Baby Care: Spit-Up Happens! How To Get It Out

When it comes to spitting up, babies aren’t afraid to let loose. They’ll do it on the couch, the carpet, the beautiful baby blanket from Grandma Gloria, Grandma Gloria herself. But don’t throw in the (burp!) towel—here are four super-easy ways to clean it, quick.

1. The it’s-worked-for-eons method. Laundry stain sticks and sprays are modern-day miracles, but in a pinch try this: Dab (don’t rub) the big blobs of spit-up with a burp cloth or sponge. Then dip a wet washcloth in baking soda and blot the stain.

2. The au-naturale method. A little lemon juice and plain old sunshine bleach out spit-up stains. "If I’ve washed something and there’s still a trace of spit-up," says Christina Poston, a mother of one in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, "I squeeze lemon juice on it and let it dry in the sun. It always works. I just don’t use it on anything dark because it’ll fade it."

3. The always-good-in-an-emergency method. It’s guaranteed to happen at least once (or 10 times): Baby spits up all over you when you’re out and about. This is where baby wipes come in handy…for you. I always have wipes on me—they’re pretty much surgically attached to my hands these days—so I just use them remove spit-up from clothes," says Lisa Smith, a mother of two in Houston, TX. "Wipes take it up easy and leave no smell."

4. The oops-let-me-get-that-for-you method: So the relatives stop by to meet your little sweetie for the first time. He coos, he smiles, he belches, he spits up all over Uncle Joe’s shoulder. No worries: People understand it’s one of those things that babies do. Simply grab a wipe or washcloth and dab the mess. Humor helps. Laugh and say something like, "Oh, that’s just his way of showing affection," or "He’s prepping for his college years."