Children have the amazing ability to stain white clothing nearly immediately after putting it on. Fortunately, grass stains, spilled pasta sauce and fruit punch do not always make it necessary to throw your kids' clothing in the trash. Most stains are easily removed with bleach and regular detergent if they're caught early.
Read Clothing Labels
Not all fabrics are suitable for bleaching. Some may nearly disintegrate if exposed to chlorine bleach. Read the labels on your child's clothing to determine what type of bleach, if any, is appropriate. New Mexico State University warns against bleaching silk, spandex, fiber blends and wool. Most other fabrics can handle being washed with bleach, provided they do not come into direct contact with the chemical. To protect your fabrics, fill your washing machine with water and detergent, and then add diluted bleach to your machine. Once the bleach mixes well with the water in your washer, it is safe to throw in your child's clothes.
Use the Right Bleach
Regular bleach is good for removing stains and brightening white clothes, but color-safe bleach is necessary for non-fast colors. The labels on your kids' clothing should indicate the need for color-safe bleach. Clothing with colored ribbons or embroidery may require color-safe bleach even if the shirt itself is marked for regular bleach. If you are unsure of what type of bleach to use, always err on the side of caution and choose the color-safe kind. Ohio State University recommends mixing 1/4 cup of water and 1 tbsp. of bleach and then applying one drop to a hidden seam in your child's clothing to determine if color-safe bleach is needed.
Removing Tough Stains
Pre-treat dark stains by soaking your kids' clothes in a solution of 1 tbsp. bleach and 1 gallon of water. Rinse the stain, then place the bleach solution and the clothing into a plastic bucket and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove grass stains by mixing 1 tbsp. bleach with 3 tbsp. of water and 1 tbsp. of hydrogen peroxide. Pour this on the stain and allow it to sit for about 45 minutes. Launder as usual.
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