6 Tricks to Remove Oil Stains From Clothes
Removing oil stains from clothing can take a long time. Although there are chemicals that make this task easier, it’s better to seek less aggressive alternatives that take care of your clothes.
The problem with these substances is that they penetrate fabric very easily and are resistant to usual washing products. This is why you’ll need other complementary ingredients to be able to remove these stains completely.
Fortunately, there are old tricks that use green elements to remove these stains. What are they and which are the most effective ones? This is what we’re going to talk about in this article!
Home Tricks to Remove Oil Stains From Clothes
One of the major headaches when washing clothes is removing oil stains from your clothes. Although you can sometimes remove these stains by washing your clothes normally, other times it can be quite a challenge.
This type of stain is common when you’re handling food in the kitchen or if you spilled something accidentally while eating. They are also common in those who work with oily or greasy compounds, such as mechanics.
One of the main tricks to successfully remove oil stains is to act as soon as possible so that the grease doesn’t have time to seep into the fabric. However, you don’t always have the chance to act immediately. So what can you do?
1.- Apply Salt
When velvety fabrics such as suede get stained with oil, the best thing to do is apply a little salt to facilitate the washing. Due to its absorbent action, this ingredient prevents oil from penetrating the fabric.
How to Use it
- Rub a lot of salt on the oil stains and leave on for two to three hours.
- After this time, scrub gently with a brush and wash normally.
2.- White Vinegar
This “king” of green cleaning products is one of the best ingredients you can use to remove all oil stains. Thanks to its organic acids, it decomposes residues and leaves your clothes really soft.
How to Use It
- Pour some white vinegar on the stain and leave on for 30 minutes.
- After this time, rinse with warm water and regular soap.
3.- Cornmeal
This is a natural ingredient that can remove recent oil stains from clothes. Although it doesn’t always remove them completely, applying it directly “softens” these stains so they’re easier to remove in the washer.
How to Use it
- Sprinkle cornmeal on the stained area and leave on for a few minutes.
- Scrub with a brush and put the garment in the washing machine.
See also: 10 Fantastic Uses for Cornstarch that You Didn’t Know
4.- Baking Soda
Baking soda is a multipurpose product that has been used since ancient times for many household cleaning tricks. Since it has a bleaching effect and is an astringent, it’s a great option to remove tough stains like the ones oil leaves behind.
How to Use It
- Apply some baking soda on the stained garment and distribute it evenly with a brush.
- Leave on for 40 minutes and then rinse.
5.- Talcum Powder
Although some talcum powders aren’t recommended due to their chemical components, most of them can be used to remove grease stains. Since it has an absorbing effect, it can be used to remove oil stains from clothes.
How to Use It
- Rub a generous amount of talcum powder onto the stained garment and leave on for ten minutes.
- Then scrub vigorously with a brush and rinse.
6.- Lemon Juice
This is one of the best natural products to remove oil stains from clothes. Its citric acid is one of the best active grease removing compounds out there.
How to Use It
- Extract the juice of a fresh lemon and rub it on the stain.
- Leave on for ten minutes and then soak the garment in warm water.
- Add detergent and wash normally.
Keep things simple from now on and use these natural tricks to remove oil and grease stains from your clothing. Try out the ingredient that stood out the most to you today.