How to get Aquaphor out of clothes, sheets and pillowcases

Step by step: how to get aquaphor out of clothes, sheets and pillowcases

Safety first. Fabric that has soaked up petrolatum ointments, especially bedding and pajamas used every night, catches fire more easily. Keep it away from candles, cigarettes, gas stove flames and space heaters, and wash it often.

1. 1

   Scrape off the excess

   Lift off any ointment sitting on the surface with the edge of a butter knife or spoon. Scrape toward the center of the spot so you do not spread it. Do not rub with a cloth, which pushes the grease deeper.

2. 2

   Absorb the grease with cornstarch

   Lay the item flat and cover the spot with a thick layer of cornstarch or baking soda. Leave it 15 to 30 minutes; you will see the powder clump and darken as it pulls the oil out. Brush it off and repeat once on a heavy stain.

3. 3

   Blot from the back with paper towels

   For a large greasy patch, put a folded paper towel under the stain and press another on the back side. Swap in clean towels as they pick up grease. This moves the ointment out of the fabric instead of through it.

4. 4

   Work in dish soap or liquid detergent

   Put a few drops of clear dish soap or heavy-duty liquid detergent on the stain and work it in with your fingers or a soft toothbrush for a minute. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes. Do not rinse it off before washing.

5. 5

   Wash in the hottest water the label allows

   Put the item in the washer with the detergent still on the stain and wash on the hottest temperature the care label lists. Warm or hot water melts petrolatum so the detergent can carry it away; cold water often leaves a dark, shiny ring.

6. 6

   Check before drying

   Look at the spot in good light while it is still wet. A darker, translucent patch means grease is left. Repeat the soap and wash steps, because dryer heat can set the ring and make it much harder to remove.

7. 7

   Air dry and check again

   Hang the item to dry. Once dry, check the spot again; if it is gone, it is safe to use the dryer next time. If a faint ring remains, repeat with a laundry pretreatment spray and another hot wash.

Why Aquaphor leaves a greasy ring on clothes

Aquaphor stains because it is an oil-based ointment that water alone cannot dissolve. The ring you see is fabric that has soaked up petrolatum and darkened, like any grease mark.

The Aquaphor Healing Ointment label lists petrolatum (41%) as the active ingredient, with mineral oil, ceresin wax and lanolin alcohol among the others. Waxes and mineral oil are what make it cling to fibers, and why it needs a grease-cutting soap and warm water. The same method works for Vaseline, petroleum-based diaper ointments and lip balm.

Tide’s ointment stain steps start by brushing off the excess and rinsing under running water, then covering the spot with liquid detergent, washing on the hottest temperature the label allows, and repeating before drying if the stain is still there. The University of Georgia Extension stain guide for petroleum jelly and grease adds a step first: absorb as much as possible with a powder, brush it off, pretreat, and launder in the hottest water safe for the fabric with a heavy-duty liquid detergent, repeating if needed.

Aquaphor on sheets, delicate fabrics and dry-clean-only clothes

Sturdy cotton and polyester can take the full method; delicate fabrics need cooler water and patience, and dry-clean-only items should go to a cleaner.

For other oily marks such as lotion, cooking oil or makeup, see how to remove oil stains from clothes.

Ointment buildup on bedding is a fire risk

Yes: fabric with dried emollient residue burns faster and hotter than clean fabric, so bedding and clothing used with heavy ointments need regular hot washes and should stay away from open flames.

The UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, warns that clothing and bedding that have been in contact with paraffin-based emollients can ignite easily, that the products themselves are not flammable but act as an accelerant once residue dries on fabric, and that washing at a high temperature may reduce the buildup but not remove it completely. If someone in your home uses Aquaphor or a similar ointment over large areas of skin, change and wash their sheets and sleepwear often, and keep smoking and flames well away.

Mistakes to avoid

• Rubbing the stain with a wet cloth, which spreads the ointment into a bigger ring.
• Washing in cold water only, which leaves petrolatum in the fibers.
• Putting the item in the dryer before checking, which can set a dark greasy ring.
• Rinsing the detergent off before washing instead of leaving it on the stain.
• Scrubbing silk or rayon hard enough to fuzz or lighten the fabric.