How to get petroleum jelly and ointment out of clothes

How to remove petroleum jelly from clothes

1. 1

   Scrape off the excess

   Lift off as much petroleum jelly or ointment as you can with a dull knife or spoon. Scrape gently toward the center of the stain.

   Why: Every bit you remove now is grease you don't have to dissolve, and wiping would smear it wider.

2. 2

   Absorb the surface grease (optional)

   On a large smear, sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda over it, let it sit a while, and brush it off.

   Why: Absorbent powders soak up surface grease before you pretreat, but they only remove the excess.

3. 3

   Dab solvent on the back of heavy stains

   For a large or thick stain, lay it face down on paper towels and dab dry-cleaning solvent on the back. Move to clean towels as the grease transfers, then let the solvent evaporate. Work in a ventilated area.

   Why: Petroleum jelly is made of hydrocarbons, which dissolve in solvent. Working from the back pushes the dissolved grease into the towel, not deeper into the fabric.

4. 4

   Work in detergent or dish soap

   Rub full-strength heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent or dish soap into both sides of the stain and leave it for about 10 minutes.

   Why: Surfactants surround the grease so it can be rinsed away in water.

5. 5

   Wash in the hottest safe water

   Wash the garment in the hottest water its care label allows, with the usual amount of detergent.

   Why: Heat softens the grease so detergent can lift it out of the fibers.

6. 6

   Check before drying

   Air-dry the garment and look for a darker, see-through patch where the stain was. If you see one, pretreat and wash again before using the dryer.

   Why: Dryer heat bakes leftover grease into the fibers, and it can turn yellow over time, especially on polyester.

Why petroleum jelly leaves a greasy patch

Petroleum jelly, or petrolatum, is a semi-solid mix of long hydrocarbon molecules, the same family as mineral oil and wax. It doesn't mix with water at all, so a normal wash just moves it around. It spreads along the fibers and leaves a darker, translucent patch that looks wet even when it's dry.

That makes it an oil stain, and the rule is the same as for cooking grease: dissolve it with a solvent or surround it with detergent before it goes in the washer. Dish soap is a good household choice, and dry-cleaning solvent handles heavy stains.

Healing ointments, balms and diaper creams

Healing ointments and many lip balms are mostly petrolatum, so they come out the same way. Many diaper creams add zinc oxide, a white mineral pigment, to a petrolatum or oil base. That gives a stain with two parts: the grease, and a white residue that can show once the grease is gone. If white marks remain after washing, pretreat with detergent again and rewash.

By situation

The stain already went through the wash

A dark, see-through patch after washing means the grease is still there. Don't dry it. Pretreat with solvent from the back, then detergent, and rewash in hot water.

The stain went through the dryer

Heat has spread and partly set the grease. Use the solvent and detergent pretreatment and a hot wash, and expect to repeat it a few times. Some old stains on polyester never fully clear.

Ointment on sheets and pillowcases

Overnight ointment on hands, lips or skin often ends up on bedding. Treat it the same way: dish soap or detergent rubbed in, then the hottest wash the sheets allow.

White clothes with a yellow mark

Oxidized grease can leave yellowing on whites. Once the grease is out, wash with oxygen bleach to lift the color.

Silk, wool and dry-clean-only clothes

Blot off what you can without wetting it and take it to a dry cleaner. Dry-cleaning solvents dissolve petrolatum well.

What not to do

• Don't wash the garment without pretreating. Water can't dissolve petroleum jelly, so the stain survives the wash and then sets in the dryer.
• Don't machine-dry until the patch is gone. Heat sets oily stains and can make them permanent.
• Don't put solvent-damp clothes in the washer or dryer. Dry-cleaning solvent is flammable. Let it evaporate first.

Other methods that work

Waterless hand cleaner

Kentucky's extension guide notes that degreasing waterless hand cleaners are especially effective on greasy stains and safe for most fabrics. Rub it in, then wash.

Caution: Test on a hidden seam first.

Prewash stain remover

A solvent-based prewash spray or gel works like a milder version of the solvent step and is handy for small smears.

Caution: Follow the label and don't leave it on longer than directed.

Stain still there?

A darker, translucent spot remains after drying

That's grease still in the fibers. Apply solvent from the back over paper towels, then detergent, wash hot and air-dry. Repeat as needed.

White chalky marks after washing

That's usually zinc oxide from a diaper cream. Pretreat with liquid detergent again and rewash.

Safety

• Dry-cleaning solvent is flammable and toxic: ventilate, keep it away from flames, and let it evaporate before washing.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

Petroleum jelly on other surfaces

• Petroleum jelly stains: the complete guide
• Petroleum jelly on hair

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