How to Remove Baby Formula Stains

A very common stain that could be hard to remove is baby formula. Whether the stain is from breast milk, formula with milk, or baby spit up, all of the stains are considered protein stains. The protein in formula commonly comes from cow’s milk whey, casein, or soybean. Purex®  shares how to remove baby formula stains from clothing.

The best way to combat a protein stain is with a stain fighter or detergent that contains enzymes, such as Purex® Advanced Oxi + Coldwater Power detergent, an affordable stain removing detergent. It has even more stain-fighting power than regular Purex® detergent because it combines the proven performance of Purex® laundry detergent plus the stain-fighting power of Oxi. The enzymes in the detergent chew up the proteins in the stains and make them fall apart so when you wash the clothing item, the stain washes away. To use, spray the stain with the stain remover or detergent and gently rub in. After 5 minutes, wash the clothing as you normally do.

However, if you’re uneasy about washing your baby’s clothing with enzymes, you can apply a little Purex® Free & Clear. This detergent is hypoallergenic, unscented, and gentle on skin. With no perfumes or dyes, it’s an ideal choice for anyone with sensitive skin or allergies.  Let the detergent sit for five minutes and then wash in the hottest water that the clothing item will allow, checking the instructions on the care tag. This helps to remove any bacteria that may be on the clothes. As is the case with most stains, it is much easier to remove them when they are fresh.

As children grow up, they move from formula to soft foods such as fruit or cooked vegetables. Stains from carrots, beets, strawberries, blueberries, and other colorful fruit and veggies find themselves all over your child’s clothing and often stain them. While you are excited that your child is eating solids, the stains do not add to this excitement. You can rely on Purex® detergent to keep your clothes smelling fresh and looking brand new.

If the clothing is white, you can simply presoak the item in warm to hot water with a little bleach and then wash as you would do normally, following the care tag instructions. Another suggestion would be to hang the white clothing items with the baby formula stains outside in the bright sun. This will continue to bleach out the baby formula stains and also help kill bacteria. If the item is not white, a suggestion would be to use a color safe bleach. Apply directly to the stain and let sit for five minutes before washing. Make sure to check to see if the baby formula stain is removed before placing it in the dryer or the stain could set. As always, the sooner you treat the stain, the easier it is to remove!

Purex® offers an array of great products, all at an affordable price. Discover Purex® liquid laundry detergents, Pacs and Purex® Crystals. Purex® products will keep your clothes smelling fresh in a variety of scents while keeping them looking brand new.

We understand that life gets messy and want to make laundry as easy as possible for you. With quality & value continuing to be at the core of our product development, we continue to create highly effective laundry detergent & supplies. We tested some of the toughest stains to keep your clothing looking brand new. View our Stain Lab for our best recommendations to get life's toughest stains out of your clothing.