What are your best stain removal tips for kids clothes please?

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

I have a constant stream of tomato-based, orange, yoghurt, anything berry coloured, crayon, felt pen and biro stains coming at me on DD 2.7's clothes and most of them do not respond to anything I throw at them.

I use a 40 degree wash and sometimes 50 or 60 on anything I dare to. I've tried Vanish spray and powder, a generic vanish type powder, soda crystals, dr Beckmann stain removers (actually they are pretty good but some things even elude them), bio tex, you name it.

I read recently that you should rinse cycle first so as to stop setting stains in with the hot water. I've tried this but it doesn't seem to help.

Now DD2 is weaning she is providing all manner of food stains too and lots of her lovely new grows are covered with stuff I can't get out already too.

I am washing pretty much every day so it's not like stuff is getting set into clothes because its waiting a week to be washed.

Please share your tips with me. Everyone else seems to have cleanly clothed toddlers and babies and I don't! And sadly I'm pretty obcessed with cleaning!

Bloody hell, this thread is a blast from the past!

Attached image of the Swarfega you need. Absolutely brilliant for any oil-based stain (includes most food stains). You can get it in car places like Halfords or the relevant aisle in the supermarket but it's usually available in cheapy shops like Home Bargains or Quality Save.

Wash cold - max 30 for anything stained but particularly any organic stains such as food, blood, poo. Washing at 50/60 just cooks the stains in.

I had a massive problem with orange stains on my toddlers clothes from various tomato-based foods like pasta sauce, pizza etc. I never manage to pre-soak or get the stain out when it's fresh because I'm a lazy shit I seem to wait until I have enough whites/lights for a full machine load - so some of the stains are 2/3 days old by the time they're washed.

Nothing gets them out totally (even with plenty of Vanish powder and a 90 degree wash) but I lay a couple of really badly stained vests out to dry in the hot sun yesterday and after a couple of hours the stains had totally vanished!

Not sure what I'll do about it once this heatwave is over and the sun goes away - back to feeding the little heathen in the nude to avoid stains altogether I reckon!

For cricket whites, and it works every time, I spray with the Morrisons equivalent of Vanish, leave for 5 mins, then I soak in dissolved powered Morrisons version of Vanish overnight in COLD water. Then I wash 24 hours later as normal. Always heard if you wash at high temp before you get the stain out you run risk of setting in the stain. Am lucky I have utility room which is full of bowls soaking various things

Ecover stain remover with the built in plastic brush is the best I've found at grass stains. Pretty good at other studd too and particyularly easy to use.

My daughter was wearing brand new, bright coat and ..... slid down the dirty slide. Now - there are strange stains I could not wash off (tried three times in different temperatures). What would help to get rid of them, please?

Hanging out on the washing line, regardless of weather, sunlight will help bleach stains. For some reason leaving it out overnight helps too - I've no idea why! But it's saved lots of my kids stained clothes

As mentioned upthread, original green Fairy liquid is absolutely brilliant for most stains. And much cheaper..

Havent' RTFT, but biro and felt tip pen marks are removed quite easily with acetone nail polish remover. Best done if fresh. I just pour a little bit on the biro mark and rub, then straight in the wash. My kids once drew in biro all over the bedclothes. It came out no probs!

Napisan is good for general stain removal.

Hi all,

I am posting here because I am desperate for help with getting some stains out of my son's school shirts.

The shirts are 65% polyester and 35% cotton.

I washed the shirts as part of a normal wash, but afterwards there is very prominent staining. These stains were not visible before washing, and no other clothes items that were included in the wash were affected.

I have no idea what the stains are; they appear to be some sort of liquid or grease.

So far I have tried:
(i) treating with Dr Beckmann Pre Wash Stain Devils and washing again;
(ii) using the stain away cycle on the washing machine (this is about a two and a half hour cycle at 40C);
(iii) washing on a 60C cycle;
(iv) scrubbing with Vanish soap before machine washing;
(v) scrubbing and soaking in washing up liquid before machine washing;
(vi) spraying the stains with De-solvit;
(vii) treating with Professional Strength Dried-In Stain Remover & Odour Destroyer from StressNoMore.

but after trying each of these, the stains still remain.

Does anybody have any suggestions about what I could try next?? I don't know if it is possible to add pics here but I have some of the staining.