First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off excess lotion with a dull edge.
- Blot instead of rubbing so the oil does not spread.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Keep heat off until the stain is gone.
Lotion on sheets is an oily mark that spreads when you rub it, and it can turn greasy or white as it dries. Fresh spots usually lift with a cold soak and a little detergent, but a dryer can lock in whatever is left. If the sheet picked up acne cream, the benzoyl peroxide can bleach the dye, and that damage may not show for hours, days or even months.
Check the spot in good light before it goes near the washer, since anything you miss will stay put. An enzyme laundry pretreater works well on a lotion mark once the sheet has already dried. Gradual tan lotion can mark sheets too, so give that spot the same pretreat before the wash.
Before you start
What sheets, towels & table linens can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
7 items
What you'll need
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- Dull knife or spoonlifts off thick lotion without pushing it deeper
- Clean white cloth or paper towelblots the oil up without passing dye to the sheet (opens Amazon)
- Liquid laundry detergentworks into the oily residue (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme laundry presoakfor the overnight soak on a faint mark (opens Amazon)
- Pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solventfor stubborn oil, applied from the wrong side (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric (oxygen) bleachfor colorfast sheets that still show the mark (opens Amazon)
- Wash basin (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Scrape off the extra lotion
Lift off any thick lotion with a dull knife or the back of a spoon. Work from the edge of the spot toward the middle so you don't push the cream deeper into the weave.
Step 2 of 7
Blot the spot dry
Press a clean white cloth or paper towel onto the stain and lift straight up. Move to a fresh part of the cloth as it soaks up oil, so the oil doesn't go back into the sheet.
Tip. A paper towel that's already greasy only spreads the mark, so swap it out often.
Step 3 of 7
Check the label and test first
Look at the care label. If it says dry-clean only, stop here and take the sheet to a dry cleaner promptly instead of treating it at home.
Otherwise, test the cleaner you plan to use on a hidden seam or hem, and don't go further if the color changes or the fabric looks damaged.
Careful. Solvents and cleaners can change color on fabric that has not been tested.
Step 4 of 730 minutes
Soak the spot in cold water
Place the sheet in a basin or sink of cold water and let it soak for about 30 minutes. Cold water is the safe start when you don't know exactly what the stain is made of.
Step 5 of 730 minutes
Work in detergent and wash
Work a small amount of liquid laundry detergent into the spot with your fingertips, then leave it for about 30 minutes. Rinse the spot, then wash the sheet in liquid detergent with lukewarm or hot water as the care label allows, and let it air-dry.
Step 6 of 7
Overnight enzyme presoak
If a faint mark remains after washing, soak the sheet overnight in an enzyme laundry presoak, following the package directions. Wash it again in the morning and check the spot in good light before any heat goes near it.
Step 7 of 7
Pretreat and try oxygen bleach
Dab a pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solvent onto the mark from the wrong side, using light sponging. If the mark still shows, wash with an all-fabric oxygen bleach, but only on a sheet that has passed a colorfast test on a hidden area, then air-dry.
Careful. Use solvent with good ventilation and away from flames.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for lotion on sheets, towels & table linens
Look for a pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solvent for oily spots, an enzyme laundry presoak, and an all-fabric oxygen bleach. Buy the bleach only if your sheets are colorfast, and test it first.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on sheets, towels & table linens, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A lotion spot is improving when the shine fades and the fabric feels less slick under your fingers after each soak. If it still looks pale and oily after a second cold soak and a detergent wash, the oil has likely set into the weave. At that point, switch to the dried-stain fixes rather than repeating the same round.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
Gradual tan lotion
Gradual tan lotion is still an oily lotion, so the same steps apply from the scrape to the wash. There's no separate rule for self-tanner, so don't reach for a stronger cleaner than the ones above.
If the spot looks darker or tinted after washing, go back to the solvent and detergent steps rather than adding heat. Use the oxygen bleach only if the sheet has passed a colorfast test, and let it air-dry between tries.
Colored sheets
Colored sheets can lose dye to the wrong method, so every step that uses a cleaner needs a colorfast test first. Test the detergent on a hidden seam before the soak, and check for color change after each step.
If the test shows any change, stop and skip the bleach entirely. The cold soak and detergent are the gentlest choices, so stick with them.
Acne cream
Acne creams with benzoyl peroxide are a different problem, because the ingredient can change the color of fabric rather than just leave an oily mark. Test every cleaner on a hidden seam before using it, since a faded spot may not appear for a while.
