Vasoline in armrest

[Seerlah]

No, the title isn't a typo. I carry a small bottle of vasoline in my arm rest and usually park my vehicle in cool areas, but have been forced to do so differently lately. I didn't think about the Vasoline in my arm rest. The summer heat has melted it and it is now goo'd inside my arm rest. It also dripped out and got onto some of the upholstry in the vehicle (underside of arm rest also has vasoline on it, from where it seeped out). Can anyone suggest a way of cleaning this up. I tried wiping it, but that really does not help much with Vasoline. Is there some type of cleaning agent I can use, without being harmfull to my upholstry? Or a different technique another can recommend? Thanks!

[hoppy6698]

Would try dry paper towels - with a heavy lubricant, fluids wont help unless they are severe enough to break down the Vas, and that could damage the cloth/leathers. Try dry, wipe as much as possible, then Einz interior cleaners to get up any residue. Just my opinion.

[Seerlah]

I am thinking of sourcing out a new arm rest, because there is a lot of Vasoline in the arm rest itself, and there is a material that lines the inside of the arm rest where the Vasoline seems to have found a happy home at. But for the small amount that dripped into my vehicle, I will try and wipe clean. Then try some type of interior cleaner to get the rest out. Thanks!

[JackalS4]

You should post pics.

It sounds like some soaking may do the trick, unless the arm rest appears to actually be damaged. Perhaps a stain-removing spray/soak then agitation with something such as Folex, 303 Spot Remover or similar could do something for the upholstery.

For any plastic areas if regular cleaners aren't working, you could try some Goo Gone.

Good luck.

[dparm]

Denatured alcohol is what you use to remove wax from clothes. Might be worth a shot.