As every new parent will soon discover, spit-up is just a fact of life. Before the lower esophageal sphincter--the valve between the stomach and the esophagus--has a chance to mature, it's common for stomach contents to come back up. Though this usually isn't a cause for concern regarding your little one's health, it's unpleasant yet simple to clean up.
Remove Spit Up Stains From Clothing and Other Washable Fabrics
Step 1
Rinse away fresh spit-up by holding the garment under warm running water. Scrape away dried spit-up with a blunt plastic utensil so as not to damage or tear the fabric.
Step 2
Sprinkle baking soda over the area to cover it.
Step 3
Drizzle club soda over the baking soda to dampen it. This will cause it to fizz.
Step 4
Scrub the affected area with an old toothbrush to work the baking soda and club soda into the fabric.
Step 5
Launder the garment immediately in warm water with a mild bleach-free detergent. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for laundering the garment.
Step 6
Check to make sure the stain is completely gone before putting the garment into the dryer. Heat can set the stain in permanently so it's important to make sure that the stain is gone before drying the garment. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.
Remove Spit Up Stains From Carpet and Upholstered Furniture
Step 1
Blot the area with a clean damp cloth. If the spit-up is dried, scrape away debris with a plastic utensil.
Step 2
Cover the area with baking soda.
Step 3
Pour enough club soda onto the area to dampen it; be careful not to over saturate the area.
Step 4
Scrub the area with a soft to medium bristle brush for carpet or use a clean cloth for a smoother upholstered surface.
Step 5
Allow the area to air dry.
Step 6
Vacuum away the remaining baking soda with the brush attachment of the vacuum cleaner and visually inspect the area. Repeat the process if necessary until the stain is gone.
Tips and Warnings
- Breast milk spit-up stains are easier to remove than formula spit-up stains. If your baby is breastfed, you can toss washable fabrics into the washing machine to be laundered with no pre-treating necessary.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic utensil
- Baking soda
- Club soda
- Old toothbrush
- Mild bleach-free laundry detergent
- Clean cloth
- Soft to medium bristle brush
- Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment
