How To Get Rid Of Oil Stains On Clothes In South Africa
Oil Stains
Instead of a brightly colored stain, oil leaves a greasy patch behind that’s slightly darker than the surrounding fabric. When it comes to greasy stains, the danger is that the longer you leave that oil spot unattended, the darker it will become over time, and if left too long, it can also set permanently.
How To Get Rid Of Oil Stains On Clothes In South Africa
Here’s how to remove oil stains using nothing more than a good laundry detergent and your washing machine:
- Your first task is to remove as much excess oil from your clothing as possible. This is best done as soon as possible after you’ve spilt oil, before it has a chance to soak deep into the fibres. The best way to do this is by dabbing the oily stain with a clean, soft cloth. Don’t rub or scrub as this could cause the stain to spread. If you’re out at a restaurant, a paper towel will suffice.
- As soon as possible, apply a stain remover to the stain and allow the clothing to sit for a few minutes so that the cleaning product can soak in and start to break up the greasy particles. If you don’t have a stain remover handy, or just prefer not to use one, you can apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent like OMO, or create a thick paste using a powdered detergent and a drop or two of water. Always follow the instructions on the bottle of your chosen cleaning product and test it on a small patch of the stain before using on the whole area.
- Pop the dirty clothing into the washing machine with the correct dosage of OMO and set your machine to a high temperature – around 60 degrees if you’re setting the temperature manually, or choose the sanitise setting if your machine includes this option. While it’s not recommended that you wash all clothing at a high temperature, heat does help to break down grease. Check the care label on your garment to ensure you wash your item at the correct temperature.
After your wash has finished, be sure to thoroughly inspect the clothing as soon as it comes out of the machine before it’s had a chance to dry. If the stain remains, repeat the above steps and wash again at the recommended temperature until the clothing is clean.
For items labelled ‘dry-clean only’ it is possible to attempt to clean the stain yourself, saving you time and money. However, if in doubt always seek advice from a professional dry cleaner. Here’s how to remove oil stains from clothes that are dry-clean only at home:
- You’ll want to start off in the same way as if you were treating a standard fabric – using a clean, dry cloth to dab the stain and remove as much excess oil as possible.
- Next, use a dry, absorbent powder and sprinkle over the stain, creating a generous covering. Talcum powder, baby powder, corn flour, baking soda, and even coffee grounds are all excellent choices. Leave the powder on the stain overnight, giving it a chance to absorb the oil and draw it out of the fibres. In the morning, simply shake the powder off, and use a blunt object like a spoon to gently scrape any damp clumps away.
- If a small amount of powder remains on the clothing, very lightly dampen a clean cloth and wipe away the remaining powder. Be careful not to saturate the garment – it’s best to keep it as dry as possible.
It’s always important to understand which products are good at removing oil stains, and are completely useless, or could cause damage. Here’s a handy guide for you to turn to. A laundry detergent with a built-in stain remover is ideal. These types of detergents combine the cleaning power of regular detergents with the amazing stain removal properties of pre-treatments. Dishwashing Soap like Sunlight is specifically designed to cut through the greasy film that’s left on dishes after a delicious meal, so it’s an excellent go-to product for treating oil stains on clothing. Plain water – Water and oil don’t mix, it’s as simple as that. If you try to flush out oil stains from clothing using water alone, you’ll find that the water simply sits on the surface of the oil, rather than penetrating the fibres of the clothing – completely useless! Bleach can be very good at hiding stains that have caused discolouration, but in terms of oily stains, it won’t do anything at all to draw the oil out of the clothing, rendering it useless. Bleach can also damage some delicate fabrics, so in greasy situations, it’s best to avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you get dried oil stains out of your clothes?
Didn’t have time to treat your oil stain on your clothes immediately? Or were you out for dinner when the stain occurred? To treat dried oil stains, place a few drops of your stain remover or a good liquid laundry detergent like OMO, directly on the stain and leave to soak overnight. Wash the garment as per normal the next day. Repeat this process, if necessary, until the stain is completely gone.
Do oil stains come out of clothes?
Luckily, most oil stains do come out of clothes especially if you treat the stain quickly.
What products to use for oil stains?
Make sure you always have a good stain removal product in your pantry and use a good liquid laundry detergent that has built-in stain removal properties for best results.
Can a washing machine leave oil stains?
It’s highly unlikely that a washing machine would leave oil stains on your clothing. You are more likely to get oil stains from everyday items like face creams, body creams, cooking oils and foods.
How to get grease and oil out of your clothes without ruining them?
Follow our easy guide on how to get oil stains out of clothes in the article above to know exactly how to treat nasty stains from grease and oil.
Can oil marks be removed from clothes?
You can remove oil stains from clothes using vinegar. Simply soak your garments in a mix of equal parts vinegar and equal parts warm water, then gently scrub the fabric against each other to remove as much of the oil stain as you can. Finally, launder the clothes as usual.
Does oil permanently stain clothes?
Oil stains will darken as time passes and after the fabric is dry, stains can end up permanently set in clothing. As soon as a stain is spotted, use a dry cloth or paper towel right away to blot as much oil off the fabric as possible. It may be tempting, but don’t rinse oil-stained clothes with water.
Can old oil stains be removed?
Mix together one teaspoon of dish soap with four teaspoons of water in a small bowl. Put the stained bit of the garment into this bowl and let it soak for 30 minutes. Rub the area with your old toothbrush to lift the oil stain. Wash as normal in cool water with detergent.
Will baking soda bleach clothes?
For whites and colors, baking soda does double duty. When added to the washer, it makes whites whiter and brightens colored items. It’s a good substitute for people who prefer not to use bleach. Or, for loads of white clothing, give bleach a boost by adding a half-cup of baking soda.
How do you remove grease stains from clothes that have already been washed?
Douse the stain with white vinegar, then apply a paste made of equal parts baking soda and vinegar. If this doesn’t work, immerse the item overnight in a bucket of water containing a few tablespoons of detergent and vinegar. Rinse and wash the following morning