How to remove vaseline stains from clothes

Vaseline is a skincare product that has the sole purpose of smoothing our skin and making it look extremely refreshing during the whole winter season. It is one of the widely used products during the cold season but just because of its composition, its greasy and oily factors can cause or leave stains on the clothes. Although the probability is thin, it can leave stains on some specific kinds of fabrics, and no doubt linen and related fabrics are most prone to such stains.

We all know that vaseline has a good oily factor which makes the stain a bit more tricky to remove or get rid of. So, the question here is, how do you remove vaseline stains from clothing? We have composed a short guide that will address all minor to major aspects of vaseline and its stains on the clothes.

How to remove vaseline stains from clothes

What is vaseline made of?

Vaseline was first discovered by Robert Augustus Chesebrough during the beginning days of 1859. The composition and included ingredients are almost the same since then and no major changes have been made at all. Maybe this is one of the basic reasons why vaseline is so pure and effective and has been popular among people for a long time.

The vaseline is mostly composed of waxes, mineral oils, ceresin, bisabolol, glycerin, panthenol, and lanolin alcohol. When all these things are combined and processed through proper channels, they form a perfect jelly-like substance that does not have heavy liquidity nor has solid nature. No artificial colors or ingredients are usually added in pure vaseline while some manufacturers include some additional ingredients for smells or fragrances.

Does vaseline stain clothes?

Vaseline has a wide range of advantages and positive points in almost all of their aspects but when it comes to their contact with clothes, they are not good at all as they can cause stains which are extremely difficult to remove.

They can cause severe stains because of the oil and waxes included in their composition. Some fabrics of clothes are too prone to such stains and vaseline can get stuck into the threads of such fabrics for a relatively long time.

Some people have reported that they were unable to remove vaseline stains from clothes even if they have washed the clothes multiple times. This is true to some extent but if you know the right procedure and the right cleaning agents, you can get these tough stains out of your clothes with complete ease.

Why can vaseline stain fabric?

As said earlier, vaseline is petroleum jelly and you can get a clear indication through its name. It contains various oily ingredients such as glycerin and petroleum extracts. It can be said that vaseline has all the intensity in its composition that causes tough and immediate stains if they come in contact with the cloth in their semi-liquid form.

Apart from this, some waxes are also included during its manufacturing process, which is also a great reason behind vaseline’s high ability to cause stains. Do keep this fact in mind that vaseline can only stain cloth if it is spilled in an excessive amount, there are minimum to almost no chances of getting vaseline stains on the cloth if you have applied it on your skin and have rubbed it properly so that it is not visible clearly.

Does vaseline ruin clothes?

Vaseline can ruin clothes in some cases but the thing that can lead vaseline to that much disaster could be you, yes your ignorance. The reason is that there are a wide range of methods and cleaning agents that can effectively remove vaseline stains from clothes.

The chances of getting a ruined cloth will increase dramatically if you leave the stain for a long time without treating it properly or think that these stains cannot be removed at all as you have washed them a few times.

Well, all these things are just assumptions as you can clear the stains if you know the right way to do it. Washing will never bring perfect results as oil doesn’t mix well with water and this makes vaseline stains almost impossible for the water to remove.

Can vaseline come out of clothes?

Vaseline can come out of the clothes, all you need to do is use the best suitable cleaning agent. Always keep one thing in mind while looking for a stain remover or a cleaning agent for vaseline stains: that the product should be able to get mixed with oil or related particles of the stain because the vaseline stain is full of such particles and molecules.

Vaseline has a semi-liquid form that can get inside the fabrics of the cloths and can become difficult to take out. But when it is in its fresh form, you can simply remove it using a scraper or knife with care. Removing the vaseline blob as soon as you get it on the clothes will make the further process easy as you will only have to treat the oil and get the greasy factor out of your clothes.

What takes vaseline out of clothes?

The exact answer to this question directly depends on the type of fabric and the integrity of the stains. You will have to choose because if the stains have dried off completely, you need something tougher while if it is still fresh, you may get the job done in almost no time.

You can go with commercial products and stains remover such as:

Woolite
Goo Gone
Isopropyl Alcohol
Spirits
Oxygen Based Bleach
Dishwashing Soap
and many more.

Apart from this, a detergent can also remove such stains but it should be of high quality and have heavy-duty abilities and power.

If you have extremely delicate clothes or you don’t want to risk the fabrics for the sake of removing a single stain, you can go with some of the safest and most inexpensive ingredients and cleaning agents. The best thing about these agents is that they can easily be found in your kitchen or refrigerator. The major names in this category include:

White Vinegar
Lemon Juice
Salt
Baking Soda

How to get rid of vaseline stains on clothes?

Remove all the excess liquid or the vaseline by using paper towels, tissues, or a dull scraper. Make sure you don’t put too much pressure on vaseline.
Get yourself a solution of 99% isopropyl alcohol. Dip a cotton swab in the IPA and then apply it to the stained area.
You can also apply IPA directly on the stain by pouring a few drops at one time and then removing the stain as much as possible.
Gently rub the area but don’t scrub it harshly. Make sure you test IPA on a small portion before applying it to the stained area of your clothes. It is necessary because IPA can affect the color and sometimes fabrics of some clothes.
Give a proper interval of about 5 minutes to IPA so that it can dry and get immersed in the stain. This will help in breaking down the stain and easing its grip on fabrics.
Wash the cloth with detergent and water as you normally do with any other clothes. It will be better if you wash your clothes with warm water.
Let it air dry but you can go with a dryer as well.

