Newborn Poop Stains? All You Need Is Sunshine for This Magic Hack

Newborns and blowouts are an inevitable duo, often leading to those dreaded yellow poop stains on your baby’s clothes. But don’t worry—your little one’s outfits aren’t destined to be ruined. There are simple and effective ways to remove even the toughest stains and save those adorable outfits. We’ve tested an oldie but goodie (almost magical) stain hack that we recently saw circulating on social media to help you tackle those stubborn laundry stains and keep your baby’s wardrobe looking fresh. 

The Hack to Remove Newborn Poop Stains

If you’re dealing with a blowout and need to remove those tough yellow poop stains, there’s a simple, magic, and (most importantly) free hack that can save the day: sunshine. We tested this method ourselves to see if it really works, and spoiler alert: it does! Here’s how you can harness the power of the sun to remove stains from baby clothes, whether it’s a fresh blowout or an old stain.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Rinse the clothing in cold water. Start by rinsing the soiled area with cold water to remove as much of the mess as possible (not hot, as it can set the stain).

• Lay the clothing in direct sunlight. After rinsing, lay the clothing out in direct sunlight for a few hours. 

• Turn inside out and repeat (if necessary). Check the stain after a few hours. If there's still a faint mark, try turning the garment inside out and leaving it out in the sun a bit longer, as shown in the video below.

• Wash and dry as normal. Once you’ve let the clothing sunbathe (and repeated the process if needed), you can throw it in the washer and dryer with the rest of your baby’s laundry. 

Our senior TikTok manager Peyton tested this on a white footie stained with baby poop and pureed carrots. After a cold water rinse, she laid it out in the sun. Within a few hours, most of the stain had faded away. She repeated the process after turning the footie inside out and ran it through a wash cycle, and it came out completely clean and stain-free. See it in action below:

If you’re looking for other ways to tackle stains or if you can’t get some sunshine, pre-treating with certain products can also work wonders. Many parents on the Babylist team, including myself, swear by blue Dawn dish soap and Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Spray. (I actually keep a small bottle of both near our laundry detergent for quick access.)

For greasy or really tough stains (think spaghetti sauce), I scrub a drop of Dawn directly onto the stain. For something like popsicle drippings or berries, I wipe the excess food off and then spray with Miss Mouth’s, gently rub it in and watch it work its magic (you can literally see the stains fade before your eyes). Then launder as usual.

And if you’re on the go? Keep a wet-dry bag in your diaper bag or car to contain any soiled clothes until you get home. A small bottle of Miss Mouth’s Stain Spray is also perfect for pre-treating stains on the move, giving it time to work its magic on the way home.

Tips for Avoiding Poop Stains

Babies are messy creatures, but there are a few ways that can help avoid stains from poop-splosions in particular. Here’s how:

• Make sure your baby’s diaper is the right size and fit. Like adults, babies come in all shapes and sizes. And they grow quickly. One of the telltale signs your baby is in the wrong size diaper is experiencing leaks of any kind. You should start by considering their weight when choosing a diaper size. And then assess the fit. It should be snug around the legs (but not too tight) and most diapers have guides for where the tabs should fit. Sometimes the size is correct but the diaper may not fit well, so don’t be afraid to try out different brands. Like most baby products, it can take some trial and error when finding out what works best for your specific baby.  

• Fluff those ruffles. Yes, those little frilly things on your baby's diapers actually do serve a purpose. They’re meant to help catch and contain any spillage so be sure to adjust them so they’re flared out whenever you change your baby’s diaper.

The Best Baby Laundry Essentials

Just in case you need help tackling stains on a cloudy day, here are a few must-haves to add to your registry that’ll help you clean baby poop stains:

Dawn 
Dish Soap (3-Pack)

I like to keep a small bottle of this in our laundry room that’s specifically for treating stains.

Buy

Add to Babylist

amazon.com$12.99

Miss Mouth's Messy Eater 
Stain Treater Spray & Wipes Set

This set comes with wipes for on-the-go stain treatment.

Buy

Add to Babylist

amazon.com$15.99

Parker Baby Co. 
Wet Dry Bag

With a waterproof interior, these bags keep the mess contained so you can transport clothing home to wash. They also make a good spot to store a change of clothes, too.

Buy

Add to Babylist

Babylist$18.00

parkerbaby.com$15.00

all 
Liquid Laundry Detergent

This formula is 100% free of dyes and perfumes and is hypoallergenic, all at an affordable price point.

Buy

Add to Babylist

amazon.com$20.42

OxiClean 
Versatile Stain Remover Powder

Nice to have on hand for tough-to-treat stains.

Buy

Add to Babylist

amazon.com$11.78

Sprucely 
Laundry Hamper

Because you’ll need somewhere to throw your baby’s dirty clothes.

Buy

Add to Babylist

Babylist$29.99