Von Shelley Berman
Your mouth waters at the tempting aroma of fish sizzling in the pan as you cook dinner, but you also splatter oil on your shirt as it sizzles. Or maybe something goes wrong while waxing the floor or greasing a chainsaw, leaving a dark stain on your clothes.
Fortunately, a splash of oil on your clothes doesn't spell doom. While a regular wash cycle won't remove grease and oil, there are still plenty of tips and tricks to help you remove these oily stains from clothes; it just requires a little more work than other food stains. We'll cover everything in this guide so you can save your new shirt in just a few minutes.
Grease stain on white clothes
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Why does oil stain clothes?
The oil is not water soluble and therefore cannot be removed from fabric simply by washing or rinsing with water.
When an oily substance comes into contact with any type of fabric, it is likely to leave an oily stain that will appear as a dark spot on the fabric, almost like a water stain, but will still be dry to the touch. Sometimes it appears orange, depending on the type of fat that contaminates it. Some fabrics are more absorbent than others (more on that later) and are therefore more likely to absorb oil.
How to remove fresh oil stains
There are a few methods to remove oil stains from clothes using kitchen utensils. Once you notice that oil has spilled onto your clothes, follow these simple steps:
Tools and materials needed:
- some paper towels
- Warm water
- A clean, soft cloth or soft sponge
- liquid soap dish
Step 1: Remove the clothes
It may be tempting to try to quickly wipe off the oil while you're still wearing the garment, but this can make the problem worse by spreading the oil around and causing an even bigger stain. It is much easier to treat the stain if you remove the clothing first so that you can see the full stain and work more precisely.
Step 2 - Dry the oil
Gently blot the stain with a thick paper towel to absorb as much of the oil as possible. Avoid rubbing back and forth across the stain; this will only cause it to spread.
Step 3 - Apply detergent and warm water
Dilute a few drops of dishwashing liquid with a little warm water, pour the solution directly onto the stain and leave for 2-3 minutes. Using a clean, soft cloth or sponge, gently apply the detergent to the fabric in a circular motion.
Try the lemon soap
Lemon dish soap is a particularly good oil stain remover. The acid in lemons acts as a fat cutter.
Step 4 - Rinse with warm water
After applying detergent to the material, hold the stained fabric under warm running water and rinse thoroughly. Avoid using water that is too hot or too cold, which can further set the stain.
Step 5: Wash
After ensuring that all detergent has been rinsed off, wash the garment as usual and according to the washing instructions on the care label.
Step 6 - Hang to dry
If possible, avoid putting clothes in the dryer. Heat can remove any remaining oil residue. It is better to hang it to dry in the open air.
toothbrush dipped in white paste
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How to remove dry oil stains from clothes with baby powder
Sometimes it is not possible or practical to treat an oil spill as soon as it occurs. You might be at a friend's house or in a business meeting with a client over lunch when you accidentally spill a greasy piece of food in your lap. Or, you may not notice the stain until hours after it appears. By this time, it will have dried and it will take more than a few drops of dish soap to remove it.
When trying to remove oil stains from clothing, some fabrics can be more difficult to handle than others. cotton and linen arenatural fabricsand it will be easier to deal with thansynthetic fabricslike nylon or spandex. If you are trying to remove oil stains from 100% cotton clothing, use the methods below. If you have an oil stain on a synthetic fabric, you'll probably have more success using undiluted concentrated detergent and rubbing the stain a little harder.
If you're in a hurry and don't have time to deal with that annoying oil stain right away, sprinkle a liberal amount of baby powder on the stain. Leave it for a few minutes and then gently remove. It absorbs a lot of oil and you can treat the stain properly later with the following methods.
By following this step-by-step guide to removing oil stains from clothing, you'll likely avoid completely ruining your clothing.
Tools and materials needed:
- a clean sponge
- Warm water
- Bicarbonate
- liquid soap dish
- a soft toothbrush
Step 1 - Dampen the stain
Using a clean sponge, gently run a little warm water over the stain. Do not rub.
Step 2 - Make the paste and apply
Baking soda is a natural chemical that contains powerful detergents. It's also one of the best oil stain removers for clothes because it doesn't contain harsh ingredients that damage fabric.
