How To Remove Milk Stains

Milk stains are inevitable if you have kids, or perhaps even if you don't.

And it seems like kids always get this drink into the most unlikely places, especially when they carry their sippy cups all over the house.

Below are instructions for how to remove these spots and spills from fabric, upholstery and carpet, so you don't have to cry over spilled milk.

Remember, the quicker you treat the spot the better.

In addition, do not use warm or hot water in the process, but only cold, so you don't basically cook the proteins in the milk, which will set it.

Also, these instructions below are for white milk. If you've spilled chocolate milk check out the chocolate guide. Further, I've shared some instructions for how I removed strawberry syrup stains from a tablecloth here (which were in strawberry milk).

Removing Milk Stains From Fabric And Clothing

Step 1: Run the fabric, inside out, under the cold (not warm or hot) water to flush out as much of the milk as possible.

Step 2: Pretreat the stain with liquid laundry detergent containing enzymes, soaking for 30 minutes in cold water, or in the alternative pretreat with an enzyme pretreater. Do not use hot water.

Hint: If the stain is older, you may need to soak even longer, perhaps even overnight.

Step 3: Launder the item.

Hint: Make sure the stain is gone after washing, but before you place in the dryer or you may set it.

If it is not gone let the item air dry and pretreat again with a prewash stain remover. Repeat laundering if necessary.

Oxidized And Yellow Stains Caused By Milk

Over time clothing that looks clean when it comes out of the washer and dryer can get yellow stains on it. This is especially likely to occur with old baby clothes that are put up, generally in a hot garage or attic, waiting for the next baby to wear them.

What happens, over time, is that these almost invisible stains caused by milk, breast milk or formula, begin to oxidize as they break down and make yellow stains.

Here is an article written by a reader giving her secret for yellow stain removal from old baby clothes. This may help you too, if you are experiencing this issue with your milk stains.

Stain Removal For Milk From Upholstery

Step 1: Blot any excess milk from the upholstery, being careful not to spread the spot or grind it into the upholstery.

Step 2: Mix a solution of two cups cool water and one tablespoon dishwashing liquid.

Step 3: Using this solution, sponge the stain with a clean white cloth.

Step 4: Next, blot at the spot until the liquid is absorbed.

Step 5: Repeat steps 3-4 until the stain is removed from the upholstery.

Step 6: Now that the spot is removed you should get plain cold water and a new white cloth and sponge the area to remove the cleaning solution, and then blot dry.

Hint: Be sure to get the upholstery only as wet as necessary to remove the stain from the milk.

In the alternative you may try to remove the stain with a dry cleaning solvent.

You can get more information on how to clean upholstery here.

How To Remove Stains Caused By Milk From Carpet

The instructions for removing stains caused by milk from carpet is the same as for the dishwashing solution instructions above for upholstery.

However, if you don't have luck with this method you can also do something additional with the carpet stain, which is to mix a solution of one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups warm water, and use this as a cleaning solution.

Recommended Milk Stain Removers

Perhaps you don't want to make your own stain remover, but instead want to use something designed to remove milk stains. The key is to find products which contain enzymes, since this is one of the best ways to remove these stains.

Here are some articles and reviews on this site which discuss various products that are designed to remove these stains:

Totally Toddler Stain Remover

Carbona Stain Devil #4

Madame Paulette Kit For Delicate Fabrics

Blue Magic Upholstery Cleaner

Biz Stain Fighter Liquid

Shout Advanced Ultra Gel With Scrubber Head

Shout Free Pretreater

You can also share your own stain remover reviews here for other removers that work on milk, or any other spot or spill.

Do You Have Any Tips To Share For Removing These Stains?

I'm always looking for more tips and ideas for how to remove stains. You can share your stain removal tip here, for removing spots caused by milk or anything else.

Unusual Uses For Milk

This page is devoted to helping you figure out how to remove milk stains from surfaces throughout your house, so you may be surprised to find out that this drink is sometimes suggested as a home remedy for removing other stains.

I've actually created a whole page about this topic, and the unusual uses of milk since I've gotten so many home remedies which use it. Come check it out, and be surprised like I was!

Get Even More Stain And Spot Removal Help Here

Are you a stain magnet like me? If so, check out the A to Z Stain Removal Guide which gives directions for how to remove over 100 types of stains from all kinds of surfaces.

Third photo by Nick Piggott and fourth photo by gromgull

Related Pages You May Enjoy

A-Z Guide: Instructions For Removing Over 100 Types Of Stains

Go From Removing Milk Stains To Home Page

CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only. It is provided as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains and messes just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some cleaning methods can harm your item, so if what you want to clean or launder is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.