I discovered a spray stain remover called Zout that I think works better than any other I've tried such as Spray'n Wash, Shout, etc. Another suggestion I have is for you to try soaking them in Biz. That's what I used when my hubby used to play ball. We didn't have the red clay, but we had grass stains and good old black dirt.

I also did a quick Google search for removing red clay stains from clothing and here's a few of answers I found...

1. To remove stains of all kinds, even red mud, just use Windex with ammonia. AND To get red clay and grass stains out add about 1/4 cup of Cascade dishwasher detergent to your wash along with your laundry detergent.

2 .When my son had white baseball pants I couldn't get them clean either. I asked my grandmother for help. This is what she told me: take Murphy's Oil soap rub it into the stains and dirt areas let sit for 10 - 15 minutes, then put them in warmest water the pants can stand and soak over nite then take water and all put into washing machine and add detergent ( I used ALL) and was on warmest temp. They came out like brand new. At that time we were living in Georgia and it even got rid of the red clay stains.

3. If you are faced with a read clay stains. Make a paste of table salt and vinegar. Place it over the stain and rub. Leave the paste on for 15- 20 minutes then launder as usual.

4. I live in an area that has an abundance of red clay. I never could get it out. A friend told me she used lye soap. I got some and it really works. Rub it on the stain and scrub with a soft brush. Sometimes I have to repeat several times. Most of the time it takes the stain right out or lightens it enough that a color safe bleach with remove the rest of it.

Good Luck!
Janet

cascade has bleaching agents in it, so I'd be careful with it on the striped pants and since baseball pants are typically elastic-y I'd be concerned the bleaching agent could deterioriate the pants quickly.

That said, my favorite for cleaning white polyesters IS cascade and dry clorox II in a bucket as a soak overnight and then tossing the whole thing into the wash... used this years ago when nurses wore 'whites' to keep them clean...

Recently, I've found that Simple Green seems to clean nost everything, but you have to let it soak. Don't know how it would work on grass or red clay...

If you had a Miele washer that HEATs the water to 220, you would not have to use all that stuff. lol

Wouldn't 220°F water (212°F is boiling) likely destroy those pants?

Might try Era since it comes in an HE version now.

Have also heard that 409 works as well as rubbing Colgate Toothpaste into it, let it sit a while then wash.

I used bleach water and a toothbrush. This way you can keep it off the colors plus usually it doesn't bleach out the color anyway. Also could soak in Tide with Bleach powder then wash. To me, Tide w/bleach powder can't be beat-just doesn't come in an HE but I have used it anyway.

Thank you for the suggestions everyone. Gini, I looked at the label of my Resolve and it says specifically "do not mix with any other household chemicals". I'm a little scared to mix it up with all the other products I use in my laundry! The salt and vinegar suggestion is definitely intriguing me-will probably try that one next as well as the other suggestions. The problem with soaking which it looks like I should be doing is that it is not uncommon to have a Friday night game then have to be at back at the ballfield for a Saturday morning game.

Again, thanks for all the ideas!

Tracey, You do not have to mix the Resolve with anything. You can pretreat (saturate the stains and let them sit awhile) then rinse them before tossing in the washer.

Use a laundry soap like Fels Naptha or Octagon and hot water. I haven't found much they won't get out.

The salt suggestion reminded me of a solution I found for rust stain on my son's shorts. Put lemon juice on the stain and cover with salt, then put outside in the sun. Lemon juice and the sun bleach naturally, and the salt will absorb the stain. It took a few tries but I got the rust stains out of khaki pants.
If that doesn't work, I used to soak my son's football uniforms in oxyclean and hot water in the sink. You can swish them around and agitate the stains a bit easier in the sink.

The last post with oxi clean is what I do. Soak overnight ad then wash- no super hot water needed. If I want to speed up the process the, Fels Naptha suggestion is good. I use that or Kirk's Castile soap (my favorite) in a paste with a toothbrush and borax. My grandma taught me this and I've seen very few things I can't get out. She liked Kirk's better than Fels and I agree.

The old Oxi clean soak is pretty effortless though. The combo of both usually does it. Zout works mixed with the bar soaps but i can't seem to find it lately. I have all white linens and they can be a problem with a washer that can't use bleach, although I think my Meme (Grandma) knew best... she did laundry 50's style until she died.

I know this forum is from 2009 ` but just in case you are still struggling with white baseball pants not coming clean - the next best thing to "SlideOut" is "White Brite"

You should be able to purchase in grocery store - if not Walmart/Target.

My sons has played ball for 15 years and still playing University Ball - just soak in Hot Water with a couple of scoops of White Brite. Check the pants every couple of hours - rub the areas - material against material - you should see results quite quickly. I always wash them separately unless I have something else that is dingy white that is not special - in Hot Water.

Some material is thicker than others - like Victory pants - and they need a little extra love and scrub - they will not yellow as long as you do not use bleach in the wash as well - 15 years and each pair was still white - it will take the colour out of "coloured fabric so be careful.

Mother's unite against red clay and grass stains

Oops sorry - forgot to mention to add a couple of scoops in washer after soaking

Good Luck

What are the ingredients in this White Bright?

There was a whole thread over in Home Dec on White Bright. Never saw/heard of it. So I'm interested, too. Not that I have awful stains...

If its what I'm thinking its very harsh on fabrics

Isnt this the stuff that has an acid in it, grr I can't remember

http://www.whitebritelaundry.com - gives you a full rundown on the product - I don't believe I read anywhere that it has acid in it as would that not break down the fibres in the cloth/material - it does say it is safe on baby clothes to remove formula since it has iron in it -

I only use it as I said on baseball clothing - only white though

I have not found it all harsh on these type of clothing - but I would not use it on anything delicate or expensive.

If you find you are using bleach constantly on the white pants - eventually you will see them turn yellowish and the material will not last - been there done that.

Really I have been through a lot of products - except "SlideOut" and I have found this the best - 15 years of white pants red clay and grass stains