Mix warm water and baking soda together until it forms a fluffy, spreadable paste. Apply the paste to the oil stain and gently rub the paste into the stain with a soft toothbrush. Avoid rubbing hard.
Step 3: Let it rest
By leaving it on for five to ten minutes, you give the baking soda time to reveal its special magic on the stain. It will absorb the oil and remove the stain in the process.
Step 4: Rinse
Rinse the baking soda off the clothing with clean, warm water.
Step 5 - Add detergent and water
At this point, you can follow steps 3-6 of the “Fresh Oil Stains Removal” method above.
Replace vinegar with water
If a stain seems to have set in and you're having trouble removing it, try following the steps above, but use vinegar instead of water to make the baking soda paste. The acid in the vinegar should help remove the stain.
How to remove dried oil stains from clothes with heat
If a garment has already been washed and dried and you notice a previously undetected oil stain, don't despair! The laundry can still be saved. We have a special method that makes it work on stubborn or old oil stains. This method can also be tried on oil stains that were treated immediately but to no avail.
Tools and materials needed:
- Two old clean towels
- an electric iron
- an ironing board
- A clean brown paper bag or sheet of brown paper
Step 1: Prepare the ironing board
Cover the ironing board with a clean towel and place the garment on top of the towel. If the garment cannot be opened in a single layer, place the towel between the layers of fabric.
Step 2 - Cover the stain with brown paper
Place a clean, unused brown paper bag over the entire stain. Do not use a bag that previously contained food, as it may contain oils or odors that can be transferred to the fabric.
Step 3: Cover with another towel
Take the second clean towel and place it on top of the paper bag.
Step 4: Heat the iron
Plug in your iron, turn it on and let it heat up. The iron temperature should be halfway between the coldest and hottest setting.
Step 5 - Swipe lightly
Press the hot side of the iron into the top towel and move it back and forth over where the stain is under the towel and paper bag. The heat from the iron penetrates through the towel to the paper and fabric underneath. As heat penetrates the stain, the previously dried oil melts and is absorbed by the brown paper, lifting the stain from the fabric.
makeup spilled on white shirt
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How to remove makeup oil stain from clothes
Those pesky oil stains don't always come from food. There are many other oil-based products that can come into contact with our clothes and leave unsightly stains.
Many makeup and cosmetic products are oil-based. Unfortunately, many of us know that awful feeling when we get a drop of foundation on our dress. Fortunately, that's not necessarily the end of your dress.
Aftershine, Make-up stains are best removed from clothing with a make-up remover wipe. Makeup wipes are designed to remove make-up, so it stands to reason that they work to remove make-up from clothes and the face.
After the makeup falls on the dress, dry it gently and rub it with a makeup wipe. Repeat this several times, each time using a clean cloth, until the stain disappears.
Of course, it's better to be safe than sorry, so always drape an old towel over your lap to protect your clothes when you're applying your makeup.
How to remove oil-based paint stains from clothes
If you're a DIY enthusiast, there's a good chance you've spilled paint on a piece of clothing. And if that paint is oil-based, not only is the paint difficult to get off, but the oil that leaves the paint behind is also difficult. Luckily for you, we have a complete guide to removing all types of ink stains, including oil-based inks.
Of course, the best way to avoid staining your clothes when tackling these DIY projects is to wear a protective apron or overalls. It's also about using the right brush size andHold your brush correctly. You should hold the brush like a pencil for precise strokes and hold it firmly in the palm of your hand with your thumb pointing outwards for longer strokes. If you hold the brush at the right angle, you're less likely to get paint on your clothes.
Mistakes to avoid when removing oil stains from clothing
Proceed with caution: certain actions can permanently fix this oil stain. If you're trying to treat oil stains on your clothes, don't do the following:
- Throw it in the washing machine immediately if you find a stain.
- Pour boiling water over the stain.
- Unless you've researched the type of fabric you're working on, use harsh chemicals like acetone or paint thinner. These chemicals do more harm than good to the fabric.
Tips and tricks for difficult cases
If none of the above do-it-yourself methods have worked, try a targeted oil treatment such asQuitamanchas Carbona Stain Devils. This formula is intended for very persistent grease stains caused by substances such as motor oil.
Do you have any tips for removing oil stains from clothes? Comment your tip below, we'd love to hear from you!