Got Desitin on your couch? Don’t stress, it happens!

Getting rid of this diaper cream can be a bit tricky because it contains zinc oxide and is designed to repel water. But no worries, it just needs a little extra effort to remove

In this post, I’ll show you how to get Desitin out of couch step by step.

Gather Your Cleaning Supplies

Let's get everything together before we start. Trust me, you don't want to run around halfway looking for supplies with Desitin sitting on your couch. 

Here's what you need: 

• Plastic spoon or dull knife

• Baking soda

• White vinegar

• Dish detergent

• Clean cloths

• Warm water

• Borax laundry detergent (if the stain is extra stubborn)

Also Read: How to remove petroleum jelly from couch

#1 Remove Excess Cream 

First things first - let's get rid of as much cream as we can. 

Take your plastic spoon or dull knife and start lifting off the cream. Work from the edges toward the middle, so you don't accidentally spread it around. 

Be gentle though - you don't want to push it deeper into the fabric. That would just make our job harder. A few extra minutes spent carefully scraping now will save you a lot of work later.

If you notice the cream starting to smear, pause and wipe your tool clean before continuing.

#2 Apply Some Baking Soda 

Now comes the baking soda - and don't be shy with it! Cover the whole stained area generously. 

Baking soda is fantastic at soaking up greasy stuff, which makes it perfect for tackling Desitin. Give it about 30 minutes to do its thing. 

You might notice the powder changing color - that's good! It means it's pulling up the cream. 

If you're dealing with a larger stain, you might want to add a bit more baking soda around the edges as it absorbs the cream. 

After that, just scoop it away with a spoon or vacuum it up. If you're using a vacuum, make sure to use the upholstery attachment to avoid pushing the powder deeper into the sofa fabric.

#3 Prepare The Cleaning Solution 

Time to mix up our cleaning solution. Get 2 cups of warm water and add a tablespoon each of white vinegar and dish detergent. Give it a good mix. 

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This combination works great because the vinegar cuts through the grease while the dish soap helps lift everything away from the fabric. 

Plus, it's gentle enough that it won't harm your couch. 

Make sure the water is warm but not hot - too much heat could set the stain or damage your fabric. 

If you're working on a large stain, you might want to make a double batch of the solution so you don't run out halfway through.

#4 Clean The Desitin Stain 

Grab one of your clean cloths and dip it in the solution we just made. Squeeze it out well - we want it damp, not soaking. 

Now, pat the stain gently. Don't rub! Just keep blotting, using a clean part of the cloth each time. Keep rinsing the cloth and going back at it until you see the stain starting to fade. 

Remember to work from the outside in - this helps prevent the stain from spreading. 

You might need several clean cloths for this step, especially if it's a big stain. 

Every time you see the cloth getting dirty, switch to a clean section or grab a fresh cloth. This prevents you from just moving the stain around instead of removing it.

#5 Use Borax For Tough Stains (Optional) 

If the stain's being really stubborn, we've got a backup plan - Borax. 

Sprinkle a little bit directly on the spot. Then take a soft brush and work it using gentle circular motions. Just remember to use a light touch - we're trying to lift the stain, not wear down your fabric.

Borax is pretty powerful stuff and can often break down whatever's left of the stain when other methods haven't quite finished the job. 

Give the Borax about 10-15 minutes to work after you've brushed it in. 

This gives it time to break down those stubborn stain particles.

Also Read: Can You Mix Baking Soda And Borax?

#6 Do A Final Rinse 

We're almost done! Now we need to get rid of any cleaning solution that's left behind. 

Take a fresh cloth, get it damp with plain water, and blot the area again. 

This step is important because any soap left in the fabric can attract dirt later on. 

You might need to rinse and blot several times to get all the cleaning solution out - you'll know you're done when you don't see any more soap bubbles coming up. 

Once you've done that, let the spot dry completely. Depending on your fabric and the weather, this might take a few hours. 

You can speed up the process by pointing a fan at the area, but avoid using heat like a hair dryer, which could set any remaining stain.

#7 Repeat If Needed 

Sometimes, tough stains need more than one round of cleaning. 

If you still see some Desitin after everything's dried, don't worry about it. Just go through these steps again. The important thing is to let the area dry completely between attempts. 

Each time you do this, you'll probably see more of the stain come out. 

Keep track of which parts of the process seem to work best on your particular stain - some respond better to the baking soda, others to the cleaning solution.

This can help you focus your efforts on the most effective steps if you need to do multiple rounds.

Bottom Line

Getting Desitin out of your couch takes some work, but it's totally doable. 

The most important things to remember are to act quickly and be gentle with your cleaning. No harsh scrubbing needed!

Just follow each step carefully, and you'll likely save yourself from having to call a professional cleaner or buy a new couch. 

Take your time with each step, and you'll get your couch looking great again.