How to Get Lotion Stains Out of Clothes?

Whether it’s summer or winter, we have different lotions. However, you can stain your favorite clothes if you aren’t careful while applying lotion. Lotion stains can be stubborn if not removed on time.

The only good thing about lotion stain is it’s easy to remove. With some home ingredients and tools, you can easily get lotion stains out of clothes and make them look as new as brand-new ones.

Does Lotion Stains Clothes?

The greasy, oily nature of most lotions makes them challenging to clean. The most common ingredients that can stain clothes are mineral oil, shea butter, lanolin, and petroleum jelly. Although these ingredients are excellent for hydrating the skin, they can cause severe damage to your clothes if not applied properly.

It’s advised to clean the lotion stains as soon as possible.

Have you stained your clothes with vaseline? Then you must read: How to Get Vaseline Out of Clothes.

Cleaning Overview

Steps to Get Lotion Out of Clothes

Step 1: Scrape Off Excess Lotion

Whenever a chunk of lotion jumps on your clothes, you must scrape it off. Scrape away as much lotion as possible with a butter knife, credit card, or spoon. Avoid rubbing the material because doing so will cause it to penetrate the fabric more deeply and make removal more challenging.

Dab the stained area with a clean, dry paper towel if the clothes require dry cleaning. The odds of removing the stains are high if you act quickly and send the clothes for dry cleaning as early as possible. 

If you choose to dry clean the clothes at home, use a stain remover on the stain before placing the clothes in the cleaning bag.

Are you wondering can dry clean shrink clothes? If yes, then you must read: Does Dry Cleaning Shrink Clothes?

Step 2: Apply Cleaning Solution

Apply the enzyme-based stain remover on the stained spot and let it work its magic on the oily part. Use a high-powered detergent such as Tide or Persil if you are short on stain remover. Alternatively, you can also use a paste of water and detergent (in powder form).

Allow the cleaning solution to work on the stained area for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Step 3: Scrub and Rinse

Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the stained area. The brushing movement should always be from the outer edges to the stain center. It prevents the stain from spreading further.

Once you notice the stain getting pale and disappearing, rinse the stained part with plenty of hot water. Ensure to flush the detergent or stain remover entirely.

Step 4: Wash in Hot Water

Now wash your clothes as per the washing instructions on the care label. It will help you regulate the water temperature accordingly. The cleaning will be best when done with hot water. However, you can wash them in cold water too. It is to avert the risk of your clothes getting damaged or shrinking when washed with hotter water than the recommended temperature.

Ensure the stain has completely disappeared before you set them to dry.

Step 5: Air Dry

Air-drying the clothes is recommended rather than drying them in the dryer. It is to avoid setting the oil stain on the clothing due to the dryer’s heat.

Related: Minimum temperature for drying clothes outside

How to Treat Stubborn Lotion Stains?

If the stain persists after drying, it is stubborn. To treat stubborn stains, use an oxygen-based bleach with cool water. You may follow the instructions detailing how much to use per gallon of water.

Dip the garment in the water and leave it to soak for eight hours. 

Repeat the process with a new solution if the stain still appears. You may have to repeat this process several times for tough stains. 

Once the stain disappears, wash the garment following the regular washing instructions.

How to Get Lotion Out of Satin?

You need to treat the satin clothing in the following way to get the lotion out:

1. Place the satin garment on a flat surface focusing on the affected area.
2. Rid the lotion from the satin garment using a spoon or a credit card. 
3. Ensure to remove the last traces of lotion by scraping the spoon across the fibers. No lotion residue should remain on the cloth.
4. Pour a few drops of pre-treatment stain remover on the stained area.
5. Ensure the pre-treatment solution covers the entire stained area.
6. Soak the stain in high-powered liquid detergent if short of stain remover.
7. Set the washing cycle to permanent press and wash the garment in warm water.
8. Avoid tumbling the garment in the dryer to prevent shrinkage.
9. Let the garment air dry. Alternatively, you can also spread it on a clean white towel.

• Does lotion come out of fabric?

  Yes. Treating the fabric with baking soda helps you get the lotion out.

• How can I absorb lotion faster?

  Baking soda or cornstarch aid in the rapid absorption of lotion.

Conclusion

Lotion falling on the clothes or lotion applied to the body sticking to your clothes is common. Though accidental, you must act quickly to prevent your clothes from getting permanently stained. Otherwise, you might have to part with your favorite clothes prematurely.

Removing lotion or its stains from clothes is pretty simple. Following a few steps systematically may help you rid the lotion stains from your clothes. It’s nothing to worry about if you act quickly and restore your clothes’ appearance.