How to Get Aquaphor Out of Clothes (Quickly & Easily!)
Aquaphor and other health aid ointments help heal the skin and reduce pain or irritation. Unfortunately, they can quickly leave oily stains on clothes and household linens, such as sheets and towels. Although oil-based stains are among the hardest to deal with, they can be eliminated. So, how exactly do you get Aquaphor out of your clothing?
To get Aquaphor out of your clothes, scrape off excess ointment first using a dull knife. Dust the affected area with a powder-based substance such as corn starch or baby powder, then treat the garment with a heavy-duty stain remover or laundry detergent. Wash your clothes as usual to remove the Aquaphor, repeat if necessary, and don’t dry until the stain is completely gone.
In this article, we will teach you how to remove Aquaphor from your clothing. However, you can use these methods for other ointment-based products such as Vicks, Neosporin, VapoRub, and more. It’s essential to act immediately to prevent stains from becoming too far gone for removal.
What Does Aquaphor Do To Clothing?
Since Aquaphor is an ointment, it has been known to stain clothing. What happens is the ointment will seep into the fibers of the clothing, changing the color. It looks much like a grease stain. However, if you added color to your ointment for an art piece, the stain is going to be a lot worse.
It’s best practice to keep Aquaphor from coming into contact with your clothing. If you use Aquaphor as a medication, or a tattoo sealant, make sure you keep the area uncovered.
Don’t let your skin touch any surfaces until you’ve felt the ointment dry a bit. Alternatively, you can cover the area with saran wrap to keep it from getting on your clothing.
If you decide to wash the ointment off your skin, yes, you can wash it off with hot water. You might also need t rub gently with some dry gauze or cotton balls to remove all the Aquaphor from your skin. However, only use cold water to wash Aquaphor out of clothing. Hot water can cause the ointment to set further into surfaces, causing unsightly stains.
How To Get Aquaphor Out Of Clothes
These steps will help you get Aquaphor as well as many other ointments out of your clothes. If the item is dry-clean only, take it in as soon as possible. Make sure you let the cleaner know where you spilled the Aquaphor. They will be able to remove this for you and prevent it from staining your beloved garment.
Before you begin, it’s a good idea that you make sure you have all the materials necessary.
Materials You Need To Get Aquaphor Out Of Clothes
- Blunt-edged knife or credit card-shaped piece of plastic
- Paper towel
- Soft-bristled brush
- Washing machine
- Soaking bowl or bucket
- Vacuum cleaner
- Laundry detergent
- Stain remover
- Cornstarch or talcum powder
- An oxygen-based whitener
Step 1: Remove Excess Residue From Clothes
If a glob of Aquaphor or a similar product drops onto fabric, take the blunt edge of a knife or the edge of a credit card to lift off whatever you can. Do not scrub as this will force the product deep into the item’s fibers, ensuring that the product will cause a stain. If the Aquaphor stains your clothing, this will be much more difficult to remove.
Next, use a piece of paper towel to blot the area and remove what you can. Remember that the key to success is to start the process immediately.
Step 2: Powder The Stain
Once you’ve dislodged the excess product, dust the affected area with a powder-based product such as:
- Corn starch
- Baby powder
- Plain talcum powder
These products will absorb at least some of the oil. This is an incredibly important step if you cannot treat the stain right away. It will help to keep the oil from absorbing deeper into the clothing fibers.
Step 3: Treat With Stain Remover Or Heavy-Duty Laundry Detergent
The oily or waxy part of the stain can be treated with a stain removal product in gel or spray form. Stain removal products typically contain a specific enzyme called lipase. This will help dissolve the oil, especially if you have stains on synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, which tend to attract and retain oils.
- Apply the product. Begin by working a small quantity of the lipase product into the stain, using your fingers or an old toothbrush. If you do not have this kind of product on hand, use a liquid laundry detergent ( Tide or Persil). The liquid laundry detergent contains stain-dissolving enzymes that can remove the oil.
- Let it sit. Leave the cleaning product on the fabric’s stained area for around 15 minutes.
- Scrub the stain. Gently scrub the area with a soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush and thoroughly rinse the site in the hottest water permitted by the garment’s care label.
Step 4: Wash The Clothes As Usual
Check to see the stain’s condition, then place the items in the washer using the highest water temperature recommended on the garment care label. Check again before placing it in the dryer. If the Aquaphor has caused a stain, then the dryer’s high temperature will cause it to set in even deeper.
At this point, if any of the stain remains, it would be a good idea to reapply the stain remover and re-wash the clothing. This should help release any of the additional oil that’s stuck to the clothing’s fibers, which will eliminate the stain.
What If The Aquaphor Has Color In It?
If the ointment contains a colored dye, additional measures may be needed to remove all traces of the ointment, as it will stain. Make a solution of an oxygen-based brightening product and room-temperature water, using the directions on the packaging.
Soak the garment, completely submerged in the mixture for a minimum of 8 hours. Afterward, you will need to remove it and check the stained area for any remaining dye traces. If the stain remains after this process, then chances are, it will be a permanent stain.
Video: How To Get (Almost) Every Stain Out Of Your Clothes
Wrapping It Up
Aquaphor has become a necessity in households, whether it be for health reasons or art. Regardless of the reason for having it, accidents sometimes happen. If you aren’t careful, you can transfer the ointment from your skin to your clothing, which then stains the garment.
If you get Aquaphor on your clothes, scrape off as much excess ointment first with a blunt knife. Next, apply some talcum powder or corn starch onto the stain to help absorb the oil, then apply some stain remover or laundry detergent. Wash your clothes as usual, repeating the process of any of the stain remains. Do not put clothes in the dryer until you’re positive the stain is gone.
Make sure when you discover the stain, you treat it as soon as possible. If you’re unable to wash it immediately, sprinkle it with some talcum powder or corn starch. The sooner you act, the easier it will be to get your stains out, and you won’t need to spend any money on new clothing.
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Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.
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