6 Ways To Get Desitin Out Of Clothes

For many parents, Desitin is a must-have to alleviate diaper rash. The way that it prevents this unwelcome reaction to diapers is by creating a barrier on the skin. Moisture is kept within the skin.

It not only staves off rashes, but Desitin also can ease skin irritations and itches. 

Though Destin can protect your skin, it contains zinc which has the potential to stain clothing. However, you can treat these (as well as your stained bedding) with household products such as baking soda or dishwashing liquid. 

If you constantly find Desitin leaving unwanted spots on your clothing, it’s time to take control of the situation. Let’s show you how. 

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

Ridding your clothes of Desitin stains

Desitin stains are notoriously difficult to remove. This is because the zinc compound along with the oil base of Desitin loves to stick tightly to the fabric of your clothing, bedding, and upholstery. 

To tackle these stubborn marks you need to first break down the oil. Then everything is loosened from the fibers, making the stain easier to remove. 

The first few methods we recommend use degreasing agents. These are great at breaking down the oils from Desitin.

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1. Remove the stains with alcohol

For this method, you want to use rubbing alcohol. If you intend to use it as a disinfectant then go with alcohol that is 70% concentrated.

This is because the water content in the lower concentration causes the alcohol to take longer to dissolve and it’s more able to enter the bacterial cells. 

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Grab a bottle of rubbing alcohol from your local drug store. To remove Desitin from clothing, follow these steps:

• Apply the alcohol to the stained area and work it into the fabric.

• Give the clothing a rinse and then wash it under some running cold water.

• Look to see if the stains are gone. If not repeat the first 2 steps.

• Once you’re satisfied that you have tackled the problem, place your clothing into your washing machine and wash it. 

• Hang out the clothing to dry. 

2. Pour on the vinegar 

Time and again you will find vinegar listed as one of the best stain removal options. That’s because it’s naturally effective at attacking those stubborn marks. All thanks to its de-greasing property.

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You can use vinegar to remove Desitin marks. Here’s how to do it:

• Smear a tiny amount of dish soap on the stains. Work the soap into the fabric.

• Get a basin and add an equal amount of distilled vinegar and water. Mix together.

• Place your garment into the basin and let it soak for at least 30 minutes in the vinegar/water solution.

• Take the clothing out of the basin and look to see if the stain has gone. If it hasn’t, place the item back into the solution and let it soak more.

• When you have succeeded in removing the stain, wash your clothing in your washing machine. 

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3. Get rid of the Desitin with WD-40

WD-40 can effectively break down grease and oil that attaches itself to the fibers of your clothing. 

However, this degreasing agent could add more stains to your clothing, which is definitely what you don’t want. Therefore, proceed with caution if you want to give this method a try. 

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Do a small test patch first on your clothing. Satisfied that everything is fine, then carry on. Here’s what to do:

• Evenly cover the stain with the WD-40 then leave the garment to rest for an hour.

• Get your laundry detergent (it can either be liquid or powdered) and work it into the stain. Build up a good foam with the detergent and water. 

• Place your clothing into your washing machine. Have it soak for a while longer in the machine.

• Run your clothing through a wash cycle and then hang to dry.

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4. Use dishwashing liquid

Dishwashing liquid contains chemicals that are formulated to lift grime, oil, and grease off your kitchenware. Allow these same components of the liquid to attack the stubborn stains of Desitin.

We recommend using Dawn, as it is powerful and eco-friendly. 

• Use a paper towel to mop up any excess Desitin. It’s best to use a gentle wiping motion. If you press down on the ointment you run the risk of pushing it further into the fabric.

• Soak the stain with your dishwashing liquid and allow it to set into your clothing for half an hour.

• Pour hot water over the stain. Create a lather with the dishwashing liquid and then scrub the stain with a small brush (use a soft to medium strength bristled brush). 

• Let the clothing absorb the solution for a couple of hours and then put it into your washing machine. It’s recommended to allow the garment to pre-soak in the machine for as long as possible.

• Once you have washed the clothing in your machine, hang it out to dry. 

