The Bane of Stains: Hand Lotion

Hey, it’s happened to many people. You want a little hand lotion to moisturize, you squeeze the bottle or hit the pump, and that little clog in the opening makes it shoot like a cannon off-course, onto the carpet. Sometimes, however, ingredients added to your favorite lotion might be dangerous to the pile or backing in your carpet. Along with that, many hand lotions have an oily or viscous consistency, making it difficult to blot, dab, scrape or wipe up.

Getting Started

1. Remove the Excess – As with most spills, removing as much excess as you can is a primary first step. Use a blunt knife, spoon or spatula to scoop up as much of the spill as you can. Try not to use a sharp object as this could cut into your carpet fibers.
2. Treat with Alcohol – When it comes to viscous liquids, they typically resist being absorbed by towels or cloths. Sometimes you need to break down that viscosity before you can remove it. Take a clean white cloth, paper towel or cotton ball and pour a little isopropyl alcohol onto it. Don’t pour it directly onto the stain, as the alcohol could damage your carpet backing.Blot the stain with the alcohol, working outside inward, until the lotion isn’t coming up anymore. This can be difficult if the lotion has no color, but don’t fret over it. If you perceive that nothing is coming up, continue to the next step.
3. Spot with Dishwashing Detergent – Mix a quarter teaspoon of clean hand or dishwashing detergent (no bleach or lanolin, please) with a quart of water. Using a clean white towel, dab and blot the stain. You might have to do this step multiple times, so using white paper towels might prove more effective. Again, be discerning – once you get an indication that no more of the lotion is coming up with the towel, you’ve probably removed as much as can be removed.
4. Finish with Water – Use a spray bottle to apply a light layer of water, then apply clean white cloths or paper towels and weigh them down with a heavy object. After an hour or so, check the stain. If still present, apply a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide and blot the stain. The ambient sunlight will turn the hydrogen peroxide into water, so let the area air-dry for about an hour.

We Got Your Back

Typically, these steps are enough to remove hand lotion stains, but sometimes the stain stays put. At that point, we have two questions for you. First: when would be the best time for us to use our extensive experience and top-notch equipment to remove that stain for you? Second: what kind of hand lotion are you using? Knowing the type of lotion might help identify why the stain doesn’t want to leave.

For more helpful spotting tips and tricks, take a look through our website or give us a call. Our friendly team of expert spotters is standing by!