DIY Network

Oh, Baby Oh, Baby From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-128

Figure A

Babies are cute and cuddly and into everything. And even though they're tiny, they can also be the messiest people in the house (figure A). So today we are cleaning up after the smallest members of the family. We'll also look at the top five baby-shower gifts and check out great uses for baby wipes (even if there's no baby in the house).

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But first let's answer a few cleaning questions:

Q: How do you rid sink drains of smelly odors?

A: Pour in 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar. The mixture will foam, cleaning the drain and removing odors.

Q: What's the best way to remove massage oil from sheets?

A: This can be a difficult stain to remove. For large stains, use a cream or waterless hand-cleaner, then flush the area with hot water. If you have spots of oil all over the sheets, add 1 cup borax to your detergent.

Removing Baby Stains

• Formula on white clothes Pour lemon juice over the stain and let it soak in the sun. Launder as usual.
  

  	Figure B
  	Figure C
  	Figure D

• Formula on colored clothes Dip the stain in tepid or cool water, then sprinkle unseasoned meat tenderizer over the stain; the meat tenderizer digests the protein in the stain (figure B). Let it soak for about 30 minutes, then launder as usual.

• Apple juice on clothes Wet the stain, rub with a bar of wet laundry soap and work into the stain. Next sprinkle with borax and work into the stain. Launder as usual. Borax is an all natural laundry booster that also removes odor from clothes.

• Spit-up stains Dip stain in warm water and let it soak to help loosen the stain. Sprinkle salt on the stain while it is soaking. Pour detergent over the stain and work in with your thumbs (figure C). Let the material soak again, then launder as usual. The salt will help release the stain.

• Urine on diapers Flush the stain, from the back side of the diaper, with water, then soak in cold water with 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup of white vinegar before laundering.

• Urine on baby mattress Moisten the area with a damp cloth, pour white vinegar on the stain and wipe off with another moist cloth. Apply more vinegar, if needed, for odor control. Stand the mattress on its side for fast drying (figure D). A fan can also be used to speed drying time.
  

Tip: Bathing a newborn every two to three days is plenty, but be sure to clean the face, neck creases and diaper area daily.