The Quick DIY Way to Remove Oil Stains from Clothes
I bought myself a new, cozy hoodie for the winter. I love that hoodie! It’s so soft and warm and I wear it more than I like to admit. Of course, I wear it so much that it was inevitable that I would get greasy stains on it from splattering oil while I was cooking.
I hate buying multiple cleaning products that cost a lot of money and take up storage space until I use them again. So I decided to try some homemade cleaning recipes to remove that greasy stain from my hoodie.
I didn’t notice the oil stain right away, so my hoodie was washed and dried multiple times before I attempted to remove oil stains from clothes. This made it even harder to remove the grease stains.
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I tried soaking it first in hot, soapy water before putting it in the washer with my regular detergent (because soap breaks up oil and grease). That didn’t work – the stain was still there.
Then I tried pouring some rubbing alcohol on it and letting that dry before putting in the washer again with my regular detergent (because alcohol is supposed to be a solvent that dissolves oil and grease). That didn’t work either – the stain was still there.
Then I tried this technique that uses hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and Dawn dish soap. I applied the ingredients, let it sit for an hour and then threw it in the washing machine. It worked!
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Why This DIY Oil and Grease Stain Remover Works
The best recommended product that came up most when I searched ‘how to remove oil stains from clothes’ was Lestoil. So I looked up the Safety Data Sheet for Lestoil and found out that the active ingredients include sodium salts and sodium hydroxide.
Sodium salts are … salt. Sodium hydroxide is a corrosive high PH alkaline that I didn’t want to mess with on clothes. Baking soda is both a salt and an alkaline base.
Lestoil also contains solvents. My alcohol solvent didn’t work, so decided to try hydrogen peroxide instead.
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- Hydrogen Peroxide: When hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with organic matter like oil, it reacts by releasing oxygen. This oxygen breaks down the chemical bonds in the oil molecules, dissolving the grease and lifting it away from the fabric.
- Baking Soda: Baking soda is both a salt and an alkaline substance, with a pH level of 9. These alkaline properties break down and remove oil so it can be washed away.
- Dawn Dish Soap: Dawn dish soap contains surfactants that help to break down tough grease and oil stains.
How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes
What You’ll Need
- hydrogen peroxide to saturate the stained area
- Dawn dish soap
- baking soda
- soft-bristle brush (toothbrush or laundry brush)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Lay the clothing flat. Protect the bottom of your clothing by inserting cardboard between the top and bottom layers.
- Pour peroxide over the stained area. Make sure it is saturated.
- Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the saturated area.
- Add a few drops of Dawn dish detergent on top of the baking soda.
- Mix it all together using your fingers until it forms a paste.
- Spread it evenly over the stain.
- Use the brush to work the paste into the fabric to penetrate the stain.
- Let the mixture sit on the fabric for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours for tough stains).
- Remove the cardboard insert.
- Rinse with warm water, then wash as usual in the laundry.
- Ensure the stain is fully gone before drying, as heat can set any remaining residue (as I learned the hard way).
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Tips for Best Results
- Test the paste on a hidden area first, especially for colored fabrics to ensure it doesn’t damage the fabric.
- Repeat the process if necessary for deeply set stains.
- This homemade stain remover works well on food, sweat, and oil-based stains.
This is a really easy way to remove set-in grease stains from clothing. Try it and see how it works for you!