Need to Get Formula Stains Out of Clothes

Updated on January 11, 2008
C.M. asks from Meeker, CO
33 answers

Does anyone have a home remedy or stain remover they can recommend for getting formula stains out of clothes? Bleach is not doing the job!

Thanks
C.

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J.J.

answers from Lansing on

My son almost ruined all of his clothes because he would get sick drinking formula. Then I started using oxyclean on them and havent had a stain ruin clothes since.

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M.G.

answers from Boise on

Zout is awesome. Not Shout, but zout. Also something less expensive is Dawn dishsoap. Put it on, then take a toothbrush to it and stick it in the wash.

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C.A.

answers from Boise on

Hot water will cook the protiens from the milk into the fabric, so use COLD water, and I perfer spray and wash for a stain remover. I just have it with me when I load the washer, and I spray just about every one of my daughter's tops with it. by the time the washer fills up, the stain remover has had time to soak in.

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B.B.

answers from Sioux City on

I swear by Totally Toddler. It is kind of hard to find but it works wonderful. I have not had a problem with it getting any stain out. I may have to do it two times for really tough stains but it always comes out the second time. Walmart is the only place I know to get it. They sell it in a spray bottle and as a refil jug. It is located in the baby section. I spray the clothing as soon as I take it off for the day and then I put a little in with each load of clothes I then check it before I throw it in the dryer to see if I need to treat it again, if I do I just spray it again and leave it until I do laundry again. I hope it works for you!

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B.W.

answers from Grand Rapids on

plain old dish soap, palmolive, dawn...

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M.C.

answers from Saginaw on

I use Totally Toddler http://www.totallytoddler.com/index.html
it works great, it has worked on all of our stains so far, even ones from daycare that I couldn't treat right away.

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A.B.

answers from Provo on

oxyclean, it works for everything

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C.M.

answers from Milwaukee on

I would try oxiclean

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K.B.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I used the Dreft Stain remover. It works pretty good. I put it on every stain at the end of the day when I changed my son into his PJ's. I tried Oxy Clean for Babies (it does work, it did give my son a rash the first time). Since then, I've used it but made sure to use the extra rinse cycle on the washing machine.

Good Luck!!
K.

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J.W.

answers from Cheyenne on

Try a product called Carbona. You can find it at Safeway. There are different formulas to get out various stains and one especially for formula. It is in a little yellow bottle and a little goes a long way. I have used it to get rust, blood and grease out of clothing. It works great.

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J.S.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I have one more for you, Zout, I love it. I have forgotten to get a stain after I have dried it. I spray it down and it gets it out.This goes for poop stains, spit up stains and is great for your clothes to.

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R.W.

answers from Jackson on

My Sister tried everything she could find, and was never able to get the formula stains out, nor the formula smell.

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B.K.

answers from Rapid City on

I use the Spray and Wash stain sticks or spray. The sticks seem to work better. They are in the detergent isle of any store. Even if I let the stains sit for a couple of days, I am still able to get them out with this product. Good luck!

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S.S.

answers from Boise on

Try Simple solution or Natures miracle from the Pet Store. Pretty awesome stuff.
S.

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B.W.

answers from Waterloo on

I have used dish washing detergent and I boil the clothes in a big pot- it works great. I have also used this with grease stains and pretty much anything-
Good luck!

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J.O.

answers from Boise on

I have the same advice as Cindy, it worked with all 7 of mine if I took the time to do it....lol.

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N.M.

answers from Fargo on

This has worked wonders for me...

1/2 c. Cascade brand ONLY dishwasher detergent
1/4 c. all color bleach (Biz or Clorox 2)
1 gallon water

Bring the water to a boil. Then put in the bleach and Cascade. A chemical reaction will happen. Take off the heat. Let the item sit in the the pot for 24 hours. Get the wash ready as normal using your regular soap (just wash the items in the pot). Dump the whole pot into the washer, water mixture and all. Wash and dry!

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J.N.

answers from Missoula on

I am a HUGE fan of 20 Mule Team Borax. It is not expensive and also gets the sour milk smell out of clothes!

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A.M.

answers from Appleton on

Hi C.,

I have found just regular spray "Shout" does the trick, it isn't a home remedy but I haven't noticed any break outs/rashes on my daughter so far, and she is 6 months old. She had reflux and spit-up formula all the time. I spray on the stains and so far it always comes out.

