How To Get Diaper Cream Out Of Carpet (Step-by-Step Guide)
Ah, new joys of parenthood. Lots of bottle filling, lots of new stains to get rid of, and tons of new things you never knew about keeping a good house. One of the first new stains you’ll run into as a parent is the awkward spill that happens if you drop diaper cream on a carpet. So, how do you get this stuff out of your pre-baby carpet?
If you get diaper cream on your carpet, scrape up as much as you can before sprinkling baking soda over the area and then vacuum it. Once you’ve removed most of the diaper cream, blot the area with soap and water until it’s removed. Then let the area dry and check for staining.
Diaper creams are meant to be resistant to moisture, which makes cleaning them up a nightmare. If you are stuck with this stain, knowing how to work with it is a must.
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How To Remove Diaper Cream From Your Carpet
There’s some good news and some bad news when it comes to diaper cream stains. The good news is that you can get them out of most carpets fairly easily.
The bad news is that you will have to work at it. Here’s the full scoop on how to get rid of the diaper cream currently coating your carpet:
- Take a spoon and scoop up as much of the cream as you can. When treating a stain, it’s important to do this before you go any further. It’s okay to press into the carpet to remove more, by the way.
- Grab baking soda and sprinkle it over the cream. Let it dry for at least half an hour.
- Vacuum the area. This will remove any of the excess moisture that was absorbed by the carpet. If you feel like the carpet needs a second round of baking soda, by all means, go for it.
- Once you have removed most of the moisture, dab some dish soap on a rag and blot it on the stain. If you want to dilute it more, soak the rag in warm water and then add a drop or two of soap to the tip of it. When it comes to the soap, less is more here.
- Rinse the cloth, and wipe the area again. Do this twice to ensure that most of the cream is gone and that no soapy residue is left on the carpet.
- Grab another dry cloth and wipe down the area to dry it off. From here, you should have a carpet that is free of diaper cream. If not, you can try to do another round of baking soda or dish soap to scoop up the remnants.
Can You Use Rubbing Alcohol To Get Rid Of A Diaper Cream Stain?
Absolutely. When using rubbing alcohol, use a light spritz on the surface of your stain, then let it sit for five minutes. Then, use a rag to sop up the stain.
It’s important to note that rubbing alcohol can damage the backing of your carpet, which means that keeping it to a light application is a must.
Due to the risk it can pose on carpeting if done wrong, we don’t suggest this trick as your go-to unless you’re fairly used to cleaning.
If you aren’t sure if your carpet can handle rubbing alcohol, do a small spot test using a squirt gun or mister in a corner of your room first.
How To Get Rid Of The Diaper Cream Smell
For the most part, diaper creams won’t smell bad. However, they may carry a distinct smell that may make you feel like you’re in a nursery, and that can be a little upsetting sometimes.
Thankfully, there’s an easy way to make sure that you get the scent right out of your carpet. All you need to do is sprinkle more baking soda on the stain and vacuum it up.
How To Get Diaper Cream Out Of My Clothes
With clothing, you might have a little more of an issue. Clothes can get damaged from the zinc in the cream, so it’s best to refer to your clothing labels to find out the full gamut of instructions.
With these steps, you will be able to address most stains on most clothes as long as it’s not a “Dry Clean Only” type of deal.
Instructions
- Take a dry paper towel and scoop as much of the cream off the affected clothing as possible. You want to avoid spreading it around or introducing water to it unless you absolutely need to. If you can’t find a dry paper towel or a cleaning rag nearby, you can use a baby wipe in a pinch. However, baby wipes are not advisable unless you absolutely can’t find anything else on hand at the moment.
- Check your label to find out the best stain fighter. Believe it or not, rubbing alcohol will dissolve most diaper cream stains in a pinch. If you don’t want to use rubbing alcohol out of fear of what it could do to your dyes, then use a solvent like Goo Gone to lift the stain.
- If you want to try another option that doesn’t involve commercial cleaners or rubbing alcohol, dab a little dish soap onto the stain. Then, soak it in a 50/50 white vinegar and water mixture for 10 minutes. This is generally viewed as the most gentle method of removing stains.
- After putting a stain remover on your clothing or treating it with a vinegar soak, place it in the wash as you normally would. This is usually enough to get rid of most diaper cream stains.
Should I Go To The Cleaners For A Diaper Cream Stain?
Make no mistake about it. Diaper cream can wreck the wrong outfit. This means that you should exercise caution when you are trying to remove the stain.
If your fabric is particularly delicate, like silk or cashmere, you’re best off taking it to professional cleaners. Moreover, if the label says that it needs to be dry cleaned, you absolutely should take it to the cleaners.
Diaper Cream Won’t Destroy Your Clothing
The good news is that diaper cream will not destroy most clothing if you reach out to a laundry professional in time.
Most professional cleaning companies will be able to figure out how to make your clothing feel nice again, even if it’s been dipped in the nastiest vat of diaper cream ever.
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Related Questions
What are the best stain removers to remove diaper cream?
This varies from garment to garment, but it seems like most people prefer to use dish soap, Goo Gone, Stain Sticks, or Shout spray to get rid of their stains.If you aren’t sure whether or not it’ll work, check online forums, or just look to see if the cleaning agent is good with oil-based stains.
Can zinc oxide permanently stain a carpet?
Zinc oxide, the most prominent ingredient in diaper rash cream, is known for being capable of leaving a permanent stain on carpeting and clothing.The best way to prevent this from happening to your textile is to address the stain as soon as you can. The less time the zinc has to sink into your material, the less likely it is that you’ll have a permanent stain.
Should you try to scrub Desitin out of your carpet?
While diaper rash cream does appear to be the type of substance that would work best with scrubbing, the truth is quite different. Desitin, also known as diaper cream, actually should not be scrubbed.Scrubbing the cream will only work the cream deeper into the carpet fibers, making it even harder to remove.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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