The trick is to get onto the stains as soon as possible - don't just leave them in the wash basket for a few days and then spray the stain with stain remover just prior to putting it through the machine. I change DD's outfit after a particularly messy meal and chuck the clothes straight into a bucket as soon as possible...I use Sard if it is something white or laundry liquid if it is a coloured item of clothing (because I don't want to run the risk of fading coloured clothes).

I just keep them there soaking until I next do a load of coloured/whites, so sometimes it might only be there for a couple of hours and sometimes a good day or so. I have also just rubbed a little laundry liquid onto the stain and then put the clothing into a bucket of plain water to keep the stain moist.

Needless to say there is always a bucket of water in our laundry sink!

If you still have a stain after the item has gone through the wash - orange foods are usually the culprits here - just hang it out on the line. The UV in the sunlight will break down the stain and by the time the item is dry the stain will be gone, like magic!

Both DS and DD (and DH) all have eczema and I have, through trial and error, found out which laundry products work for us. I am hesitant to outright recommend what we use though because what works for us may not work for you. The frustrating part was I would get a detergent that would work for two or three of us but would aggravate another's skin. For us, Sard is better than White King or Napisan. Amolin, BioZet or Omo Small and Mighty Colour Care liquid are the only detergents that work for all 4 of us. "Natural" earth-friendly products don't work for us at all, surprisingly (this applies to toiletries as well).

Spraying stain remover onto a food stain after it has been there for a day or so...I have not found that to be very successful, it's usually too late, especially with orange food. I do have my Preen there for that kind of thing but I find that keeping the stain wet till it is time to wash it works well. Spraying the stain immediately and then leaving the item in the basket till you are ready to wash might do the trick. I often wait till after DD has eaten before I put a load of washing through the machine...I just throw her clothes in straight after the meal and start the machine up then.