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B.M.

answers from Pocatello on

I didnt have any problems getting the formula stains out I used either shout stain remover or the dreft but I also didnt dry any of his clothes when you dry them its much harder to get stains out they get set in.

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E.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

The Spray in Wash in the detergent size hot pink bottle w green lid. You can either pretreat or add w your regular detergent. It works on everything! It even got permanent black marker out of khaki pants!

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J.J.

answers from Des Moines on

I use BIZ and it has does wonders for me..I usually let the clothes soak in it first then wash them...

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J.D.

answers from Saginaw on

We have used Sol-u-mel and Pre-spot by Melaleuca for more than 7 years. They have worked great for all stains my kids have made from formula to kool-aid. They are also non-caustic, so a safe alternative to bleach. Good luck. :)

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C.

answers from Grand Rapids on

C.,

Here's a recipe that really worked wonders when we had old or washed in formula stains:
1/2 c. Cascade dishwasher detergent
1/4 c. all color bleach (biz or clorox 2)
1 gallon warm water

Rub stains and let soak. Wash as usual.

Good luck

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P.M.

answers from Waterloo on

Buy Biz laundry additive. start a bucket with warm water and biz dissolved in it. as clothes are dirtied, put them in the bucket to soak. when you're ready to wash the load of clothes dump the bucket, water and clothes straight in the washer and wash normally. this should get out the formula stains!

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H.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

If they are whites, the only thing I have found that gets anything out of whites is "clorox clean up spray" it isn't supposed to be for clothes, but it gets that yucky yellow newborn poop out, so I would give it a try. (spray and put directly into the wash, otherwise it will eat through the clothes.)I have been able to use old clothes that I never thought I could wear because of stains with this stuff!
This works when spraynwash and oxyclean and bleach wont work!

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P.G.

answers from Salt Lake City on

C.-
I have tried a lot of methods that don't work too, but one I have found that I like is the liquid soap ERA. It comes in a red container. That has gotten out a lot of stains for me. Another thing I like is a bar soap, usually on the bottom shelf on the cleaning isle, called FELS-NAPTHA. This is one you wet the fabric and rub into the stain before washing. Maybe you could also just put a bib on your child before feeding them.
One secret I've learned is that if the stain doesn't come out, don't put the clothing in the dryer or it will set the stain. I hope you manage to get the stains out. That is one of the hardest things to deal with when you have young kids. good luck P.

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J.F.

answers from Saginaw on

Try Dreft stain remover found by the diapers and stuff at Walmart. I used it and it worked really good.

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D.

answers from Milwaukee on

Did you try oxiclean? that helped sometimes D.

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J.B.

answers from Boise on

Hey C.,

When I wash the clothes with formula on them, I use borax. Add half a cup of borax to the load and let it soak for about twenty minutes before starting the wash. Hopefully that helps!

J.

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N.R.

answers from Billings on

the stain is caused by the fat the formula companies use - palm or coconut oil and the sugar - so you need to use something that will degrease and then prescrub to get rid of the sugar. Once the sugar in the fabric hits a hot dryer - it burns and at that point it is set in.

N.

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S.W.

answers from Lincoln on

Hey C.,
I am also a daycare provider for 8 fabulous children so we have something in common. I love being able to be home with my own too. I have been using SA8 prewash liquid for about a year and 1/2 and have had really good results with it. It has stain fighting enzymes to treat protein stains like milk, eggs, and blood and also ketchup, grass and chocolate. When my son was just a baby he had pooped in his hoodie bath towel and I had washed it and dryed it twice and didn't get the stain out then I used the prewash (I did treat it and wash it twice in a row before I dried it again)and it removed the yellow stain. I was amazed! I thought his towel was ruined. If you would be interested in trying it let me know we purchase it through our own business and it is 100% guaranteed so if you don't like it you can get your money back, no risk. I hope that someone's advice helps you out. I would be a little worried about mixing chemicals though, maybe check with a doctor before you do that. Take Care and God Bless
S.

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S.

answers from Des Moines on

I'm still using a product called Goop--you can find it in the automotive aisle. It's for cleaning hands after working in the garage, but it's safe for the laundry. It's even taken out stains that are months old!

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