How to Remove 7 Common Stains from Merino Wool

Lovingly treated, your merino baby clothing can be handed down to baby's siblings, cousins and through the generations, and still look new.  However, like any fibre, how to remove a stain from baby's sleeping bag or clothing varies depending on the stain.

In this article, we’ll help you remove the 7 most common baby stains with remedies provided to us by Woolmark, and give you a free Wool Care Guide.  Please note every fabric is different so please treat this as a guide only.

General Care Instructions

Before cleaning any garment, always check the care instructions.  Our Merineo garments are all machine washable on a gentle wool wash using a wool detergent, but if you’re using products made by other brands, check the care instructions.

Always remember not to soak or wring dry merino wool clothing.  Otherwise, the colours may run or the fabric may deteriorate under the stress of wringing.

When stains occur, deal with them immediately.  So, pop these items on your shopping list if you don’t already have them in your pantry or laundry –

Cleaning Products Shopping List

• bottle of white vinegar
• wool detergent
• white spirit/alcohol (gin, vodka)
• lint free cloth

Now, let's start with the most baby common stains and how to clean them.  The first step with all stains, is not to panic!

Milk Vomit

Babies love burping after a big drink of milk, and sometimes baby might have a tiny milk vomit. Firstly remove the vomit with a damp sponge, and then gently dab the area using undiluted white vinegar followed by cold water. 

Baby Urine

Yep, wee-wee is the next most common stain because nappies often leak onto baby’s clothing and their swaddle bag or sleeping bag.  Dab the urine gently with clean warm water, and then wash in the washing machine using a gentle wool detergent.

Baby Poo

Excrement escaping baby’s nappy is a normal occurrence.  Scrape the poo off the wool clothing with a spoon or knife. Then, in a large container, mix:

• 1 litre of warm water,
• 1 teaspoon of wool detergent
• 1 teaspoon of white vinegar.

Dip the corner of a cloth into the mixture, and gently dab the affected area until it’s clean.

Milk from Baby’s Bottle

Sometimes accidents happen and baby’s milk bottle leaks onto their clothing.  Removing pure milk is a little different to removing milk vomit.  The first step is to use a lint free cloth soaked in white spirit and dab the affected area gently.  Then repeat with a cloth soaked in white vinegar diluted in water.

Black Coffee Drips

You won’t be the first person to drip your coffee on baby’s clothing.  In a cup, mix:

• 1 teaspoon of alcohol
• 1 teaspoon of white vinegar

Then, with a lint free cloth, dip the corner of it into the mixture, and gently dab the stained area.  Then gently press the area with an absorbent cloth to remove the coffee marks.

Tea & White Coffee Drips

If you’re not drinking black coffee, you might be drinking tea or white coffee and accidently drip a couple of droplets onto baby’s wool clothing.  Firstly, dab the area with a cloth soaked in white spirit.  Then follow the above instructions for black coffee drips. 

Pen Marks

Parents often have to multi-task, which might mean writing out your baby gift thank you cards whilst cradling baby to sleep.  Pen marks just happen.  Firstly, soak a lint free cloth in white spirit, then dab the stain.  Then soak a second cloth or an opposite corner of the cloth in white vinegar, and dab the area until the stain is removed.

Long Lasting & Stain Free

Treating your baby’s merino wool garments to remove stains is easy if you have the right cleaning ingredients handy.  Wool clothing and sleepwear make wonderful keepsakes for you to one day show your child how little they once were, or who gifted their wool product to them, so keeping the garment clean is important.

Download our free Wool Care Guide we developed in collaboration with Woolmark, containing guidance to remove not just baby stains, but red wine and greasy food stains from your favourite woolly garment.