If you manage to scrape the residue away, there is nothing much to panic over. Once you get convinced that the amount of Neosporin left is as little as possible, use stain removers or powerful laundry detergents to wash it away.
Another way of doing it is to use rubbing alcohol. Take a couple of drops of alcohol onto the cotton and rub on the stain. The rubbing alcohol will slowly break down the grease, after which you wipe and rinse the area with warm water. With that said, here is a more detailed approach to how to get Neosporin out of clothes.
What Can Remove Neosporin Out of Clothes
Getting Neosporin out of clothes is a hard nut to crack, for which active enzymes that can break the grease are essential. Such enzymes can be found in heavy-duty laundry detergent and rubbing alcohol. But if you do not have either of them within reach, using liquid dishwashing detergent will give comparable results.
How to Get Neosporin Out of Clothes – Necessary Steps One By One
There are various methods to get Neosporin out of clothes, all of which are not likely to provide the desired output. Luckily, the following is a tried-and-true way of removing Neosporin from clothes.
Necessary Equipment
Here is a list of things you will need to get Neosporin out of your clothes once and for all.
- Water
- Powerful laundry detergent
- A dull knife
- Stain remover
- A soft brush
- Talcum powder or cornstarch
- Bleach (optional)
Precautions
Although the removal process is a tried and tested one, you never know what is waiting ahead. That is, detergents or cleaning solutions can discolor the fabric of your clothes. Therefore, it will be wise to test the solution in a particular area that stays out of sight to check if the color stays intact.
Plus, when removing blobs of Neosporin in case of a fresh stain, do not rub it with the knife. Instead, use a dry paper towel or a couple of cotton swabs to scrape the extra portion away from the cloth.
Besides, watch out for garment labels that say dry clean only. You do not want to ruin the entire fabric only to get a small stain out. If you have a dry-cleaning kit at home, make sure you use a to treat the stain upfront.
How to Remove Ointment Stains From Clothing
Removing Neosporin or similar ointment stains from clothing is a 4-step process, as described below.
1. Lift Away the Solid Residue
If you are working with a fresh stain, the first thing to do is scrape away the excess Neosporin as much as possible. And to do so, you can use the flat edge of a dull knife or the plastic end of an old credit card. However, do not push or rub it too hard over the fabric, or you will end up with an even worse stain.
You can try out a little hack at this point if you do not have enough time to wash the stain right away. Try spreading a bit of talcum powder or cornstarch on the spot to absorb the extra petroleum base of the Neosporin.
2. Treat the Stain
When it comes to treating the stain, you will need a stain remover with the ability to break down the oil. Typically, stain remover sprays or gels are available in the market that helps remove such stains from synthetic fabrics.
If you do not have a stain remover nearby, heavy-duty laundry detergents or even dishwashing detergents will get the job done. Moreover, rubbing alcohol can be beneficial as well. No matter the solution put a few drops directly on the Neosporin-soaked area and wait for 10-15 minutes.
Now, use a soft-bristled brush to scrub your way through until creating white foam. Finally, rinse the area with hot water.
3. Wash the Cloth
The washing method is the same as everyday washing, except for the drying period. Wash the cloth as you usually would in hot water, but after that, do not put it immediately into the dryer. Instead, check if the Neosporin got out, as the dryer can turn it into a more prominent stain.
4. Use Bleach to Clear Out Dyes
This step is recommendable only if the Neosporin on your clothes gets tinted somehow. Otherwise, you can safely skip this extra bit of work. Now, to begin with, take some oxygen-based bleach like OXO Brite or OxiClean and mix it with water as per the package instructions.
After that, drench the entire clothing into the prepared solution and wait for 7-8 hours. Once the waiting period is over, you can check for the remaining dyes. Chances are there will not be any. Yet, if there are still traces of dye, extend the soaking period until you feel satisfied with the results.
Can Neosporin Stain Fabric
Like any other antibiotic ointment, Neosporin also consists of petroleum that works as a base to make it easy to apply on the skin. But unfortunately, it results in staining the fabric whenever in contact with clothes. However, you can get rid of the Neosporin stains upon noticing them early and applying appropriate methods.
Bottom Line
Removing Neosporin from clothes is easier when you do it right after it gets there. For example, you can get rid of more Neosporin simply by lifting with a dull knife, leaving less on the detergent. Yet, if you fail to notice it early enough, we suggest you use a bit of rubbing alcohol before moving on to the mainstream method.
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