Rinse the affected area with cold water to prevent staining. Then, apply a stain remover or a mixture of detergent and water, letting it sit for a few minutes. Wash the blanket in the washing machine on a hot cycle. Ensure it's fully dry before using it again.
Take the blanket to the shower or a utility sink to hose off all the dog poop as much as you can. Then launder it like normal. If it's a white blanket you can add a little bit of bleach to the water. If the blanket has colors or patterns, you can get non-bleaching laundry sanitizer.
No! Any solid material MUST BE RINSED OFF. Your washing machine was not designed to handle poop. It has no way of digesting that material. Unlike a modern dishwasher, that is designed to grind up food stuff that isn't scraped off of dirty dishes, a clothes washer has no such adaptation.
Steps to Remove Poop Stains
If possible, rinse the stain immediately with cold water. Gently rub dish soap onto the stain to help loosen it, then rinse with water. Repeat if necessary.
“I have never seen any sign that bodily fluids affect washing machines at all, at least in the context of cloth diapering. Until babies start eating solid food, their poop is actually water-soluble so it just disappears in the wash process and parents don't have to worry about any kind of poop removal,” she says.
Cleaning the washer is easy run the whole thing on sanitize with washer cleaner, wipe the whole thing down with bleach inside the drum walls and everything. Then run an empty bleach load.
If it's a fabric that could potentially be stained, initially wash with cold water to avoid setting the stain. Warm water can be used if you're not worried about a permanent stain.
Mix 1/4 cup of bleach with 1 quart of water. Pour the bleach solution into the empty tub and run a complete cycle on hot water. After the cycle is complete, wipe down the interior with a damp cloth and leave the lid open to air dry. To deep clean, remove the agitator cap and wash it in warm, soapy water.
This washing additive powder also helps remove leaky diaper stains and poop stains. It's also free of any dyes and chlorine-free, so it's tough on stains but gentle on your baby's clothes!
Use Hand Sanitizer: After washing, apply a generous amount of hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol. This helps kill any remaining germs and reduces the ick factor. Nail Brush is Your Friend: If the poop makes its way under your fingernails, use a nail brush to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Select a bulky wash cycle using the hottest water temperature permitted by the instructions on the blanket's care label. Before transferring blankets into the dryer, inspect them for any lingering stains. If stains are found, repeat pretreatment and run the blankets through another wash cycle.
If your dog poops on your couch or upholstery, you'll first want to scoop up any solid pieces. Then blot any residual moisture, and apply a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner to break down the stain and odor. Alternatively, mix one tablespoon of dish soap with two cups of warm water.
Laundry Detergent and Vinegar
Another method to remove pet urine from soiled laundry is to begin with a cold-water rinse under a faucet, aiming the water directly at the stain. Then wash the item on the hottest recommended washing machine setting, using detergent along with one cup of white distilled vinegar.
Clean With Soapy Water
Place the bed in a bathtub (if that isn't big enough, try an outdoor children's pool). Fill the container with warm water, pet-safe laundry detergent, and a cup of vinegar. Squeeze and knead soft beds in the water repeatedly or scrub plastic beds thoroughly with a sponge.
If you're looking for other ways to tackle stains or if you can't get some sunshine, pre-treating with certain products can also work wonders. Many parents on the Babylist team, including myself, swear by blue Dawn dish soap and Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Spray.
Machine wash the load in the hottest water recommended on the care label using detergent and more Clorox 2® for Colors Stain Remover.
Fortunately for pet owners, OxiClean™ Carpet & Rug Stain & Odor Remover Spray helps clean up dog poop or cat vomit from carpets.
To use vinegar to disinfect your laundry, try adding 1 cup to the rinse cycle. Not only can it kill germs and bacteria, but it's also a great natural deodorizer. White vinegar can be used on colors and whites, keeping clothes bright, and works as an effective fabric softener, too.
Washing sheets in cold water is often not advised because a higher temperature will help kill any bacteria that may lurk between the sheets. For heavily stained bed linen you should always wash your sheets in hot water on the highest recommended temperature setting.
“For removing odors, I would say vinegar.” Some people, however, prefer white vinegar because it's not as harsh as bleach. Unless, of course, your washing machine has been completely neglected, and is now a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, and you want a power cleaner.
Sponge the area with a solution of 1 teaspoon mild, white dishwashing detergent and 1 pint lukewarm water. Blot the stain with an absorbent pad. Continue the sponging and blotting until no more stain is removed. If any stain persists, sponge the area with a solution of 1 tablespoon ammonia to 1 cup warm water.
Protein stains such as dairy, blood, egg, glue, and white deodorant marks should always be washed in cold water. Hot water can actually cook the protein, causing it to absorb into the clothing fibres, and making it almost impossible to remove.
Considering dog poop can be harmful to your health, you should begin blotting the spot. Use a mixture of 3 oz. white vinegar, 1-2 drops of dish soap, and 16oz of warm water with a white rag to start blotting the spot until you see the stain lift away and transfer onto your cloth.