It’s not always easy to get the daily dose of cod liver oil into the little ones. Often, half of it lands on your clothes and what is swallowed often gets regurgitated. But don`t worry. We have expert advice from our head of Consumer Service Malin Skaar on how to get rid of those cod liver oil stains for ever.
Remove the stains quickly
As with most stains, it’s important to treat cod liver oil stains as soon as possible, says Malin.
“Pour some undiluted Fairy liquid directly on the stain, press it gently into the fabric and leave for about 20 minutes. Rinse the fabric well and wash the garment following the instructions on the label. The higher the temperature you dare to use, the greater the chance of getting rid of the stain. If the garment is white or bright, use laundry detergent with bleach.”
Old stains
Sometimes you just can’t take care of stains immediately. So what should you do with old, dried stains on baby clothes? According to Malin, all hope is not lost for these garments either.
“Old stains are difficult, but not impossible to remove. Try to use the same approach with Fairy liquid as a stain remover. Fairy liquid is actually very effective in dissolving the fat in cod liver oil. If the stain doesn’t go away after the first time, don’t give up. Try a few more times with Fairy liquid followed by laundering. If the stain is still there after this, it’s worth trying one last time to wash it on a high temperature.”
Stains on furniture
Cod liver oil for babies might also mean spills on the furniture. Maybe on your fine wool sofa? Malin has tips for getting rid of these stains too.
“You have to experiment with water and either Fairy liquid or a washing detergent for wool, if you have stains on wool. Remember to be careful not to use too much water and always wash stains ‘from the outside in’. This is slightly easier if the cover is removable. If so, I recommend the same procedure as for clothing. But always remember to follow the washing instructions as well, so you don’t ruin the cover. Some upholstery may be dry cleaned.”
Rinse the smell out
Malin’s last tip is about how to get rid of the smell of cod liver oil:
“It’s important to rinse as much of the smell out of the clothes as you can before you use the washing machine. And if you think it smells like cod liver oil in your washing machine after washing, remove the detergent drawer, soak it in hot water and use an old toothbrush to remove any residue. Rinse it thoroughly and put it back. Then set your machine on the hottest cycle and add a cup of white vinegar to the drum. Once the cycle is finished, open the door to air dry the machine.”