If you’re wondering how to remove oil stains from clothing, think about what teenagers typically do when their faces get oily. When I was younger, I had pimples due to excess oil. So, about three or four times a day, I’d apply talcum or baby powder to eliminate the shine. Nothing like talc to make your face look normal again!
You can use the same tip for removing oil stains from clothing. Simply sprinkle some powder on the stain and gently work it into the fabric using a toothbrush. You might notice powder granules as you work, which is a sign that you can add more powder to absorb the oil. After this, the fabric is ready to be washed in hot or warm water.
If you don’t have any talcum powder, use cornstarch. It works just as well.
Additional Methods to Remove Oil Stains from Clothing
If you do your research, you’ll find at least five different methods for removing oil stains from clothing. And if you keep digging, you’ll find even more. Many people have become quite resourceful at removing various stains and are eager to share their tips. The abundance of tips means you can try one method, and if it doesn’t work, try another.
Removing oil stains from clothing shouldn’t worry you. According to others, oil stains are one of the easiest to deal with. Plus, you may not even need to call professional dry cleaners!
When we say “oil stain,” we’re referring to food, cosmetic, or lubricating oil. If the talcum powder and cornstarch method doesn’t work, try these and pick one that works best for you and your fabrics:
Tip #1: Laundry or dishwashing detergent (Dawn has been mentioned repeatedly). Squirt a small amount of detergent onto the stain and rub gently—use your fingertip or an old toothbrush. Then, wash the fabric in the machine.
Tip #2: Got any WD-40 in the garage? Apply a few drops on the stain, gently work it into the fabric (again, using your hand or an old toothbrush), and then launder as usual.
Tip #3: This one’s fun (or maybe a little strange). Pour a few drops of Coke (the soda, not the drug) on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Launder as usual.
Tip #4: And here’s the classic—shampoo! Someone mentioned that if it can remove oil from hair, it can certainly do the same for fabric.
Tip #5: Try Cheez Whiz? Apparently, someone swears by it. They didn’t explain why, but we did some detective work. It turns out, an author named Joey Green wrote a book called Clean Your Clothes with Cheez Whiz. He explains that this common household product contains natural enzymes that cut through grease. Take half a teaspoon of Cheez Whiz (or more if the stain is larger), apply it to the stain (not on your bread!), and wait 5-10 minutes before laundering. Simple, right?
In fact, Mr. Green claims that we have many products in our cupboards that not only serve culinary purposes but can also be used as cleaners. Here are a few others to try:
- Canada Dry Seltzer
- Morton’s salt
- Barbasol shaving cream
Since I began researching stain removal, I’ve been fascinated by why dishwashing detergent, especially Dawn, keeps coming up. And I received quite the surprise!
Remember the Exxon Valdez disaster when birds were covered in oil? They were all cleaned with Dawn! It was so effective in removing grease from the birds’ feathers that it’s been used again to wash oil-covered birds from the recent BP oil spill.
According to the writer, Dawn is effective and doesn’t harm human skin. Procter & Gamble manufactures Dawn, and the secret seems to lie in the balance of surfactants. Surfactants are chemicals that break down grease. The funny part? There’s a small amount of—get this—petroleum mixed into the formulation.
In her online article Why Dawn is the Bird Cleaner of Choice in Oil Spills, Elizabeth Shogren writes, “Nevill and the rest of the workers at the International Bird Rescue Research Center sound like walking commercials for Dawn. And that’s not new… Dawn spokeswoman Susan Baba says all the attention Dawn is receiving because of the spill helps get out the message that Dawn is a strong cleaner with a gentle touch… Veterinarian Nevill says she knows there are greener cleaners, but she says none of them have Dawn’s magic.”
There you have it! Now you know why Dawn is favored not only by bird cleaners but also by homemakers. Time to stock up on Dawn before the company sends truckloads of this wonder product to the Gulf of Mexico!
