Oil stains are one of the most stubborn stains to remove from a variety of materials, especially paper. If an important document that cannot be replaced is accidentally stained with oil, it is important that you act quickly. The faster you try to remove the grease, the more likely it is that the paper will come back clean. With both chalk and vinegar and careful handling, you can at least reduce the appearance of oil stains on the paper!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Cleaning Paper with Vinegar Mix
Step 1. Make a cleaning mixture of fresh water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio
Mix 120 ml of vinegar with 120 ml of fresh water in a cup or bowl. Set the mixture aside for now until you are ready to do the cleaning.
Vinegar is a natural cleanser that acts like a mild bleach, and can be used to clean a wide variety of materials
Step 2. Spread the soiled paper over a hard, waterproof surface
Flatten the paper as neatly as possible. You can place a heavy object in the corner of the paper to stretch it out and keep the paper flat and stable.
Remember that the sooner you treat the stain, the easier it will be to remove the oil
Step 3. Wet a cotton swab with the cleaning mixture and wipe off the stain
Carefully and slowly dab the cotton swab that has been moistened with the mixture on the oil stain. Remember to use the cleaning mixture sparingly. If it is too wet, the paper may tear/damage during cleaning.
- If the oil stain looks too wet, dry it with a paper towel or air dry it so you don't tear the paper.
- Instead of letting the vinegar soak into the paper, dab a cotton swab on the stain until the stain lifts. After that, you can dry the cleaned area.
Step 4. Dry the cleaned area by dabbing a paper towel on the area and airing it
Once the paper is completely dry, you can see if the stain has completely removed. If there is still any oil stain remaining, repeat the process to remove as much of the stain as possible.
Keep in mind that this method is more effective when the stain is fresh, as old oil stains may not be completely removed. However, at least you can reduce the appearance
Method 2 of 2: Using Chalk
Step 1. Purchase white chalk and a small painting brush from an art supply store
It would be ideal if you could buy some chalk powder, but if that's not available, just buy regular chalk. If you're using chalk, you'll need a knife to scrape and grind it into chalk powder.
- Choose a soft-bristled paintbrush of the right size to apply the chalk powder to any oil stains that need to be removed.
- Chalk powder can also absorb fats and oils.
Step 2. Spread and flatten the paper on a rough, flat surface
Smooth out creases, wrinkles, and bumps on the paper surface. Be careful to make sure the part of the paper that is stained with the oil remains flat or even.
It's important to treat oil stains as soon as possible so they don't dry out and stick to them permanently
Step 3. Use a brush to brush the chalk powder on the stain
Dip the brush in the chalk powder you will be using, then brush it over the oil stain. The chalk will lift the oil stains off the paper.
Step 4. Clamp the paper using two clean white sheets of paper
Be careful when moving the paper and try not to disturb the chalk coating on the oil stain. If you drop or damage the chalk coating from the stain, remove the top paper and, carefully, brush or re-cover the stain with chalk.
You can spread clean paper next to the paper being cleaned, gently slide the dirty paper over it, and place another clean paper on top of the dirty paper
Step 5. Heat the iron on low heat and stick it to the paper for 5 seconds
Make sure you cover the stained area. Remove the iron after 5 seconds and check for stains. After that, the stain will appear faded or may disappear completely. Repeat the process as necessary to remove the stain.
- Test the heated iron on another sheet of paper to make sure the heat level of the iron doesn't scorch the paper so the document or paper you need to save won't be damaged. If it is too hot, lower the heat level of the iron and test again.
- This method may not completely remove the stain, but it can at least partially remove the stain, depending on how strongly the stain is.
