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How To Get Vaseline Out Of Couch (Step By Step Guide)

So you've got Vaseline on your couch? Don't worry, it happens to the best of us. 

Vaseline can be a real pain to get out of fabric, but with a little know-how and some elbow grease, you'll have your couch looking good as new. 

In this post, I’ll show you how to get Vaseline out of couches step-by-step. 

Things You'll Need To Remove Vaseline

Before we start, you need to round up some supplies. You'll want to grab:

  • White cloths or paper towels

  • A butter knife or spoon

  • Cornstarch, talc, or baby powder

  • A vacuum cleaner or small broom

  • Dry-cleaning solvent

  • Dish soap

Got everything? Great! Let's get started.

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Step 1: Remove Excess Vaseline

First things first, we need to get rid of as much Vaseline as we can. 

Grab a white cloth and start blotting the area, or use a butter knife to gently scrape off the excess. 

Be careful here - we don't want to spread the Vaseline around or push it deeper into the fabric. 

Work from the outside of the stain towards the center to keep it from getting bigger.

Step 2: Absorb The Grease

Now that we've gotten rid of the excess, it's time to get rid of the remaining grease. 

Take your cornstarch, talc, or baby powder and sprinkle it generously over the stain. These powders are great at soaking up oil and grease. 

Let it sit there for about 15 minutes and do its thing. 

After that, use your vacuum or small broom to gently clean up the powder. 

If the stain was particularly big or stubborn, you might need to do this a few times.

Step 3: Use A Dry-Cleaning Solvent

With the bulk of the grease absorbed, it's time to deal with any leftover residue. 

A dry-cleaning solvent can work wonders here. 

But before you go all in, test it on a hidden part of your couch first to make sure it doesn't cause any discoloration or damage.

Once you're sure it's safe, put a little bit on a clean white cloth and start blotting the stain. 

Work from the outside in - don't use a circular motion, and switch to a clean part of the cloth as it gets dirty. Keep at it until you've gotten out as much of the stain as you can.

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Step 4: Try A Dish Soap Solution (If Needed)

If the dry-cleaning solvent didn't quite do the trick, don't worry, you can try some dish soap! 

Mix two cups of cool water with a tablespoon of dish soap. Grab a clean white cloth, dip it in the solution, and start blotting the stain. 

Let it sit for a few minutes, then "rinse" by blotting with clean, cool water. 

Finally, use a clean towel to blot the area dry.

Step 5: Use A Stronger Mix For Stubborn Stains

Still not budging? Time to bring out the big guns. 

Mix equal parts Dawn dish soap and water. Put this mixture directly on the stain and let it hang out for about 30 minutes. After that, give it a gentle rub and then clean as usual. 

Just a heads up - if you have a high-efficiency washing machine, be careful with this mix. It can create a lot of suds.

Step 6: Call A Professional If All Else Fails

If you've tried all of this and that Vaseline stain is still hanging on, it might be time to call in the pros.

Professional carpet or upholstery cleaners have some heavy-duty cleaning solutions and equipment, like steam cleaners, that can often handle even the toughest couch stains.

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Tips For Removing Vaseline From Couch

As you're working on getting rid of that Vaseline from the sofa, keep these tips in mind:

  • Act fast! The longer the Vaseline sits, the harder it is to get out.

  • Don't rub the stain. It might seem like a good idea, but it can actually push the oil deeper into the fabric and make the stain bigger. Stick to blotting instead.

  • Be patient. You might need to repeat some steps, and that's okay.

  • Different fabrics react differently to cleaning methods, so always test your cleaning solutions on a hidden spot first.

Wrapping Up

Getting Vaseline out of a couch can be a bit of a challenge, but it's totally doable. Just follow these steps, use the tips we've talked about, and you'll be well on your way to a Vaseline-free couch.

Remember, the key is to act quickly, be gentle with your couch, and work through the cleaning methods one by one.

FAQs

How To Get Vaseline Out Of Couch After Drying

Dried Vaseline can also be removed this way. But if that doesn't work, apply a bit of rubbing alcohol to a cloth and blot the area to break down the residue. After that, clean the area with a mild detergent solution and blot dry.

How To Get Vaseline Out Of Couch With Baking Soda

Baking soda is a great alternative to cornstarch or baby powder. 

Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the Vaseline stain and let it sit for several hours or overnight. The baking soda will absorb the oils. Vacuum it up, and repeat if needed, and then clean it.

How To Get Vaseline Out Of Leather

To get Vaseline out of leather, you can sprinkle some cornstarch or talcum powder, and clean it up with a soft cloth in a few hours. Or some rubbing alcohol will work too.