THIS is why your child comes home from school with a dirty shirt

Last modified on Thursday 31 March 2022

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You take you child to school with a clean uniform. But by the time you pick them up, they're covered in pen, paint ... and whatever else they've been doing in the classroom that day.

But before you get annoyed at the thought of spending yet another evening scrubbing at stains, read this inspiring Facebook post.

It shows a photo of a stained school shirt annotated with descriptions of what caused the marks. And the shirt, which was displayed in a primary school, promises to make you look at your child's messy school uniform in a completely different way.

Here's what all those stains mean ... and our top tips for how to shift them!

Above the shirt is the sign, 'I'm sorry that my uniform got dirty today but it helps to show what I'm learning!'

And next to a big pen mark is the note, 'This black mark was made with a pen. I'm trying hard to develop my writing and drawing skills.'

Meanwhile, next to a grass stain the note reads, 'This grass stain shows that I have been using the outdoor area to develop my physical skills.'

The Facebook post has since gone viral and been shared over 43,000 times, striking a chord with parents.

One mum reminds us that sometimes the stains happen before the school day has even started: 'That red stain is jam where Mirren dropped her toast down herself as she rushed to eat it after swim training until 8.25am.

'And the white smear down Bethan's skirt is toothpaste after they fought over whose turn it was to squeeze the tube! Learning begins at home.'

Now you know what causes all the stains. The next step is working out which stain remover or detergent you need to get rid of them.

Removing stains from school uniforms

Here are some easy ways to get stains and dirt out of your child's clothes.

1. Wash them as soon as you can

After school is a busy time with clubs and playdates. But if you can, get your child to change out of their dirty school uniform straight away so you can wash it.

Try not to leave the shirts in the laundry pile as the stains can set in, making it harder to wash them out.

2. Pre-treat the stain

From grass to food, you'll find all sorts on your child's school uniform. And some stains are harder to shift than others.

Try rubbing a little of your normal detergent onto the mark first. We love Fairy Non Bio Washing Liquid , which does the job just as well as a biological detergent AND leaves clothes comfy against your child's skin.

In fact, the whole Fairy Non Bio range has been voted the number one laundry brand for sensitive skin* and has also been awarded the Skin Health Alliance seal of approval.

*Online panel of 3,433 women among which Fairy Non Bio detergent/softener was voted most often as the #1 detergent and fabric softener for sensitive skin.

3. Choose the right detergent

For clean clothes that are huggably soft, look no further than Fairy Non Bio Platinum PODS® with extra stain removal.

There's no need to measure out any liquid or powder (good news when you've got piles of school uniform to wash every day). Simply pop a Pod in your washing machine and load the clothes on top. The Pod's multi-compartments are filled with gentle ingredients and a new, fresh scent to get clothes clean and smelling great.

They have extra stain removal that will leave school uniforms clean no matter what your child has been up to. For added softness, add a capful of Fairy Fabric Softener .

4. Get washing

Hot temperatures can sometimes set stains in. Fairy Non Bio works in 30 degrees, shifting stains and leaving your child's uniform clean and ready for another day at school.

Looking for more tips and tricks for your family laundry, or ideas on how to wash baby clothes? Check out these articles and chat to other parents in our Netmums forum.