How to get melted vaseline out of clothes?

Start by removing vaseline using a dull plastic scraper or with the edges of a knife. Make sure you don’t rub the area or put pressure on melted vaseline as it will allow the vaseline to go further inside the fabrics and make it difficult for you to take them out of the threads.
Apply a stain remover that has enzymes and related ingredients in its composition which can easily break the oil into its minor molecules making it easy for you to get the stain out. You can use a powerful detergent or some other homemade remedies as well.
Once almost all vaseline and oil have been removed from the clothes, it is time to wash them as you normally do with any clothes.
Scrubs garment gently in soap or water mixed with heavy-duty laundry detergent. This will take out all the minor residues if they remain on the garment.
Rinse as much water as you can until it looks completely fresh and you are not noticing any oil or grease on the fabric.
Let it air dry but if you want to put it inside a dryer, it is recommended to make sure that there are no stain residues left behind on the clothes. If there are any, exposing them to the high temperature of the dryer may make them permanent to remove after getting dried.

What kind of clothes will not stain by vaseline?

When it comes to the most prone clothes to the stains of vaseline, linens may be placed at top of the list because of their delicacy and smoothness.

Vaseline has oil and greasy ingredients in its composition which can leave a stain on almost all kinds of clothes and fabrics.

You can get an idea by the fact that polyester is regarded as one of the best stain-resistant fabrics as it can repel substances or make it easy for people to remove their stains. But when it comes to vaseline or oily stains, they can still affect polyester in minimum cases. It can be said that almost all clothes get stained by vaseline but some can become severe while others will just have marks.

Other vaselin stains removal tricks

How to get vaseline stain out of couch

Scrape as much of the vaseline stains as possible from the couch possible for the stained spot using a butter knife.
Apply cornstarch or baby powder generously on the stained spot to absorb the greasy stain.
Rub the corn starch or baby powder into the stain using a soft-bristled brush and leave it for about an hour.
Suck up cornstarch/stain remnant on the treated spot with a vacuum cleaner.
If the stain is still very visible, treat the stain with a dry cleaning solvent or rubbing alcohol.
If using a dry cleaning solvent, pour on a clean cloth and blot directly on the stain. If using rubbing alcohol, pour in a spray bottle and spray on the stained spot until the stain is completely lifted.
Once the stain is gone, suck up every liquid remnant on the stain with a dry cloth until there’s none left.
Rinse the treated spot with a damp cloth and leave it to air dry.

How to remove vaseline stains from the wall

Mix distilled white vinegar and water in equal parts to form a cleaning solution.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray generously on the stained spot.
Leave the solution to sit on the stained spot for several minutes.
Wipe clean cloth on the treated spot
Repeat the process as much as required till all the stains are completely gone.
Rinse the treated spot with water afterward.

How to get vaseline stains out of upholstery

Pour cornstarch or talc or baby powder enough to cover the stain on the stained surface.
Leave it to sit on the stain for about 15 minutes
Add a tbs. of Dawn dishwashing detergent into a cup of lukewarm water to form a cleaning solution.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray on the stained spot.
Rub the solution into the stained spot with a paper towel until the stain is completely gone.
Suck up liquid remnants on the treated spot with a clean cloth or towel.
Rinse the treated spot by wiping a damp cloth on the surface.
Leave to air dry.

How to remove vaseline stains from carpet

Pour rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle and spray directly on the stained spot.
Using a paper towel, rub the cleaner into the stain until the stain is completely gone.
Rinse the treated spot afterward with a damp cloth.
Leave to air dry.

How to remove vaseline stains from sofa

Remove as much of the vaseline stain as you can from the stained surface with the dull edge of a knife.
Apply dishwashing soap to the stained spot and rub it into the stain with a paper towel or cotton pad and leave it to sit for about 10 minutes.
Suck up liquid remnants with a clean dry cloth or towel
Rinse the treated spot with a clean cloth soaked in warm water.
Leave to air dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vaseline stain leather?

Yes, Vaseline can stain leather. Although baseline, when used as a cleaner on leather surfaces, they are usually very effective because they contain petroleum distillates which are very effective at getting rid of tough stains or organic compounds such as oil grease and tar.

However, just as they can be effectively used on leathers, they can also leave them with stains that can be very difficult to remove especially when you lack the technical know-how. Not only that but the alcohol in vaseline can also weaken the leather surface.

Does vaseline stain teeth?

No, vaseline will not stain your teeth. Forget what I just said about the effect of vaseline on leather, the case is different with teeth. Although vaseline may stain surfaces, however, they only have a positive effect on teeth.

Before you start to eat any teeth-staining foods or drink red wine or coffee, you can apply vaseline to your teeth to protect them from stains. The vaseline will serve as a barrier between your enamel and the food coloring.

Does vaselin stain wood?

Yes, vaseline can stain wood surfaces. Just like vaseline penetrate the skin to open up skin pores, it has a similar effect on wood surfaces which could lead to stains if not treated as quickly as possible. However, note that vaseline cannot damage your wooden surface.

Does vaseline stain bedsheets?

Yes, vaseline will stain your bed sheet if it spills on it. Be careful when applying vaseline to your body, especially during bedtime, this is because vaseline can stain your bed sheet and leave them with greasy stains that can be hard to remove. Anytime you notice this kind of stain on your bed sheet, spring immediately to action to prevent the stain from setting.