Laundry hacks: How to get gross stains out of clothing

As a working mama to four tiny humans (who live on a hobby farm with a bunch of animals) and the wife to a man with a blue collar job I do a LOT of laundry. A lot. And like most things I try to be as efficient as possible. Saving time is super important to me, but I also want to save our clothes by getting out stains.

Today I want to share a few ways to do laundry like a rock star.

Dirt and grass stains

Let’s talk about the stains moms see the most. And that’s dirt and grass. Are they just rolling around on the ground for fun? Why yes, yes they are. Because kids.

Let the stain dry. You can brush off as much dirt, mud and grass as you can before laundering. Then treat with an enzyme cleaner like Oxyclean or Bac Out immediately before laundering. Rub the cleaner into the stain and then wash on the warmest setting your machine will allow (and the garment can handle).

Check before you dry to make sure the stain is removed. (You might need to repeat the process.)

This also works for “protein” stains like blood, urine and poop. (Yeah, I went there.)

Berry stains

Blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries. They are all great. But they can all stain. Pat out the stain with a wet rag. Then use something like Spray and Wash or Shout. You can let the stain sit for a couple of hours before washing.

Coffee stains

This is every moms nightmare. You’re finishing up a cup on the way out the door when you spill coffee on your blouse.

Pour liquid laundry detergent directly onto the garment and rub the garment together. You can let it sit for a couple of days, but go ahead and treat it right away!

What about stripes?

Do you wash stripes with lights or darks? Well, I don’t actually separate my clothes. But if you are a clothes separator, test the inside hem by pouring a little cool water on it to see if the stripes run.

Wash by weight not by color

Wash heavier clothes like jeans, towels and heavy sweaters together. Separate them from more delicate fabrics. This will speed up dry time for both, but also prevent heavier garments from damaging more delicate ones.

Read: How to get set in oil stains out of your clothes (using things you already have at home!)

Lingerie bags are your best friend

Lingerie bags are great for keeping socks together. But they’re also great for bathing suits. How many times have you purchased a bathing suit you actually like and then by the end of the summer it’s just a stretched out bag? Wash it (or anything you want to hold shape) in a lingerie bag. You can get the zippered kind at the Dollar Tree!

Outfit your laundry room

Next to the washer I keep detergent, stain treaters, a lint garbage can and a little container to put things I find in the pockets of our clothes.

I would love to hear some of your laundry hacks! Leave me a comment.