This Is the Least Gross Way to Get Rid of Poop Stains, According to Experts (2024)

Because no matter how hard you try to avoid it, s--t happens.

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This Is the Least Gross Way to Get Rid of Poop Stains, According to Experts (1)

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Babies, puppies, kittens ... all so cute and also frequently the culprits behind the last type of stain you want to clean up. While unpleasant, it's possible to get rid of poop stains from clothing, carpets, rugs, and more. The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab has two tried-and-true methods depending on the location of the stain, and you probably already own most of the necessary supplies to get things back to looking (and smelling) the way they should.

What You'll Need

How to Get Poop Stains Out of Carpet and Upholstery

This Is the Least Gross Way to Get Rid of Poop Stains, According to Experts (10)

For furniture and rugs, you can stir up a three-ingredient homemade solution to remove the mess:

  1. Start by mixing ½ tablespoon of dishwashing liquid like Dawn and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar into 2 cups of warm water.
  2. Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent-vinegar solution and then blot until the liquid is absorbed.
  3. Continue applying the solution and blotting until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the cloth.
  4. If the stain remains, use an eyedropper to apply hydrogen peroxide, and then apply a drop or two of ammonia. (Skip the ammonia on wool carpets — it can discolor them.)
  5. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

LAB TIP: Good Housekeeping Seal holder Bissell Professional Pet Stain and Odor has an enzyme-containing formula that tackles stains and the lingering odors that keep pets returning to soil the same spot again and again. It works on carpets, upholstery, mattresses, and even in your car.

How to Get Poop Stains Out of Fabric

This Is the Least Gross Way to Get Rid of Poop Stains, According to Experts (11)

Luckily for new parents, the process for removing poop from clothing is a lot simpler:

  1. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover, like Shout Advanced Gel, or soak the item in warm water with an enzyme-containing laundry detergent, like Gr Persil ProClean.
  2. Launder with chlorine bleach like Clorox, if safe for the fabric, or oxygen bleach like OxiClean.

This Is the Least Gross Way to Get Rid of Poop Stains, According to Experts (12)

Caroline Picard

Contributing Writer

Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.

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This Is the Least Gross Way to Get Rid of Poop Stains, According to Experts (2024)

FAQs

This Is the Least Gross Way to Get Rid of Poop Stains, According to Experts? ›

If you prefer natural cleaning solutions, consider vinegar and baking soda. These pantry staples also prove effective at combating poop stains. Prepare a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water, accompanied by a generous pinch of baking soda.

What is the best thing to get rid of poop stains? ›

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.

What is the best poop cleaning? ›

Baking soda is the holy grail of poop removers.

What is the best way to clean human feces? ›

Wipe up the stool with paper towels. Put the used paper towels in a plastic trash bag. Rinse the surfaces with water. Disinfect hard surfaces with diluted household bleach or with disinfectants that you buy at the store.

What is the best detergent for poop stains? ›

Pretreat with a prewash stain remover, like Shout Advanced Gel, or soak the item in warm water with an enzyme-containing laundry detergent, like Gr Persil ProClean. Launder with chlorine bleach like Clorox, if safe for the fabric, or oxygen bleach like OxiClean.

What is the best poop stain remover for toilets? ›

Rosalina toilet tablets are our solution for deep cleaning your toilet bowl with minimal effort and maximum environmental safety. These tablets dissolve, releasing top-tier cleaning agents that attack tough stains.

Does white vinegar remove poop stains? ›

These pantry staples also prove effective at combating poop stains. Prepare a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water, accompanied by a generous pinch of baking soda. The acidic vinegar loosens the stain, while the abrasive baking soda scrubs it off.

What cleaner kills poop bacteria? ›

Cleaning with soap and water washes the bacteria away, whereas bleach (including baby-friendly bleach) actually kills the bacteria. Both options work to keep your home clean.

How do most people clean after pooping? ›

Wiping Front to Back

If you don't have any physical limitations preventing you from reaching around your body to wipe from front to back, it's generally considered the safer route to go. You'll be moving feces away from your more delicate parts, lowering the risk of infection.

What soap is best for cleaning poop? ›

The good news is, Tide can help out with the cleaning side of child care, whether it's for poop stains or other baby-related messes, like urine, baby formula or baby food. For whiter whites and tough stain removal, wash with Tide.

Should you shower after diarrhea? ›

use soft toilet paper or damp cotton wool to wipe yourself after you've been to the toilet. have a warm bath to help soothe pain and help with healing – do this a few times a day if necessary. pat the area dry with a soft towel after a shower or bath – don't rub.

How long does bleach take to disinfect poop? ›

Diluted household bleach disinfects within 10–60 minutes contact time (see Table G. 1 below for concentrations and contact times), is widely available at a low cost, and is recommended for surface disinfection in health-care facilities.

How to get poop smell off hands? ›

You've washed your hands repeatedly, but they STILL smell like poop. (It's OK, we've all been there.) Washing your hands with liquid dish soap may help, or trying wiping your hands with rubbing alcohol swabs.

Why do I have poop stains even after wiping? ›

Staining your underwear may be a form of passive bowel incontinence but do not panic. If the staining only happens occasionally and after you use dry tissue to clean yourself after a bowel movement, this may be due to inadequate cleaning.

What is the best stain remover for poop? ›

Pour Ariel Original Washing Liquid directly onto the poop stain, you can pour either from the bottle or the cap. Make sure you completely cover the poo stain in detergent.

Can hydrogen peroxide remove poop stains? ›

Choose Your Cleaner Carefully: Enzyme cleaners or hydrogen peroxide solutions are effective for removing poop stains, but avoid using bleach as it can damage the mattress. Thoroughly Clean and Deodorize: Blot the stained area with your chosen cleaner, rinse, and deodorize with baking soda and white vinegar.

Does OxiClean remove poop stains? ›

Wipe off any excess poop from your baby's cloth diaper or onesie. Or even better, shake it into a toilet and flush! 2. Soak the diaper or onesie in a solution of water and OxiClean™ Odor Blasters Versatile Stain Remover for 3-6 hours.

Can you put poop stains in the washing machine? ›

Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance, says that washers were indeed meant to handle bodily fluids like this, but that you should pull out soiled materials to wash separately to save your favorite towels and clothes. “​​Wash in water of 140 degrees Fahrenheit on the longest cycle your machine has.

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