Can You Put Poopy Clothes in the Washing Machine? How to Clean Soiled Clothes

As a parent, you’ve inevitably dealt with your fair share of poopy disasters. Suddenly your cute onesie isn’t quite so cute anymore. When faced with poop-stained clothes, you may be tempted to just toss them in the trash. But wait! Before you bid farewell to that adorable outfit, know that you can actually salvage poopy clothes in the washing machine.

I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t it unsanitary and messy to wash poopy clothes with regular laundry? Won’t everything come out smelling like poop? While it may seem gross, with the proper cleaning methods, you can safely wash clothes covered in poop in the washing machine. I’ll walk you through exactly how to get poop stains out of fabric and kill lingering bacteria.

By arming yourself with the right techniques and supplies, you can banish stains and germs from poopy clothing. Saving your favorite pieces from the poop peril. Next time your little one has an explosive accident, don’t despair. With a few simple steps, you’ll have those clothes fresh and ready for wearing again. Let me show you how to refresh and revive poopy clothes with your washing machine.

Can You Put Poopy Clothes in the Washer?

Yes, you can absolutely put poopy clothes in the washing machine! However, there are a few crucial steps you must take first to clean poop off clothes before throwing them in the wash:

Remove Excess Poop

Before washing, you need to remove all excess poop from the clothing. Scrape off solids with a spatula or dull knife. Run the fabric under warm water in the sink to help rinse away remaining poop residue.

Pre-soak in Warm Water

Soak the soiled clothes in warm water for at least 30 minutes before washing. This helps loosen dried poop stains so they release from the fabric. Add an enzymatic cleaner to the soak water for extra poop-fighting power.

Pretreat Tough Stains

Spot treat stubborn stains by rubbing an enzymatic cleaner directly into the stain. Let sit 15+ minutes before washing. For old stains, gentle scrubbing with a soft brush can also help lift poop from fibers before washing.

Wash Separately

Never toss poopy clothes in with your regular laundry! The bacteria could spread to other items. Wash any poop-stained clothes separately using hot water and extra detergent.

By pre-treating and washing poopy clothes separately, you can safely clean them in the machine without contaminating other laundry.

Step-By-Step Process for Washing Poopy Clothes

Follow this detailed step-by-step process for getting poop stains out of clothes in the washing machine:

1. Remove Solids

Pick or scrape off any solid poop chunks clinging to the fabric. Taking off excess poop first prevents smearing it deeper into the fibers.

2. Rinse in Sink

Run hot water over the stain and gently rub to release poop residue. Warm water helps dissolve and dilute remaining poop.

3. Soak in Enzymatic Cleaner

Soak the item in a sink or bucket with warm water and enzymatic cleaner for at least 30 minutes. This process helps break down organic stains like poop.

4. Hand Wash with Dish Soap

Optional but helpful – lather a small amount of dish soap directly onto stained area and gently scrub to further lift stains before washing. Rinse soap with cold water.

5. Wash with Hot Water

Wash the poopy clothes separately with the hottest water allowed for the fabric. Hot water sanitizes and kills bacteria.

6. Use Enzyme Detergent

Use an enzyme-based laundry detergent rather than regular detergent. Enzymes are specifically designed to eat away organic stains and odors like poop.

7. Add Bleach if Needed

For heavy stains, add 1/2 cup bleach to the wash cycle to help sanitize the laundry and remove stubborn poop stains.

8. Air Dry in Sunlight

Sunlight’s UV rays have anti-bacterial properties. Place washed poopy clothes in direct sunlight to air dry and further sanitize the fabric.

Washing Machine Settings for Poopy Clothes

To most effectively kill germs and eliminate stains when washing heavily soiled items use these washing machine settings:

Hottest Temperature – Use the highest temp allowed for the fabric. Heat helps sanitize.
Extra Rinse Cycle – An extra rinse ensures no poop residue remains after washing.
Extra Spin Cycle – Spinning clothes extra at the end of the wash removes more water, faster drying.
Powder Detergent – Powder enzyme cleaners dissolve better than liquid in very hot water.

Can You Put Heavily Soiled Diapers in the Washing Machine?

For heavily soiled infant diapers or cloth diapers, the washing machine can still work to clean them, but it will take more effort:

Remove all solids first and rinse diapers in sink before washing.
Soak for 60+ minutes in enzymatic cleaner before washing.
Use a sanitizing laundry detergent made for diapers like RLR Laundry Treatment or GroVia Mighty Bubbles.
Wash diapers separately – soiled diapers can transfer bacteria to other laundry items.
Wash in hot water on a long, heavy duty cycle with extra rinses.
Occasionally washing diapers with 1⁄2 cup bleach is recommended to fully sanitize.

While it’s more work, with the right process, the washing machine can clean even heavily soiled diapers and get them ready to use again.

Drying Poopy Clothes After Washing

After washing poopy clothes, drying them fully ensures no lingering bacteria remains:

Tumble dry on high heat or hang dry in direct sunlight.
Sunlight’s UV rays have natural sanitizing effects.
Avoid line drying in shade or indoors – extended dampness encourages bacterial growth.
Use wool dryer balls to help absorb moisture faster.

Inspect clothes after drying to confirm no traces of stains or odors remain before wearing again.

When to Toss Out Poopy Clothes

While the washing machine can redeem most poopy clothing mishaps, sometimes a piece may be too far gone. Here are signs it’s time to say goodbye:

Stains remain after multiple hot washes with added sanitizers/bleach.
Strong poop odors linger even after thorough cleaning and drying.
Fabric has become worn, damaged, or develops holes from excessive poop scrubbing.
The psychological stain outweights the physical one – you feel squeamish about reusing the clothing.

Know when to call it quits for badly soiled items. But otherwise, trust the cleaning power of your washing machine and don’t be afraid to wash most poopy clothes and stains out successfully!

Frequently Asked Questions About Washing Poopy Clothes

Cleaning poop stained laundry in your washing machine prompts a lot of good questions from concerned parents. Here are answers to some of the most common FAQs:

Q: Will the washing machine get rid of all poop smells in clothes?

A: With proper cleaning beforehand and using laundry sanitizers, the washer can eliminate poop odors. If any smell lingers, rewash and air dry in the sun.

Q: Can you wash clothes stained by infant diarrhea or watery poop?

A: Yes, loose poop can be washed out with extra rinses. Soak for longer before washing and use more laundry sanitizer or bleach.

Q: Should you use hot or cold water to wash poopy baby clothes?

A: Always use the hottest water safe for the fabric. Warm water alone won’t sanitize poopy clothes. Cold water makes stains harder to remove.

Q: Will poop stains come out of white clothes if I wash them quickly?

A: Not necessarily. To remove stains on white fabric, pretreat with enzymatic spray before washing. Soaking for 30+ minutes is also recommended.

Q: How do you get poop smell out of washing machine after washing soiled clothes?

A: Run a sanitize or tub clean cycle. If odors linger, wipe with bleach, run empty with hot water and vinegar, or deep clean wash drum.

The Bottom Line

Although it may seem gross at first, you can absolutely wash poopy clothing in your regular washing machine. By thoroughly pre-treating stains, washing in hot water with added sanitizers, running extra rinses, and proper drying, clothes can come out of the wash poop-free. While it takes more time and effort than throwing them directly in the machine, it’s worth it to save your kid’s favorite outfit or beloved pair of pants. Give your poopy clothes new life with the proper laundering approach. Your washing machine can redeem even the biggest poop disasters!