Washing baby clothes after they have been stored

[MrsWombat]

I have a bit lot of baby clothes that need washing after they have been in storage for a few years, and a few have yellow stains. What's the best way to get these stains off, and also just to make them whiter again?

I've just done dd's for dc2. They were bright yellow!
Got a big tub of tesco oxy powder, ran a really hot bath and put about 8 scoops in, left clothes to soak for 12-18 hours. Washed in washer then line dried. They look as good as new!

soak in cold water + bio powder for a few hours.
then wash.
line dry outside if possible.

I was just sorting out some of DD's clothes for a friend and was amazed that things I know were washed and unstained when I packed them have now developed bright yellow stains. What are they?! Is it washed-in posset that has reacted somehow with the clothes when they were in storage? DD was a real posseter and the stains are blotches down the front, nowhere near the nappy area.

I read on the internet that it's the protein from milk etc. It all seems to be around the neck anyway. I have some oxy powder, so I will try and soak them in that first.

I had actually read that yellowing on white clothes in storage is from heat. It happens on the folds/exposed areas of the fabric. Also what I was reading said that the damage is irreversible .

However, if what has been suggested with the oxy powder works, then that's fab and definitely give it a shot.

Have been sorting out our baby stuff this weekend and soaked all the yellow stained stuff in soda crystals for 12 hours, then washed with oxy powder and biological washing powder. They all came out sparkling white. Very sad to be packing it all away again to pass onto whoever needs it all next (sticking at two DDs...).

I've just got down the muslins and terry squares from the loft and stuck them on the super doper 90 degree wash with some napisan. They aren't yellow just a bit grey from where they have been washed with a normal load a few times. Will see how it goes. Then I'll be brave and wash the he baby clothes.

Yellow stain in storage is usually oil traces that have oxidised over time. On adults clothes it is usually skin oil round the collar. Can also be from creams and lotions.

Once hardened, old oil is harder to get out than when new, but it does not show at first. Plenty of powder and as hot as the fabric will take. A pre-laundry spray or rubbing in WUL to soak may help.

3 years between kids, so I have this with the hand-me-downs too. The clothes go on a 40 degree quick wash then on the line all day in the sunshine. They come up treat.

Update - I left the yellow-stained things laid out in front of a window in the hot sun for a couple of days and the yellow has completely gone from most of them, and nearly gone from the rest - yay!