Oil stains are one of the hardest stains to remove! You can't clean it just by wiping it or spinning it in the washing machine. You have to take extra measures to get rid of it. Learn how to remove oil stains from wood and fabric surfaces using dish soap, absorbent materials, and even an iron!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Washing Stains with Dish Soap
Step 1. Make sure the item is machine washable
This method requires a washing machine so you shouldn't try it on furniture, carpets, or dry clean clothes. Check the label if you are unsure whether the clothes you want to clean can be machine washed.
Step 2. Dry the excess oil using a tissue
Don't rub the stain as this can make it stick even more! Instead, gently press the tissue against the cloth to absorb any excess oil. The less oil there is left, the easier it will be to remove the stain.
Step 3. Cover the entire oil stain with liquid dish soap
You can also use an oil-removing shampoo, mechanical soap (soap to remove oil), or artist oil soap (petroleum paint remover). It doesn't matter if you apply a large amount of it because the stain must be completely covered with soap.
If the soap is colored, test it on a hidden area of the fabric to make sure the color isn't smearing on the fabric
Step 4. Rub the stain with detergent
Use your fingers, sponge, or brush to rub the detergent into the oil stain. The oil will lift, but the stain that has soaked will be more difficult to remove. If the stain is old, scrub it vigorously with a brush.
Be careful when scrubbing delicate fabrics, such as cheesecloth
Step 5. Rinse the item with a mixture of water and vinegar
Rinse the attached detergent with warm water until the foam is gone. Next, rinse the stained area with vinegar to remove and remove any excess oil. Five minutes later, rinse off the vinegar. Vinegar doesn't stain clothes, but it can damage them.
Step 6. Repeat if necessary
If the oil stain hasn't gone away, you may have to repeat the process. This is normal if the stain is old and dark in color (eg motor oil). Repeat the above steps 1-2 times until the stain is gone.
Step 7. Put the item in the washing machine
Wash clothes in the washing machine on a normal cycle and in warm, not hot, water. Very hot water can cause the stain to sink deeper into the fabric. So, avoid using very hot water until the stain is gone.
Now you can wash it along with other laundry
Step 8. Dry the clothes to dry
Don't use the dryer! If the oil stain soaks into the fabric from the heat, it's almost impossible to remove it yourself at home. Dry the clothes and check to see if the stain is gone.
Step 9. Repeat if necessary
Sometimes you may have to repeat the process 2 to 3 times, especially if the grease stain is extensive or has seeped into the fabric. Don't worry, this is normal, it doesn't mean you've done anything wrong!
If the stain has soaked into the fabric due to heat or won't go away after repeating the process many times, take the garment to a dry cleaning service
Method 2 of 3: Using Absorbent Material
Step 1. Blot and dry the stain with a tissue
This method is very suitable for use on fabrics, carpets, and various types of clothing. However, you must first remove any remaining oil. Take a tissue and suck out as much oil as possible. This is especially important if the stain is new, but if the oil stain is old and drying, skip this step.
Step 2. Cover the stain with absorbent material
It is a dry material that can absorb liquid. You can use corn flour (cornmeal), cornstarch (cornstarch), baking powder, salt, or talcum powder. Cover the entire stain with the absorbent of your choice. It doesn't matter if you use it in large quantities!
These absorbents usually don't stain the fabric, but to be sure, do a test on a hidden area of the fabric first
Step 3. Let the absorbent material sit there for at least an hour
Let the material sit on the stain for at least 1 hour. You can leave it on longer because the absorbent material doesn't damage the fabric or lose its properties. Leave clothes in a place where children or pets cannot reach them.
Step 4. Clean the absorbent material with a brush
An hour later, remove any absorbent material that has stuck to the stain. You can use your hands, a brush, or even a vacuum cleaner. This absorbent cleaning process can take some time, especially if you are using a very fine material (such as talcum powder). If the item is not waterproof, you can clean it with a damp cloth or sponge.
Step 5. Repeat if necessary
If the stain hasn't gone away, repeat the process for a longer time. If the oil stain is long or very wide, it may take up to a day to fully absorb the oil.
Step 6. Apply a small amount of dry cleaning solution to the stain (optional)
If the stain is very difficult to remove, buy a dry cleaning solution and apply it to the stain as directed. This solution can be purchased at major supermarkets and dry cleaning services.
This method is perfect for removing stains that won't go away even if you use an absorbent material. Use this solution if none of the other methods have worked
Method 3 of 3: Ironing Oil Stains
Step 1. Use paper towels to dry the stain
This method is very suitable for use on stone and wood surfaces. Never rub a tissue on an oil stain, as wood and some types of stone (such as marble) are very porous. Doing so can cause the stain to spread. Instead, gently wipe the surface with a tissue until it's dry.
Step 2. Set the iron to the lowest heat
. Wood surfaces are very sensitive to high humidity and heat. So, set the iron to the lowest heat and turn off the steam function. You may have to empty the water container on the iron to prevent steam from escaping later.
Step 3. Place a clean, soft cloth on the oil stain
Use a cloth that is really clean because any stains on the cloth can transfer to the surface of objects that are exposed to oil. Also make sure the cloth is not used because the oil stains will later move to the cloth. You can use an old t-shirt or a vehicle wipe.
White or light colored fabrics are best. The moisture in the oil stain can discolour the fabric and contaminate the surface of the object you want to clean
Step 4. Iron the cloth until the entire surface of the stain is exposed to the iron
Run the iron on the fabric carefully, as when you iron laundry. Make sure the iron is run all over the stain before you pick it up!
Step 5. Check the surface of the object and repeat the process if necessary
Take the cloth and check for oil stains. The stain will be completely absorbed by the fabric. If not, repeat the process again.
When repeating the process, make sure the cloth has been folded in half or turned over so that the new, clean surface of the cloth sticks to the stain. If this is not done, the oil that has transferred to the cloth will stick back to the surface of the object being cleaned
Tips
- Try using a commercial stain remover for tough stains.
- If the item you're cleaning is still wet, you probably won't know if the stain is gone. Wait for the item to dry to check for stains.
