Nipple ointment is a lifesaver for (sore) nipples during breastfeeding. But it's less pleasant when your favorite clothes suddenly become covered in stubborn grease stains. Luckily, there's hope! This blog post explains how to effectively remove nipple ointment from your breastfeeding clothes.

By the way: I personally found ointments like Lansinoh & Purelan from Medela effective as a preventative measure. Once I developed cracks, I used Jelonet, available at the pharmacy and originally intended for burns and wounds. It's a gauze pad with ointment that you simply place on your nipple, perhaps with a nursing pad over it in your bra. I also alternated this with the Multi-Mam pads.

Why is such a stain stubborn? The ointments are heavily grease-based, and grease quickly penetrates the fabric.

What you absolutely mustn't do? Don't wash without pre-treating, as this often makes the stain worse. And don't iron with hot irons: heat can further "bake" the grease into the fibers.

First aid for nipple ointment stains:

Act quickly: Gently dab as much ointment as possible from the fabric with a spoon or the blunt side of a knife. Don't rub!

Pre-treat: Apply dishwashing liquid (preferably a powerful grease remover like Dreft – a drop or two is enough) and let it sit for a while. You can also apply ox gall soap and/or Dr. Beckmann stain remover.

Machine wash: Wash the garment as directed on the care label. Check before drying to see if the stain is gone; if not, repeat the procedure above.

If you act quickly enough, in most cases the garment can be saved.

Nipple cream and clothing aren't always a perfect combination, but with the right approach, you don't have to lose your favorite nursing shirt, sweater, or dress. Acting quickly, tackling grease before washing, and checking before drying are the secrets!