No matter how hard you try, you will generally find that if you are busy deep-frying in the kitchen or enjoying a good spaghetti Bolognese, you can end up with nasty oil stains on your clothes. Oil stains on clothes are the peskiest as they are tough to remove and almost always distinctly visible. If you do not take steps to remove it immediately, you will find that oil stains get darker over time, and sometimes, they get set permanently. We share easy tips on how to get oil out of clothes.
How To Get Oil Out Of Clothes?
So you have an oil stain. The first thing to remember is that almost all oils or greases are solid or semi-solid at room temperature and the excess can be blotted gently using a tissue or paper towel. This should be ideally done immediately after the oil stain occurs. After this, you can either use baking soda or a piece of chalk, and even dishwashing liquid to loosen the stain before a wash. [1] [2]
You should blot excess grease with a tissue immediately to remove oil stains successfully. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
How to Use Baking Soda to Remove Oil Stains?
Baking soda works like a charm on things that cannot be put into a washing machine. For instance, you can use baking soda to remove oil stains from a big piece of furniture such as a sofa or a winter coat. Here are the steps to follow: [3]
- After using a paper towel to remove excess grease, put baking soda on the stain and allow it to sit for 24 hours.
- Brush the baking soda away after a day passes.
- Use a diluted vinegar (half water-half vinegar) spray on the stain.
- Scrub with a brush and gentle soap. If you are dealing with a soft fabric, scrub gently with a toothbrush.
- You can repeat the process if it is a stubborn stain.
How to Use Chalk to Remove Oil Stains?
You can also use a piece of chalk as it has the same effect as baking soda where it pulls the oil to itself from the fabric. Here is how to use chalk to remove oil stains. Rub a piece of chalk on the stain after blotting the excess with a tissue or a paper towel. Wash the oil-stained cloth as soon as you can to remove it successfully.
Dishwashing Liquid To Remove Oil Out Of Clothes
Just like dishwashing liquid is used to remove heavy grease from used pots and pans, a few drops can be used to remove oil stains from fabrics. Use diluted dishwashing liquid and warm water to loosen the oil stain. Let the cloth soak in it for about five minutes. Once you soak it for some time, you can gently scrub the oil-stained fabric fibers against each other. You can also use an old toothbrush or another cloth to work the soap into the stain.
Once you have used baking soda, chalk, or dishwashing liquid, you can follow the washing instruction on the fabric care label of the piece of clothing. If the oil stain is still visible after wash, repeat the process. Avoid putting in a dryer until the oil stain is removed as it can permanently stain the fabric fibers.
