Have you ever had a problem with oil stains such as food spills that do not come off easily after washing? We’ll show you how to remove oil stains with just a little effort from your regular washing routine. It is very eco-friendly and convenient if you can remove oil stains with something that is common in ordinary households.
I want to remove stubborn oil stains
Stubborn oil stains that stick to clothing are difficult to remove with normal washing methods. We will introduce you to the oil stains you want to remove, the type of oil and the washing method that suits the material.
Type of oil stain
food oil
Stains from edible oils such as salad oil and olive oil, and oil from meat and fish are a constant problem for mothers with small children. Children’s spilled food mixes with food stains and sauce stains to create complex stains that are even more difficult to remove.
oil in cosmetics
Cosmetics contain oils as ingredients that make the skin feel better and moisturize. In addition, jojoba oil, camellia oil, petroleum jelly, etc. are used as they are to make hair and skin shiny and moisturizing, but if they get on clothes, they will become oil stains that are difficult to remove.
sebum
Sebum is literally “fat”. Sebum from the body sticks to clothing such as underwear, and what cannot be removed by washing every time causes stains, yellowing, and darkening. In addition, sebum is the cause of the smell that remains in the laundry. Sebum does not smell immediately after it is secreted, but over time it oxidizes and becomes an unpleasant odor.
Dirt such as machine oil
Oil stains such as machine oil that get on work clothes and clothing during bicycle maintenance and DIY are very difficult to remove. It cannot be removed just by washing normally, and other dirt accumulates and becomes more and more difficult to remove. It looks dirty overall and does not look clean even after washing.
On the next page, we’ll show you how to choose a grease stain using what you have in your kitchen.
Washing method to remove oil stains ① Use what is in the kitchen
Let’s remove stubborn oil stains with familiar things in the kitchen. If you can quickly deal with the items in the kitchen that you go in and out on a daily basis, stains such as food spills and sebum stains will be easier to remove.
with hot water
Animal fats and oils such as butter and lard have a relatively high melting temperature, so they are solid at room temperature (15°C) and become liquid at a temperature that is slightly warm to lukewarm. Food spills that stick to clothes are mostly animal fats and oils, so if it hasn’t been for a long time, you may be able to remove them with just hot water. This principle is the reason why dishes with oil stains can be cleaned with hot water.
How to remove with hot water
- Prepare hot water that is slightly hot to the touch.
- Soak the oil-stained area in hot water and wash it.
- When the dirt comes to the surface, put it in the washing machine and wash it normally.
with neutral detergent
Neutral detergent for washing dishes has the power to remove oil stains on dishes, so of course it is possible to remove oil stains on cloth. If you get oil stains, you can drop the dish washing detergent directly and the dirt will come up.
How to remove with neutral detergent for tableware
- Place the stained area on a towel or cloth that you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Drop a neutral detergent for dishes on the stained part and let it blend.
- Pat the stained area with another towel or cloth that you don’t mind getting dirty, and transfer the stain to the towel below. (If it can be washed with water, it is OK to rub the dirty part and wash it with water.)
- Put it in the washing machine and wash it normally.
with baking soda
Versatile baking soda that can be used as baking powder in cooking or to remove burnt deposits from pans. Baking soda is weakly alkaline, so it can be used to neutralize acidic oils and sebum and remove oil stains. Baking soda can also be expected to have a deodorizing effect, so it is worth trying to remove sebum stains that have been smelling for a long time.
How to remove with baking soda
- Add a little water to baking soda to make a baking soda paste. (If possible, adding a mild dishwashing detergent will increase the effect.)
- Apply the baking soda paste to the greasy area and let it absorb. (If it is very dirty, you can scrub it with a brush, etc.)
- Soak the stained part in a bucket filled with water for about 30 minutes so that it can be firmly attached to the cloth.
- Put it in the washing machine and wash it normally.
