Removing ointment stains

An ointment stain is easily made: a little skin ointment, skin cream or medicinal ointment can end up on your sofa, carpet or floor without you noticing. Because ointment often contains fat or oil, it absorbs quickly and leaves a noticeable dark spot. These stains can be particularly stubborn on textiles and porous surfaces.

If you wait too long to remove an ointment stain, the grease will have more time to penetrate deep into the material. That makes it more difficult to remove the stain completely. Fortunately, an ointment stain does not have to be a permanent problem. Whether you have carpet, hard floors or upholstery fabric, with the right method you can usually get the surface completely clean again. Below you will discover the best approach for each surface.