Black Stains on Bibs

Yes, this is very normal and yes, there is definitely a way to get the stains out completely! Just soak them in a hot bucket of Oxi Clean for a day (or TWO!). This will get out just about every organic stain imaginable. I have NEVER had an organic stain that I couldn't remove with Oxiclean. In fact, I still have cloth bibs that I used with my first-born over 8 years ago and they still look great. Whenever they get really skanky looking with stains all over, I just give em a good soak for a day or two (along with any onesies or outfits that have stains). And, voila! Good as new. Not a stain in sight.

I get these on washcloths all the time, and I think it's from putting them into the laundry chute wet. It looks like there are good suggestions below...

L.

It's mildew. Once it's there you can't get it out. Soak bibs in a bucket of water with a little laundry soap until you can get to them, if you can't do the wash every day.

SAHM of seven

Bananas! They stain really bad if you don't rinse them right away. Oxy clean spray gets out pretty much anything if you spray it right away.
Good luck!
Sam

L.,

I always kept a bucket with cool water with a "baby detergent" like Dreft mixed in. As soon as the boys were done with a bib, I'd just toss it in to soak until I did the laundry. It took care of just about any stain and the black spots. Even though my youngest is 2, I still keep a bucket for the stains and will let things soak for up to a week! It works great!

Yes, the black stains are from the iron in the cereal. you have to rinse out the bibs right away in a sinkful of soap, otherwise, they'll all be stained black. good luck.

Hi L.,
My guess would be the iron in the food and formula. I actually still have stains in my carpet from my daughters spit-ups. You may want to try some sort of iron-out type product, but it would have to be re-washed again before putting it back on your daughter. Sorry not much help.

Hi L.,
I have 4 children and have been using Prespot from Melaleuca for over 5 years now. It works wonderfully. No one can believe how nice all of my children's clothes look. Just spray some on right after you get done using the bib or any other item of clothing that needs it and for extra precaution spray again right before washing and let sit for a few minutes. On top of working like a charm, it is non-toxic so I actually keep a bottle of it in my youngest daughter's room to spray items immediately.

Are there bananas in the oatmeal>> Bananas really stain,
use a stain remover like "shout"........it might take the black out of the bibs.
good luck,
J.

Mildew - bleach the stains out, and from now on just make sure to let them dry before tossing them into the bin or basket. You can throw dirty clothes into the laundry basket and leave them for a long while...they just can't be moist or even damp. The heat and humidity in the spring and summer will make the mildew grow very quickly. As long as the stuff you throw into your dirty clothes pile/basket/bin is "dry," you are fine. If you do rinse it out or pre-treat it...let them dry them throw with the other dirty stuff. I have noticed mildew can start in a day or two during hotter months.

Try rinsing the bibs out with cold water as soon as you take them off. I feed my 7-month-old granddaughter oatmeal cereal, but always put a little applesauce in it and I don't seem to have a problem with stains.

L., Is their any chance it could be banana? Mushed banana looks like little dark brown streaks after a while. Just a thought.

Hi L.
With twins- bibs were usually an issue at about 12/day when they started teething.......
My inlaws taught me a true secret not to be kept quiet- any stained items, soak overnight in Biz- we had a bucket in our laundry tub.
Wash and all the stains come out. Make sure dark colors are colorfast.

Don't know what the black is from - sorry.

About me- 47yo mom of twins, med. prof., wellness coach
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B. J

the BEST stain remover I have ever tried is from Melaleuca - I buy it online and LOVE the stuff... It's called prespot and I've gotten out stuff I never dreamed would come out - even stuff that had been washed and dried a few times previously....
I haven't had nearly the success with anything I've tried from anywhere else - and I've tried them all - (we seem to be a "dirty" family!:)

I noticed them on our bibs too...mostly on the ones that had the plastic fabric stuff on the back. I think it actually might be mold because the moisture sits inbetween the layer of cloth and the plastic. But, not sure. I used them anyway...but soaked them in bleach every few weeks for just a few minutes mostly for piece of mind. I always washed bibs seperately from all the other clothes...cause of the bleach thing, and because of all the ishy dried-on food being processed through the washing machine.

L., these are called stains, and you cant get rid of them, this is why you never find any bibs at yard sales, after a while no one wants them, if you have a favorite bib you like use it more for spits than food, plastic will help get rid of the stains, and keeps it right off the bib, ive had three children, spit happens, D. s

Are they black, or just a darker color? It could just be staining from milk, if you mix her cereal with milk, breastmilk, or formula. I use either Zout or Shout, and usually have luck with milk based stains. If they're dark black then they're mold, which you'll have a tough time getting out. Try keeping them soaking in a water bucket with just a touch of bleach until you wash them.

The best bibs I have ever found for feeding are at Wal-Mart. They have these vinyl bibs that snap at the bottom to create a catch for all the dribbles. They last forever and are very easy to clean, just wash them in the sink/dishwaser with the dishes, or throw them in the washing machine. I think they're around $3.

My suggestion would be to put a stain treater on them after rinsing them off. I like shout...if you are still only using dreft I have used that as a pretreater also. Just pour a small portion of laundry soap on the area and it will be fine until you wash it. It isn't colored so it won't stain or dye your bibs.