Every parent knows that baby’s come with an awful lot of stuff from diapers, to clothes, to a whole host of equipment but they also need a range of creams and lotions to keep their delicate skin in tip-top condition.
Diaper cream is a staple in any parent’s fight against sore rashes and unhappy babies. Desitin is one of these diaper creams.
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Although there are many different ones available, how do you get Desitin diaper cream out of clothes?
Check out all our top tips below to help you get those Desitin stains out of your clothes.
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In this article
What Is Desitin?
Desitin is a multipurpose ointment that has multiply uses for both adults and children. It can provide instant relief for irritated skin and is especially good at treating diaper rash.
The active ingredient in Desitin is zinc oxide and although great at treating irritated skin it is also the main cause of the stains that it creates on fabrics and especially clothing.
How To Get Desitin Diaper Cream Out Of Clothes
Before you try any of these solutions for getting Desitin diaper cream out of your clothing there are a few key steps that you need to carry out first.
- Remove any excess diaper cream with a paper towel or a clean cloth.
- Try to avoid rubbing as this will just push it further into the fabric.
1. Detergent
Step 1 – Choose a detergent that will cut through the grease well.
Step 2 – Place a good amount of liquid detergent on the stained area and leave it to sit for around 30 minutes.
Step 3 – Add hot water to the affected area and scrub into a lather. Then scrub with a scrubbing brush or toothbrush. This will help work the detergent into the fabric.
Step 4 – Let the clothing soak in hot water for a further 2 hours.
Step 5 – Then wash clothing in the machine using the cycle with the longest pre-wash option.
Step 6 – Dry as normal.
2. Baking Soda
Step 1 – Sprinkle baking soda onto the Desitin stain, leave it to sit for a few minutes.
Step 2 – Remove the baking soda with a toothbrush. This process will also help to remove the excess oil from the Desitin stain.
Step 3 – Fill a container with 1 part warm water and 2 parts white vinegar.
Step 4 – Place the clothing in the solution and completely immerse – leave for at least 30 minutes.
Step 5 – After 30 minutes remove the clothing from the solution and apply a prewash stain remover.
Step 6 – Wash clothing as per their care label.
3. Degreasers
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The problem with diaper creams is that they contain grease and when they come into contact with clothes they leave a grease stain that needs to be removed.
This can be done by using a good quality product that can break down the oils and remove them from the fabrics. Dawn dish soap is one of these such products.
Sometimes even these good quality products need some help in order to get rid of the grease stains left by diaper rash creams such as Desitin. In these cases a degreasing agent such as De-Solv-it. The only issue with these degreasers comes if you have a HE washer.
The problem arises as High-efficiency machines have a low water sitch and this means that products with strong odors such as degreasers can remain on the fabrics even after washing. Do not panic you have a few options in order to get rid of these odors.
Your first option is to opt for a degreaser that does not have such an overpowering smell or you could use a small amount of Dr. Bronner’s to help balance out the strong odor of the degreaser.
Here are the steps for using the degreaser
- Wipe away any excess Desitin cream with a clean cloth, but do not rub too much.
- Apply the degreaser to remove the remaining cream. Work the degreaser into the fabric by gently rubbing it over the stained area.
- Leave it to sit for around 5-10 minutes, this should give it enough time to break down the oil in the cream.
- Rinse the area with cold water.
- The final step is to launder the item as usual. Try to avoid using hot water as this can cause the oils to penetrate the fabric more deeply.
4. Rubbing Alcohol or White Vinegar
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Desitin contains zinc oxide and there is actually a nice easy fix for these types of stains and that is rubbing alcohol.
For those fabrics that can be laundered this is what you need to do to get those pesky stains out.
Spray the alcohol onto the stain, hold the fabric so it is taught under the cold running water, and then rub the fabric together in the stream of the water. Then wash the item as directed by the care label and allow it to air dry.
White vinegar also works on diaper cream stains, but the steps are a little different from the rubbing alcohol.
Start with a little dish soap and massage into the stain with your fingers or a toothbrush. Next, you will want to soak the item in a solution of 50/50 white vinegar and cool water for around 30 minutes before laundering as normal.
5. Goo Gone
This is another great degreaser that can help to remove the oil stain left behind from diaper creams such as Desitin.
6. Shout Spray
Although I am not convinced that the normal pre-treatment stain removers are going to cut it when faced with a diaper cream stain.
However, there have been a few mentions of some parents successfully using Shout spray. It is certainly worth a try after all you never know what might work.
FAQs
Does Desitin stain fabric?
Desitin contains zinc oxide as its active ingredient and its oily consistency can leave stains on both clothing and other fabrics.
Does Desitin wash out?
Due to the greasy consistency of this cream, it adheres to the fibers of the fabric. By applying a degreaser it will release the grip that the cream has on the fabrics and this should allow it to be washed out.
How do you get Desitin out of carpet?
Firstly you need to wipe up as much as you can with a clean cloth, then sprinkle baking soda over the stained surface generously. Let it sit for several hours, then take a wet cloth and some mild dish soap and rub the stain away.
The Final Thought
We all know that with children comes a great deal of mess, stains, and cleaning. This happens a lot especially with babies and all the creams and ointments that come with them.
But even if you do get a diaper cream such as Desitin on clothes it is not the end of the world and there are a few different ways to remove the stain.