Use the same scrape and blot, then the cold soak. Save the oxygen bleach for a sheet that has passed a colorfast test.
Silk or satin sheets
Silk and satin can't take the same solvents or bleach as cotton, so the cotton approach doesn't carry over. Blot the spot and check the label first, and if the sheet is dry-clean only, take it to a dry cleaner.
For the rest of the treatment, the Pillows, Silk & Satin guide covers what these fabrics can handle. Read it before you apply any detergent or solvent.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old lotion mark has had time to soak into the weave, so it usually needs more than one pass. Repeat the solvent sponging from the wrong side and the detergent steps before you wash again.
Once it has dried, the mark is harder to lift, and a dryer or iron will make it worse. Dried spots often need a few rounds of soaking and rinsing rather than one long soak.
If the mark is still there after the dryer, try a light-duty detergent solution with a few drops of ammonia before laundering again. On silk or wool, dilute the ammonia with an equal amount of water and use it sparingly. Rinse thoroughly afterward, and don't expect every spot to vanish, since some marks only lighten.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on lotion on sheets, towels & table linens?
You'll find plenty of home remedies for lotion, from vinegar to rubbing alcohol. Most of them aren't needed for sheets, and a few can change the color of colored bedding. Here's where each one stands.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub in bar soap
Bar soap sets many stains, so it can lock the lotion into the fabric. Use liquid laundry detergent on the spot instead.
Don't use colored cloths or sponges
A colored cloth can bleed dye onto the sheet while you blot. Stick to a clean white cloth or a paper towel.
Don't assume a clean sheet is clear
Acne creams can bleach fabric, and the mark may not show up for hours, days or months. Check the sheet in good light once it has dried flat, and remember that a bleached-looking spot is permanent.
Don't test on the middle of the sheet
A cleaner can lighten or darken fabric without showing its full effect until it dries, so a test in plain view can cost you the sheet. Try a drop on a hidden seam or hem, wait until it's dry, and look for any change in color.
Don't leave a pretreatment on past its label time
Sprays and liquids that sit too long can fade or shift the color of a dyed sheet, and gels need only a few minutes on bright shades. Set a timer when you apply anything, and rinse it out on schedule.
Don't keep bleaching a spot that has already lightened
Acne cream removes color rather than sitting on top of the fabric, so a bleached patch won't refill once the dye is gone. Stop at that point, because more bleach only weakens the fabric around the spot.
When to call a professional
Dry-clean-only sheets belong with a dry cleaner from the start, and so do sheets whose lotion mark covers a large area. Tell the cleaner whether the mark came from lotion or acne cream, and name the fiber if you know it.
Questions
Does lotion stain sheets?
Yes. Lotion is oily, so it leaves a greasy mark that can turn white or dull as it dries. Scrape it off, blot it, and follow the cold soak and detergent steps before the sheet goes near a dryer.
Is retinol cream harder to get out of sheets?
Retinol creams are oily like other lotions, so they respond to the same steps. Check the sheet for a faint mark after washing, and test any stronger cleaner on a hidden seam first.
Can I use white vinegar on lotion stains?
It's better to skip it here. Vinegar can weaken cotton and change its color, and the cold soak and detergent steps do the job without it.
Can a lotion stain come out after the sheet has been dried?
Often it can, but it gets harder with every dry cycle. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than old ones, so go back to the cold soak and detergent steps before trying anything stronger.
What if my sheets are dry-clean only?
Take them to a dry cleaner soon. Tell the cleaner the stain is lotion so they can choose the right solvent.
How soon should I treat a lotion stain?
As soon as you can, since fresh oil lifts far more easily than oil that has been sitting. Keep the sheet flat until you get to it so the oil doesn't spread.
Can I wash white sheets in hot water after a lotion stain?
Only once the spot is gone. White cotton or linen can handle the hottest setting on the care label, but cold water comes first for lotion, since heat can lock the oil into the weave.
Is chlorine bleach safe on colored sheets that have lotion on them?
Only as a last resort, and only if the sheets are colorfast and their label allows bleach. Test a hidden seam first, and if any color shifts, skip chlorine altogether and use an all-fabric oxygen bleach instead.
Can I leave a lotion spot to soak overnight?
An enzyme presoak is the one that can sit overnight and keep loosening what the detergent missed. Sprays and gels need a much shorter timer, since leaving them on too long can fade or change the color of a dyed sheet.
Lotion on other materials
Other stains on sheets, towels & table linens
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.