5 Tricks How to Remove Oil Stains from Clothes

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The best thing about being a mom is that you always have a chance to be the hero. You can swoop in and save your child from certain doom, even if it’s just an oil stain on their shirt. If only every problem could be solved so easily.

But wait! It can! Here’s how to remove oil stains from clothes without ruining them or making things worse.

Table of Contents

How to Remove Oil Stains from Clothes

Get Rid Oil Stain with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar have been magic ingredients for centuries for cleaning. In fact, you can use these two ingredients for almost any cleaning task and that includes oil stain.

Step by Step:

Using a clean white cloth or paper towel, wipe up the excess oil.
Baking soda should be sprinkled over the stain and left to sit for 24 hours. Remove the baking soda with a vacuum or brush.
Combine vinegar and water in a spray bottle in a 1:1 solution. Then spritz to the stained area.
Prepare a solution of soapy water while this soaks. Use an old toothbrush to apply this solution to the stain.
Then rinse with water.
Repeat if necessary until the stain is removed.

You may also want to check: 10 Ways on How to Clean Carpet Stains

Remove Oil Stain with Baby Powder and Dish Soap

It is possible to remove the oil stain completely from your clothes with baby powder. In our household, dish soap is the main ingredient for removing oil stains. Capable of removing oil from cookware and absolutely can remove oil from clothes!

Step by Step:

Cover the oil stain with talcum or baby powder.
Scatter the powder with your finger to fully cover the stain.
Leave the cloth for a couple hours and let the talcum or baby powder absorb the oil.
Using a toothbrush, wash the cloth with dishwashing liquid.
Repeat the process until the stain is completely removed.
Then dry the cloth.

Take Out Oil Stain with Paint Thinner

For motor oil or grease, paint thinner is a great solution. So grab some mineral spirit, otherwise known as paint thinner, and get to work.

Step by Step:

Use a cloth or paper towel to wipe away excess oil. To avoid transferring the oil to other parts of the garment, you should keep using a fresh cloth or towel. Do this until no more oil is transferred to your cloth.
Under the stained garment, place a paper towel. It will catch oil and protect the garment.
Apply paint thinner to a toothbrush and gently brush the stain, using the bristles to massage the liquid into the fibers. Continually change the paper towel to a clean spot.
Repeat this process until it is mostly gone.
Using a paper towel or cloth, blot the excess moisture from the garment.
Put hot water into a cup. Use a toothbrush to apply it to the affected area.
Put a little dish soap on the area as well. Use your toothbrush to scrub it well. It will remove any remaining grease.
Make sure that the area is thoroughly rinsed with warm water afterwards.
Wash normally using your washing machine.
The garment should only be dried if it no longer contains oil.

Remove Oil Stain by Chalk

Chalk can be used instead of baking soda if you don’t have any nearby. This will work the same way as baking soda by absorbing the oil. Small fresh stains are best treated with this method rather than larger ones or set-in stains.

Use a clean paper towel or cloth to blot up the excess oil.
Make sure to fully cover the affected area with chalk.
Leave it for a couple of minutes to absorb the oil.
Then wash the garment and brush it off quickly.

Remove Oil Stain using Oxygen Bleach

Oxygen bleach is a great way to remove all sorts of stains, including those pesky oil stains from clothes. You can even find color-safe oxygen bleaches for your favorite bold clothes and set them in an old-fashioned way with this method!

Step by Step:

To make the fabric damp, rinse it.
With just the right amount of oxygen bleach, put it in a wash cycle.
Leave the fabric soak in the oxygen bleach for an hour and let the machine fill up slightly.
Check the care label for the allowable temperature, then wash on the warmest.
You can repeat the process until the stain is gone. Then let it air dry.

How to Remove Old Oil Stain from Clothes

Here’s one method that you should try if you are having a hard time getting out the oil from clothes:

Take a piece of cardboard and lay it out. Place the garment over it. It will act as a surface protector.
In a shallow bowl, spray WD-40.
WD-40 should be applied with a q-tip to the oil stain. Be careful not to apply too much. Gently dab it on.
Then sprinkle baking soda over the stain.
Apply baking soda evenly with a toothbrush to ensure it is covering the stain well. You need to do this until the baking soda becomes clumpy or forms a paste. That means it has absorbed the WD-40. Remove any excess baking soda.
Add more baking soda to the stains. Continue to brush until clumps form. This time they will be smaller.
Baking soda must be shaken off and repeated several times until no clumps are formed when brushing baking soda into the fabric.
Apply a little dish soap or liquid laundry detergent directly to the stain. Rub the detergent into the fabric with a toothbrush.
Leave it on for at least 30 minutes, but you can leave it on overnight. Then wash as normal.
Check and if there’s no stain already, just dry as normal.

FAQs

Are oil stains permanent?

Oil stains can be hard to remove, and the longer they are left to sit, the harder they will become to remove. In the event that it’s left too long unattended, it may become permanently set.

Does Coca-Cola (Coke) remove grease stains from clothes?

The phosphoric acid content in the coke makes it grease-bustling too. You just need to pour it in with your laundry along with the detergent and run a wash cycle. For tougher stains, apply the coke directly to it and let it soak for about 30 minutes before putting it in your washing machine.

What is the best oil stain remover for clothes?

There are lots of stain removers on the market like OxiClean. But what we recommend though for oil stain is Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover. It works on oil, grease, paint, make-up, grass, clay, ink, blood, baby food, tar, coffee, rust, betadine, pet stains, fabric bleed, almost any stains! And it is versatile. Use on all fabrics, carpet, rugs, pet bedding, even leather.