Washing method to remove oil stains ② Use what is in the bath
Let’s remove oil stains with things in the bathroom. If you can put it on while you are in the bath, you can use your time effectively, and you can also use hot water, so you can expect a synergistic effect.
shampoo or body soap
Shampoos and other items used in the bath are usually used on the hair and body, so they remove protein stains and sebum stains, and are gentle on the skin. Therefore, it can handle complex stains that are a mixture of oil stains such as food spills and protein stains. It’s okay to use a shampoo that doesn’t fit your skin and can’t be used.
How to remove with shampoo, etc.
- Wet the oil-stained part with a little warm water and wash it with shampoo.
- If the dirt comes to the surface, lightly rinse it off.
- Put it in the washing machine and wash it normally.
with cleansing
Cleansing oil for removing cosmetics can also remove oil stains. Since it removes oily cosmetics, it is also effective for oil stains such as sebum stains. Since it is used on the skin, it works gently.
How to drop by cleansing
- Wet the oil-stained area with a little warm water. (This work is not necessary if wet hands are not allowed.)
- Apply the cleanser to the stained area.
- Remove dirt by rubbing or scrubbing with a brush.
- Rinse with hot water and put in the washing machine for normal laundry.
On the next page, we’ll show you how to remove grease from your clothes with your regular laundry detergent.
Read Also: Cleaning the kitchen walls! How to remove stickiness from tiles and panels?
Washing method to remove oil stains ③ Use the usual laundry detergent
Even the laundry detergent you use every day can effectively remove stubborn oil stains with a little ingenuity. Let’s take a look at how to clean oil stains with your usual detergent.
Let the undiluted solution soak in
Even the laundry detergent you use all the time will be more effective if you use the undiluted solution. However, instead of putting more detergent in the washing machine than usual, apply it directly to the dirty area before putting it in the washing machine. By doing so, it is possible to directly work the effect of the detergent on the dirt.
How to remove oil stains using laundry detergent
- Apply the undiluted solution of laundry detergent to the oil stains and rub it in a little.
- If dirt floats, rinse lightly with hot water (around 40°C).
- Put it in the washing machine and wash it normally.
bar soap for laundry
A bar soap for laundry that is very useful for removing dirt from children’s tops and socks. It is no exaggeration to say that every household with growing children has one. Laundry bar soap is weakly alkaline, and is highly effective against sebum such as collars, oily stains such as cosmetics, and food spills.
How to wash with solid laundry soap
- Wet the dirty part with water or hot water.
- Rub soap into the skin and lather it up.
- Fill the bucket with water or hot water and soak it to float the dirt.
- Put it in the washing machine and wash it normally.
Precautions when removing oil stains
We have introduced how to remove oil stains, but there are some points to be aware of when actually doing laundry. Take care of them and wash them.
Pay attention to washing instructions on clothes
Before you start washing, check the washing label on your clothes. Even if it looks easy to wash, it may be vulnerable to high temperatures or the material cannot be washed with water. In addition, delicate materials and materials that easily stand up may be damaged by rubbing with a brush.
Check detergent ingredients
If you use undiluted laundry detergent, make sure it doesn’t contain fluorescent or bleaching agents. Detergents containing fluorescent agents or bleaching agents are too strong and may cause discoloration or bleaching of the applied area. Also, depending on the material, there is a possibility that it will change in quality, so please be careful and try it on an invisible part.
Be careful with the temperature of the water
Be careful not to burn yourself when using hot water for washing. Also, although it seems that hot water removes stains better, in the case of food spills that are mixed with oil stains and protein stains, the hot water solidifies and remains, so they cannot be completely removed.
Beware of rough hands
When using hot water or detergent, wear rubber gloves or disposable gloves if possible. Hot water and detergents can cause rough hands because they remove not only dirt but also sebum from your hands. Be especially careful if you have sensitive skin. After washing, moisturize with hand cream or oil.
summary
I’ve seen how to remove oil stains from clothes. There are differences in how dirt comes off, depending on the composition of the dirt, the amount of time it takes after the dirt is attached, and the material of the clothes. Depending on the conditions, the color of the clothes may fade, so please be careful when trying it.