start but they were still a bit stained afterwards and I worried bacteria had remained on them! I am a bit anxious about cleanliness though.

Stains on washed clothes doesn’t mean bacteria, it’s just colour remaining on the fabric, like dye. 60 degree wash with detergent kills pretty much all the bacteria. As PPs have said, just rinse first and soak them before washing if they’re really badly soiled and you’re worried.

TheOrigRights · 14/04/2023 13:01

The only thing I threw away were gross pants during toilet training. Only the odd pair now and again, but when I'd bought cheap packs of 10 pants purely for toilet training and the accident was more than something you'd plop into the loo, there were times when I thought to hell with all this!

FrizzledFrazzle · 14/04/2023 13:03

Discarding anything a bit poopy is unnecessary, but I did bin a couple of vests after a giant poonami tbh - the ones where the entire back of the best was yellow and smeared. Figured in the grand scheme of things it wasn't worth the hassle.

PousseyNotMoira · 14/04/2023 13:04

Gincan · 14/04/2023 12:29

I don't think op is talking about every time they poo🙄it's the explosive ones that go up to their arm pits

Show quote history

She hasn’t said that. Roll your eyes to your heart’s content, however.

caringcarer · 14/04/2023 13:05

Just soak them first in Vanish, then wash at 60 degrees if they are cotton. Everyone else washes them. If the stain remains wash them again. It sounds like you've not pre soaked them to get poo out.

diflasu · 14/04/2023 13:05

Dettol laundry cleanser and vanish and yes sunlight (lightens stains and UV light is a disinfection)- if you are really worried - but 60 degree in washing machine is fine for washable nappies so cant see why clothes are an issue.

Having said that - older toddlers/children and badly poo pants I did find it was frequently better to just chuck.

Disgustipated · 14/04/2023 13:05

I think there’s a few on the thread who need to here that baby vests are not designed to be removed over the head in the event of a poonami. Babygros and vests have envelope shoulders so you pull them downwards to remove them if they are soiled.

Matchymatchylemonscratchy · 14/04/2023 13:06

I threw away a few things - both my kids had a few poonamis where honestly the onesie was simply covered. Little accidents got soaked with napisan and a cap full of dettol and then thrown in the wash

Theunamedcat · 14/04/2023 13:07

Do you throw away your toilet? No? Then wash the clothes

Gincan · 14/04/2023 13:07

PousseyNotMoira · 14/04/2023 13:04

She hasn’t said that. Roll your eyes to your heart’s content, however.

Show quote history

She didn't say every time either

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

I do enjoy a good eye roll

PickAChew · 14/04/2023 13:09

It would be cheaper to replace your washing machine with one with an extra hygiene cycle, if you're that worried.

Pre-wash. Wash at 60, if you must. Use powder, rather than liquid or pods. Hang out, when you can. Job done.

IvyIvyIvy · 14/04/2023 13:10

Napisan is your friend.

Theoldwoman · 14/04/2023 13:11

What a complete and utter waste. You are insane.

RoseAndRose · 14/04/2023 13:11

Throwing them away is wrong.

If washing doesn't salvage them (and in most cases it will) then donate (as clean rags) for recycling

davegrohll · 14/04/2023 13:13

We had a poonami the other day on new tights and vest, straight into cols sink and scrubbed with fairy, come out instantly

fairgame84 · 14/04/2023 13:14

If I threw DDs things away everytime she had a nappy escaping poonami then she'd have nothing to wear!
I wash them on a 40 with the rest of our clothes and they come out fine.

GADDay · 14/04/2023 13:15

inftup · 14/04/2023 11:33

@ditalini ? How would this be a joke? I’m a first time mum and wouldn’t keep my own clothes in that situation so I wonder what others do.

The poor earth. You should be more worried about environmental security for your child than a few germs.

Can you imagine if everybody threw away their soiled clothes... seriously get a grip.

to throw baby's clothes away if soiled?
JackHackettsMac · 14/04/2023 13:16

Tophy124 · 14/04/2023 12:57

I throw away heavily soiled clothing, especially if it’s a size they’ve nearly grown out of. Poo explosions are rare and so it’s not a ‘huge waste’ as others make out. I throw some bleach in the machine after washing anything with vomit on, you just need to run nothing else with the bleach and do another empty cycle after to be sure it’s all gone. You’re not crazy for not wanting poo in your machine!

Eh? What’s the problem with poo in the washing machine?
How do you think farmers wash their clothes sprayed in animal poo?

In Primary school we had a trip to the local sewage plant. We were shown what happens to the shitty water that’s flushed down the loo to clean it and recycle it into fresh drinking water from the tap.

However, after reading many worrying posts on Mumsnet, maybe it should be a compulsory module in schools to teach people to be less fearful of poo and sick and to stop routinely using strong chemicals which are completely unnecessary and incredibly damaging to the environment.

Ilovemydoggie · 14/04/2023 13:16

It’s a bit perverse to have an eco friendly washing machine and to start binning dirty clothes.

Just rinse first then wash with vanish. The envelope top to baby vests is so that you can get them off over their bodies (instead of head) if they have a poonami.

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