Playing around with grease and oil can be frustrating, especially when your clothes get stained. The oil stains are considered tougher, and for those making their living out of fixing cars, it could be extremely challenging to fight these tough-to-remove stains daily. While changing a car tire or oiling it, you may get a pesky oil stain that might initially frighten you. It can happen to anyone but do not panic, as we have compiled some easy ways to fight the stubborn oil marks out of clothes.
The faster you act in removing the oil stains from your clothes, the fewer chances it will have to penetrate deeper into the fabric layer. With a strong degreaser applied in a timely manner, it becomes easy to fix greasy stains. If you work in a mechanic showroom, the stains might not fret you if you are wearing your grungy garage clothes, but for those who get splotches of motor oil while fixing their cars randomly, it is important to get into the process of oil removal fast.
Pro Tip: Presoaking the motor oil-stained fabric works effectively in getting these stains out of it. Soak the stained cloth for an hour in a solution of hot water and any detergent of your choice. Wash them gently and soak them again in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash them again and let them dry in the air.
Let’s get into the easiest ways you can try to remove the tenacious motor oil stains from clothes.
Using Cornstarch
Corn starch is one of the easily available household items that can be used to remove tough oil stains. It possesses the properties of absorbing oil stains and removing it from the fabric. A simple and practical way to use cornstarch is to lay the stained cloth flat. Spill a small amount of cornstarch on the stained area and let it rest for 30 to 40 minutes. Take a sponge or toothbrush and scrub the cornstarch gently. Put the cloth in the washing machine on the regular wash settings.
Using Aloe Vera
The soothing properties of aloe vera are known to everyone but not everyone knows that this household organic plant also can remove tough stains. Presoak the stained cloth in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Take the cloth out of the water and rub the aloe vera gel in a circular motion. Wash the fabric in lukewarm water and let it air dry. The active components in the aloe vera gel, such as amino acids, decompose the oil and remove it from the fabric.
Using Nail Polish Remover
Nail polish remover contains an organic solvent, acetone, that binds together the oil molecules on the stained area, which makes the stain easy to remove. Since there are various types of fabrics for which acetone is not considered friendly, it is recommended to try acetone on a small patch of cloth before applying it to the stained area. With the help of a cotton swab or a Q-tip, put a few drops of nail polish remover on the stained area and wash it off after 10 minutes.
Using Dishwashing Liquid
Dishwashing liquid fights and removes even the toughest stains from the dishes, making it a great oil-cutting agent for the fabric. Pour a few drops of the dishwashing liquid on the stained area and rub it gently using any old toothbrush. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse it using cold water. Put it in the washing machine and then air dry it.
Using Baking Soda
When baking soda is put on any stain, including a smoke smell, it produces airy bubbles and dissolves the molecular bonding between the stain particles, making it easy to remove. To get motor oil out of the fabric, place it on a clean towel, sprinkle baking soda on the stained area, and let it sit there for 15 minutes. Gently brush the baking soda with the help of a soft-bristled toothbrush and then wash it using hot water. If necessary, repeat the process till there is no stain left. If the oil stain is still there, put some liquid dishwashing drops on it and sprinkle the baking soda on it. Scrub the stain using a toothbrush and then rinse it away after 20 minutes.
Using Baby Powder
Baby powder removes the motor oil stains from the clothes by emulsifying the stains. Once it comes into contact with the oil molecules, the baby powder absorbs the oil, and your fabric gets as old as before. Lay your stained cloth on a flat surface and pour some baby powder on the stained area. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes, then brush it with a toothbrush. Now wash it off with clean, cold water. Baby powder works great on freshly stained motor oil fabrics, so if you get any oil smudges, try to treat them with the baby powder as soon as possible.
Try WD 40
WD 40 helps lubricate moving parts of the vehicles and remove old stains from the garage tools and spots from the vehicles. Such stain removal properties can help weaken the molecular bonding between the oil stains. If the stained fabric is delicate, you may look for other oil-removing methods or apply the product on a small patch of the fabric with the help of a Q-tip. You may pour a tablespoon of the product on the stain on fabrics like jeans and let it rest for a few hours. Pour a few drops of liquid soap on the motor oil spot and rub it gently with a thumb or soft-bristled toothbrush. Now put it in the washing machine normally.
Bottom Line
Sometimes, the motor oil stains do not completely remove on the first try, and you need to re-treat the area to remove the stubborn stains from the fabric. The fabric fibers bond tightly with the motor oil particles and do not let them wash away easily. In some cases, the motor oil leaves behind light-colored patches that are less obvious than the oil stains. The longer the oil stains are left unattended, the more time they take to leave the clothes. And once they get fixed into the clothes’ fibers, it becomes extremely difficult to get rid of them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does oil stain not get out of the fabric only with washing?
Due to the hydrophobic nature of the oil, it does not go away after washing with water only. It is not easy to remove the stubborn oil marks from the clothes by simply throwing them in the machine as the bonding between the oil particles and the clothes’ fibers is substantial and requires special treatment.
Can cold water remove stains from the fabric?
Cold water works effectively to remove motor oil stains from delicate fabrics, but when it comes to removing the oil splotches from fabric like jeans or sweaters, it does not work. The oil stains decompose when treated with hot water, making stain removal easier.
Does an oil stain ruin the fabric?
The best way to get rid of oil stains without damaging their fibers is to treat the stain as soon as it develops. The longer you take, the deeper it penetrates and eventually ruins the fabric during the removal.
What are the effective home remedies to treat grease stains on fabric?
Treating the stained fabric with household products such as aloe vera gel, baking soda, corn starch, or baby powder is beneficial in removing the tenacious oil stains from the fabric.
What absorbs the motor oil marks on the fabric?
Baby powder, baking soda, and corn starch have the properties to absorb the oil marks from the fabric.
Does vinegar help with oil stain removal?
The distilled white vinegar possesses the properties of absorbing the oil stain from all kinds of fabric. Simply soak the stained cloth in the solution of water and white vinegar and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. Take it out and wash it normally.
What is the fastest way of removing the oil stain from clothes?
If you want to remove the oil stain from the fabric rapidly, you need to treat it as soon as possible. Soak it in warm water for half an hour, pour a few drops of liquid dishwashing, and throw it in the washing machine.
John Davis is a passionate content writer with a knack for crafting engaging narratives across various subjects. With a keen eye for detail and a love for storytelling, John brings ideas to life through the power of words. His dedication to delivering high-quality and informative content has made him a trusted voice in the digital realm. When he’s not at his desk, you’ll find John exploring new hobbies and seeking inspiration in the world around him.
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