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5. Eliminating Desitin stains using baking soda

Thanks to its absorbent nature as well as its abrasiveness (if you leave it a little undiluted), baking soda can tackle those hardy Desitin stains.

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Give this method a go. 

• Remove the excess ointment using either a paper towel or knife. Like the previous option with the dishwashing liquid, you want to avoid pressing the Desitin further into the fabric.

• You don’t want to spread it to unstained portions of your clothing. 

• Sprinkle a healthy amount of baking soda onto the stain. You want to have it completely covered. 

• Wait for 24 hours.

• Suck up the baking soda with your vacuum cleaner. 

• Pat over the area with a cloth and alcohol. You want to start from the center of the stained patch and work out towards the edges. 

• Cover the area again with baking soda, then set aside for 3 hours.

• Vacuum up the baking soda. Inspect the garment to see if the stain is removed. If it hasn’t then repeat this process once again.

Sometimes Desitin can be spread onto your sofa or other upholstery through an exposed part of the body. Arms and legs that have been treated with Desitin are the obvious culprits. 

You can use the above method to try to remove the stains from your furnishings. 

6. Get rid of the stain with Goo Gone

Goo Gone is typically used to remove stickers and other adhesives, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try it to remove your Desitin stain. 

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Here’s how to do it:

• Cover the stain with a small amount of Goo Gone. 

• Work the Goo Gone gently into the fabric and area around the stain. This helps push the liquid further into the clothing. 

• Wash away the Goo Gone under running hot water. The stain should have disappeared. If the stain remains, repeat the process.

• Place your clothing into the washing machine and give it a cycle. 

• Hang your clothes up to dry.

How to remove the smell of Desitin

If you use Desitin you may find that your clothing starts to take on a fishy smell. That’s thanks to the cod liver oil that Desitin contains. 

Cod liver oil has great health benefits such as allowing the skin to remain soft and smooth, as well as helping skin retain moisture. Yet, it can have a smelly side effect.

You can remove that unwanted scent with laundry detergent.

Here’s how:

• Fill a basin or bucket with a highly concentrated detergent solution. Let your clothing soak in this for several days. 
• Remove the clothing and wring out the water. 
• Pop your clothes into the washing machine. Add in the laundry detergent as you normally would along with a cup of baking soda. 
• Wash your clothing then hang it up for drying. 

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Try these instead of Desitin

If you have tried Desitin and found that the stains were so difficult to remove, there are alternatives available. These work just as well in preventing diaper rash as Desitin yet without the issue of stains. 

Triple Paste

This is a hypoallergenic ointment that offers triple protection: it soothes irritated skin; it offers a treatment for when the skin turns red; it protects against diaper rash. 

It’s free from nasty chemicals that can cause sensitive skin to react. You still have just over 12% of zinc oxide to form a moisture trapping barrier on the skin. 

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A+D Original Diaper Rash Ointment

This is free of dyes, parabens, and phthalates (these last two items can have adverse effects on health such as being carcinogenic and may cause developmental issues). 

Lanolin and petroleum come to the rescue to prevent rashes as well as soothe irritated skin. 

Not only can you use this ointment to relieve diaper rash, but it also alleviates chapped skin and lips. So it takes care of both baby and you!

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Aquaphor

This ointment has been around since the 1920s. Originally it wasn’t commercially available but was used as a medication for skin treatment.

It was so successful at healing a variety of skin conditions, it was decided to make it more publicly available. 

Whether your baby has diaper rash, skin reactions because of drooling, or general chafing, Aquaphor has you covered. 

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Conclusion 

Desitin is a popular product for treating diaper rash, however, it can stain. Those marks can be hard to remove, yet you have a range of options to try to get rid of them.

Degreasers such as WD-40 can break down the chemical components of the stain. This makes it easier to remove them. You also can try something more natural such as baking soda.

You may find your clothes have a fishy smell, because of the cod liver oil within Desitin. Soaking your clothes with laundry detergent can help eliminate the odor.

You can try other products such as Aquaphor. These are considered to be less likely to leave stains on clothes.