The Best Way To Get Smelly Pet Poop Stains Out Of Clothing

When you have a pet, you encounter many messes that need to be cleaned up in your home. Unfortunately, sometimes one of these messes can be pet poop that gets on your clothes. Before you think your clothing item is gone for good, you may be able to clean and sanitize your soiled laundry by using hydrogen peroxide.

Pet poop can happen in the most unexpected circumstances. You can get it on your clothes when cleaning up floors and furniture, or it can happen unexpectedly, too. This is often the case with young puppies and kittens, or with ill or elderly pets.

If your clothes have just recently been soiled and the stain hasn't had much time to set in, you can likely just add some regular laundry detergent to the area and scrub it out. Then wash the item in your washing machine like normal. Once the stain sets, however, hydrogen peroxide can help lift it.

To remove pet poop stains from clothes with hydrogen peroxide, first blot up as much of the stain as possible with a clean cloth. Then apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the stain. You'll notice the peroxide bubble up. Let the peroxide sit on the stain for about 20 minutes. 

Next, blot up the hydrogen peroxide with a clean cloth. Rinse the area with cold water. Keep in mind that the stain, depending on how long it's been there, may not come out right away. If the stain is old or set in, you may need to soak the clothes in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water for several hours before washing them.

Repeat these steps until the stain is gone. Once there is no lingering visual stain, throw the clothes in the washing machine and run a normal wash cycle as usual.

You'll want to exercise caution when using hydrogen peroxide and make sure to not mix it with certain other substances, which can create a safety hazard. For example, mixing peroxide with bleach can result in a powerful and toxic, irritating gas. When hydrogen peroxide is mixed with vinegar, it turns into peracetic acid. This can cause respiratory, skin, and eye irritation.

Though hydrogen peroxide can clean laundry well, it can also bleach fabrics. Consequently, it is important to test it in an area that won't be noticed before using it on the stain. Simply stick a cotton swab in the peroxide and then place a dot-sized amount on the inside of a hem, under a collar, or on another hidden part of your clothing. Although hydrogen peroxide is considered safe for most fabrics, you may want to dilute it in water before applying to a fine material like silk.