Stains on wool are inevitable, especially with babies, children or outdoor use. Often regular laundering will get your wool garment clean, but for stubborn food, dirt, or organic stains additional treatment is needed. Many high alkaline detergents and stain removers used for cotton or synthetic material can harm the fibers in wool. A detergent or stain remover that has no alkaline is necessary for wool. Never use bleach or hot water, and as with any stain the fresher the stain the easier it is to remove.
Different kinds of wool are more fragile and may require other techniques when treating stains. A machine washable merino base layer can withstand more friction and scrubbing than an alpaca knit sweater. Keep that in mind when reading the tips below.
To treat a stain remove any excess residue, wet with luke warm water, and rub stain treatment directly onto the spot. Avoid scrubbing and drastic temperature changes on wool knits so that they do not felt. Simply ‘pinch’ it into the wool with your fingertips and then launder as usual. (See how to wash wool and save money) For machine washable merino, which is mostly what my children wear, I have used a soft toothbrush to scrub the stain treatment in.
My youngest child has worn some type of wool every day since birth and I have encountered a wide variety of stains. We do remove wool for meal times but food stains do still happen, such as when my baby tasted her first wild blackberry and then dribbled it onto her cream merino tank or when she grabbed the blueberry smoothie I was drinking and spilled some on her. Berry stains are some of the hardest to remove, but these are some of the most effective products and tips and I have found for removing stains.
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1. Buncha Farmers Stain Stick This all natural 100% biodegradable product works well on grass, grease, blood, red wine, ink, berry juice, ketchup and more. It contains no perfumes or artificial dyes.
2. The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar This bar is made with nontoxic, biodegradable and allergen-free materials and natural ingredients. Free of petroleum, SLS, phosphate, phthalates, and dye however it does have a slight fragrance if you are sensitive to fragrances.
3. Ox Gall Soap This soap is highly effective at removing stains and spots caused by fruit, blood, ink, pen, grass, and grease, etc. It is very popular in Europe because of its effectiveness. Put gall soap on dry fabric and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash out thoroughly and launder as usual. If necessary repeat the process. This is my go to stain remover when the diaper leaks.
4. Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Just a drop is all it takes to remove oil, grease, paint, make-up, grass, ink, blood, baby formula and more. Apply small amount to stain, pinch it in and rinse. This spot remover is environmentally safe, biodegradable, non-toxic with no chlorine or phosphates and safe for most fabrics. It does however have a warning to avoid contact with skin or eyes.
5. Unicorn Baby Beyond Clean Removes greasy, organic stains and soils on diapers, fabrics and knitwear. It has no harsh ingredients, cleans and deodorizes, is biodegradable and earth friendly. Instead of only as a spot treatment this can be used as an overall cleaner as well.
6. Aleva Naturals Stain & Laundry Bar A natural, vegan and baby-safe stain removing bar formulated specifically for the pre-treatment of stubborn stains and for hand washing delicates. Suitable for colors, whites and all fabric types, the combination of Oil Palm Fruit, fatty acids from coconut and sodium chloride (salt) forms a bar that is vegan and safe to use on cloth diapers. Perfect for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. I use this for general dinginess or and it has been great for cleaning the pants of my crawling baby.
7. Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar I have heard testimonies that others have gotten great results using Fels-Naptha. I personally have not used it due to the very strong overpowering smell that it has. If you are sensitive to smells, this is certainly not for you. If strong smells do not bother you, you should be able to find it in your local grocery store laundry section.
TIPS & TRICKS
- Recently my husband had spilled some greasy lotion on his merino shirt and after a normal launder the grease marks were still visible. All the soaps in my house are natural and non-toxic but I do have a small bottle of blue Dawn just for these instances. Simply put a drop on the grease spot, rub it in and let it sit for a moment and then launder as usual. Blue dawn does have a slight fragrance.
- Curious as to how I got the berry stains out of my daughters merino? I used a mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar and dabbed it on immediately and then laundered as usual.
- Have you tried all the stain removers and the massive diaper leak of your breastfed baby has still left a mustard yellow mark? Here’s the cheapest and best tip you will ever find. Wet the wool and then put it in the sun, the stain will disappear like magic!
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