How To Remove Oil Stains From Clothes

It was probably a fun barbecue weekend with your friends or a birthday party with lots of cake eating, and now there’s that stubborn oil stain on your white t-shirt, skirt, or pants. 

An oil stain on your clothes is an eye sore and so frustrating that you may want to throw it away. 

However, the more you know about ways to get rid of oil stains, the easier it is to remove them. In this discussion, we explore the methods you can use to remove stubborn oil stains from your clothing. Read more.

Things You’ll Need To Remove Oil Stains From Clothes

Before you start, you need to gather all the supplies:

For this task, you’ll need the following materials;

• Hot water
• Paper towels
• Microfiber cloth or cotton swabs
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Alcohol
• Gentle dishwashing soap
• Toothbrush

Removing Oil Stains From Clothes With Baking Soda

• The first step is to blot out or spatter the stain using a paper towel; as soon as oil splatters on the cloth, place it on a flat surface.

• Next, place the paper towel on the stain and apply some force without rubbing. When you rub, the oil spot may spread. Subsequently, the paper absorbs the excess oil from the surface.

• The next step is to slather baking soda on the stain and allow it to sit for thirty minutes. If you don’t have baking soda, you can use cornstarch. Leave it for thirty minutes for the stain to be absorbed.

• After half an hour, the baking soda would have soaked up the stain, and now you can scrub with a soft toothbrush. Use gentle circular motions to avoid damaging your cloth. Besides, hard scrubbing can push the stain deep into the fabric, making it difficult to remove.

• Scrubbing will cause the baking soda to create clumps, indicating that it’s soaking the oil. If the stain is stubborn, you can repeat the process 1-3 times until it’s eliminated. 

Removing Oil Stains From Clothes With Dish Soap

• Start by placing a paper towel on the oil stain to absorb excess fat.

• The next step is wetting the affected area with warm water to lift the grease molecules from the cloth fibers. Don’t use cold water because it can cause the formation of a coating around the stain and toughen it.

• Then, add a few drops of dish soap and rub the garment with your hands. You can also use a toothbrush to soften the stain. 

• If the stain is still visible, mix equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda and apply the mixture to it. Let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub the area with a clean toothbrush.

• Rinse the area with warm water and repeat until the stain is gone.

Removing Oil Stains From Clothes With Alcohol

If you don’t have dish soap, vinegar, or baking soda, you can use alcohol to remove the stain. 

• Start by blotting out the excess grease with a paper towel. 
• Then dab with alcohol in a circular motion until the stain is wet. Let the alcohol sit for 30 minutes to break down the fat. If you still have your cloth on, you may place a dry paper towel under your garment to prevent the alcohol from sipping.
• After that, when you return home, rub with dish soap and rinse with clean water.

After clearing the stain with baking powder, vinegar, alcohol, or dish soap, soak the fabric in hot water for thirty minutes. Then wash in your washer and allow it to dry. 

If the stain is still visible after these steps, you can soak it in eco-friendly bleach for thirty minutes. Afterward, wash and allow to dry. Use color-safe bleach to avoid damaging your garment, and follow cleaning instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

After How Long Can I Remove An Oil Stain From Clothes?

You should remove the oil stain from your clothes immediately when you notice it. Waiting for a long period allows the oil to be absorbed, dry, and become stubborn. Removing such a stain can damage your fabric. 

Why Are Oil Stains Difficult To Remove From Clothes?

It’s because they are made of lipids, insoluble compounds in water. A normal laundry cycle will not remove the stain because the lipids get trapped in the fibers.

Can I remove an Oil Stain With Hot or Cold Water?

You can remove an oil stain from your cloth using hot water. Cold water can cause a coating around it, thereby toughening it. 

Which Is The Best Soap To Remove Oil Stains From Clothes?

The best soap to remove oil stains is dishwasher detergent because it has a unique formulation that absorbs grease from utensils or surfaces. Consider a plant-based soap that is gentle on your fabric.

Can You Remove A Dry Oil Stain?

Removing an oil stain from a fabric as soon as you spot it is recommended. Waiting can cause it to be absorbed deep into the clothes fibers and become difficult to remove. Nonetheless, if you spot it after your cloth has dried, you can use a mixture of baking powder and vinegar to remove it. 

Can You Use Cornstarch to Remove A Stubborn Oil Stain?

You can use cornstarch or baking soda to absorb a stubborn oil stain from your clothes. First, dab the powder on it and wait 30 minutes before scrubbing with a gentle toothbrush.

Can You Rub An Oil Stain Before Removing It?

It would help if you don’t rub an oil stain before removing it. Doing so can fray your clothe’s fibers and allow the stain to penetrate, thus making it difficult to remove it. If there’s excess fat, gently blot out with a paper towel without wiping repeatedly. 

Conclusion

Unlike spots from red wine, sweat, blood, lipstick, or powders like top vitamins to support mens health supplements, oil stains are more stubborn to eliminate in a regular wash cycle. Before you toss your fabric in your washer, blot out the stain, soak it in baking powder, hot water, vinegar, or alcohol, and gently rub it with a toothbrush. Be sure to follow the above instructions to avoid damaging your garment.

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