In celebration of National Weaning Week (13th-17th of May), Winstanleys Pramworld has partnered with Professional Cleaner and Founder of London House Cleaners, Jess Farinha and Cleaning Expert at Essex House Dolly, Nicola Rodriguez to take the stress out of messy mealtimes.
A recent Winstanleys Pramworld Instagram poll revealed that a whopping 73% of parents taking part in the survey confessed to finding mealtimes with their little ones stressful. This aligns with a recent John Lewis study, which found that 31% of parents dreaded mealtimes because they found them stressful.
David Winstanley:
Weaning is an exciting milestone for parents and little ones, but let's be honest, the mess can be stressful. In fact, 73% of parents confessed to finding mealtimes stressful in a recent poll on our Instagram.
Whilst spaghetti stains can test your patience, messy mealtimes are an important part of a baby's development so it’s important to find ways of embracing the chaos that comes with weaning. That's why we've teamed up with experts to offer stain removal tips and tricks to keep those colourful creations off your clothes!
Top 5 Stubborn Stains
Expert Stain Removal Hacks
1. Banana
Jess Farinha:
Salt can be highly efficient if you want to remove banana stains. Grab the salt and sprinkle it onto the stains. Use enough to cover the stain completely and let the salt sit for 20–25 minutes to absorb the moisture. Remove the salt, wash the fabric with mild detergent, and then air-dry.
2. Peanut Butter
Jess Farinha:
Peanut butter is a combination of oils and proteins. To remove the oily stains of the peanut butter, white vinegar can be your saviour. Just mix vinegar and water in equal quantities. Apply it directly to the stain and let it sit for 20–30 minutes to work its magic. Use cold water to rinse off thoroughly.
3. Tomato-based sauces
Nicola Rodriguez:
For tough tomato sauce stains, this trick works wonders: mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and washing-up liquid. Be cautious if using the mixture on coloured fabrics. Apply the mixture to the stain, then gently rub the fabric or use a soft brush. Finally, rinse thoroughly with cold water.
Top Tip:If you have tomato-stained plastic items such as tupperware, bowls and cutlery then soak them in a solution of half vinegar and half water for 12 to 24 hours - they’ll come out looking like new!
4. Berries
Nicola Rodriguez:
Vibrant berries such as cherries and blackberries can be tricky to remove, especially from light-coloured clothing. For stubborn berry stains, add lemon juice or vinegar directly on the stain and leave to sit for five minutes. Rinse the fabric with cold water and wash as usual.
Top Tip: If you're in a restaurant, ask for a slice of lemon and start the stain-removal process on the spot!
5. Egg
Egg yolk's vibrant yellow colour may be natural, but don't be fooled! It's the fat and protein in egg yolk that makes those stains a real challenge to remove. Luckily, there’s a straightforward solution to removing even the most engrained egg stains.
Jess Farinha:
Try using sparkling water on delicate fabrics to remove the stains of an egg. The carbonation can easily remove the stain without any harsh chemicals and keep the fabric intact. Blot with a cotton cloth and rinse with cold water.
Stain Removal Tips:
- Blot, Don't Rub: Rubbing a stain can spread it further. Gently blot with a clean, absorbent cloth.
- Cold Water is Your Friend: Hot water can set stains. Always use cold water for pre-treatment and rinsing. Ice also works wonders on set-in stains!
- Embrace Natural Detergents: Baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice are all natural stain removers that work wonders on many stains. They're a safe and effective alternative to harsh chemicals.
So there you have it, a fool-proof guide to tackling the top 5 stubborn stains! National Weaning Week is a reminder that while messy mealtimes are inevitable, they mark an exciting milestone in a child's development so embrace the mess and relieve the stress - you've got this!