Oils stains don’t have to mean your clothes are ruined or you need to buy expensive commercial stain removers. There are many remedies you can try from the comfort of your own home.
You can remove oil stains from clothes with talcum powder and baking soda absorption techniques, by rubbing lemon on the stained clothes, using the acidity of vinegar in your favor, and even using scalding hot water. These methods are inexpensive, effective, and convenient to use at home.
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Remove oil stains on clothes using talcum powder
This method can be considered your first course of action to prevent oil stains from setting in on your clothes. Talcum powder, also known as baby powder, will absorb the oil before it seeps into your fabrics. This method is a preventive measure that lessens the probability of your clothes getting stained by oil.
- Sprinkle the talcum powder and completely cover the oil spill with a thick layer.
- Use your palm or any flat object to press the talcum powder to allow the absorption of excess oil.
- Remove excess talcum powder but leave the powder that sticks on the oil spill stain as is.
- After 15 minutes, scrape the talcum powder off using a spoon or spatula.
- Wash your clothes as usual.
Using vinegar to remove oil stains on clothes
This procedure is mainly applicable to removing oil stains on white clothes. However, you can make a slight adjustment to using vinegar in colored clothes. But for the sake of removing oil stains on white clothes, the four-stepped procedure below will serve as your guide.
- Pour white vinegar in a bowl.
- Soak the oil-stained portion of your clothes in the bowl of vinegar. If oil stains are all over your clothes, thoroughly soak the whole piece of clothing in vinegar.
- After 20 minutes, scrub the vinegar-soaked area to remove the oil stains.
- Wash your clothes normally, and let it air dry.
When oil stains are on colored clothes, modify the first step of the vinegar method above. Instead of using white vinegar, you can add equal parts hot water to the vinegar, rather than just straight vinegar. After preparing this solution, continue with the remaining three steps of the vinegar method.
Eliminate stains with lemon extract
Lemon has a bleaching effect on clothes, so this technique is made for white clothes. This procedure will also help you restore your white clothing because lemon extract brightens fabrics.
- Roll the lemon along the counter to release the juices.
- Horizontally cut the lemon into two halves.
- Use one half of the lemon as a scrub brush. Rub it on the oil stain.
- Simultaneously squeeze the lemon as you rub it on the stained clothes to release its juice.
- Exposed the clothes in direct sunlight for 5 minutes.
- Wash your clothes as normal.
On stubborn oil stains, use the other half of the lemon and repeat the process until the stain disappears.
Say goodbye to stains with the classic baking soda method
Baking soda has become a home staple because of its many uses. In this method, the baking soda will act as an oil absorbent. In removing oil stains, it is essential to remove excess oil to prevent the spreading of stains.
- Cover the entire oil stain with baking soda. Let it sit for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove the discolored baking soda. The evident brownish discoloration of the baking soda granules indicate that excess oil seeped into it.
- Continue adding new baking soda layers on your oil stains and removing them after they change color.
- Finally, wash your clothes when the last layer of baking soda no longer changes colors.
You can also gently rub the baking soda to speed up the removal of oil stains on clothes.
Hot water can also remove oil stains
You can only apply this method if your oil-stained clothes can withstand the hot water without being damaged. Since you will handle hot liquid, always observe precautionary measures.
- Place the oil-stained clothes in a thermal-resistant basin or bowl with the oil stains facing up.
- Bring water to a boil, and directly pour the hot water on oil stains.
- Scrub the oil stains using a non-abrasive brush to remove the superficial oil layer.
- After scrubbing, add a few drops of citrus-based dishwashing soap on the oil stains.
- Let the dish soap sit for two minutes, then scrub again to form a lather.
- Wash clothes as normal.
Common questions about oil stains on clothes
Do oil stains come out?
Even if oil is set deep into the fibers of your clothes, you can still remove this stain because its not a permanent stain. Use baby powder or baking soda to absorb excess oil and then use lemon, dish soap or hot water to get rid of the stain completely.
The use of correct techniques will make the stain removal process possible. However, you might have trouble getting rid of this stain, especially if the stain is an oil-based paint or motor oil stain.
What is the best stain remover for oil?
When talking about oil stains on clothes, the best stain removers can be found in your own home. Baking powder, liquid laundry detergent, and mild dish soap will get rid of oil stains. These products are made to absorb and combat oil stains and take care of your fabrics.
There are also commercially available stain removers specially formulated for oil stains, usually in the form of a gel. These commercial products can penetrate your fabrics and lift stains, making them good oil stain removers.
Can oil stains still be removed even after they have been washed?
Oil stains become stubborn after they have been washed. This happens because heat strengthens the bond of oil stains on fabrics. But yes, you can still remove stubborn oil stains even after washing clothes by rubbing the area with liquid glycerin and allowing it to penetrate the fabrics for at least 5 minutes before tossing the oil-stained clothes in your washing machine again.
The Bottom Line
Methods using home remedies employed in removing oil stains on clothes are basic yet useful hacks. These methods will make you realize that the ones thought to be weak household products can outpower stubborn oil stains. It is a sure win when you battle oil stains using materials available in your own home.
