How To Get Oil Stains Out Of Clothing

Written by Saumya Gaur  • 

Have you seen the popular ad of the detergent that claims that “daag acchhe hai” (stains are good)? Well, we certainly beg to differ. Amongst the various types of pesky stains (in our humble opinion, they are all a nuisance) that threaten to cut short the life of our precious clothes, the ones that are especially dangerous are the oil stains. These pesky stains are very stubborn, and often times it’s quite tricky to get rid of them. It’s a different matter altogether that they are quite unsightly as well.

If you have ever lost a valued dress or top to these pesky stains, then you know what we are talking about. Be it hair oil that you accidentally spilled on yourself or the greasy burger that left its tell-tale mark on your favorite shirt, oil or grease stains often signal the time of death for their poor sartorial victims. If you are caught in a similar predicament, then don’t worry, for we have come up with a fool-proof way of rescuing your precious apparel from the grimy clutches of oil stains.

Here’s your five-step oil removal guide. Follow it to get rid of those hard-to-get-rid-of oil stains.

1. Act Fast, Don’t Let The Stain Sit For A Long Period Of Time

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As is the case of all stubborn stains, time is of the essence when it comes to washing off an oil stain. You need to act as soon as you notice the stain. Once you notice it, you should try to contain the damage as much as possible. Remove the excess butter by either scraping it off by using a spoon or knife or blot it using tissues or paper towels. Take care so as to not spread it around.

2. Next, Treat The Stain With Soap

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After you’ve removed the excess oil, take the garment and lay it out on a flat surface. Now, pour ample amount of laundry detergent (preferably liquid) on the stain. The soap should be enough to completely soak the stain. Since we are dealing with an oil stain use something that is specifically meant to fight grease.

3. Now, Add Water

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As you all know that soap and water don’t mix together, use hot water for this step. After you have allowed the stain to soak in the soap for about ten minutes, use hot water to rinse out the stain. Take care that the soap doesn’t dry while you let it soak the stain. The hotter the water the better it is, but take care that it doesn’t spoil the fabric or the color of the clothes. Just to be sure, read the instructions for the maintenance of the clothing before following this step.

4. Inspect Your Handiwork

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Since you have already done the work that required you to put in some serious elbow grease, now is the time to inspect your handiwork. Check if the oil has been completely removed from the fabric before hanging the apparel to air dry. In case it hasn’t, then you should repeat step 1 and 2 again till the oil has been removed. However, you shouldn’t use the dryer to dry the cloth as heat can cause the remnants of the oil to stain the cloth beyond repair.

5. Consult A Professional

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In case the steps mentioned above failed to clean the stains, it might be time to consult a professional. Though it might cost you a pretty penny, it can certainly remove the stain with minimum damage to the article of clothing. This is the best way to go if the article of clothing in question is made of delicate or expensive fabric. Once the stain is removed, you can wash it the usual way. However, be careful and follow the care instructions provided.

This is the most basic method which should be able to get you the desired result. If these steps don’t get you the desired result, you can try some other hacks. For instance, you can tweak step one and use baby powder to blot away the excess oil before scraping it off, the rest of the steps can be followed as is.

You can also use shampoo in place of the laundry detergent. Since shampoos are designed to work with body oils, it is quite possible they can help you here as well. Alternatively, you can also use the dishwashing detergent because it is also meant to fight grease and oil.

You can also try pre-soaking the garment in a mixture of vinegar and water (one part vinegar, two parts water) before using the soap to remove the stain. However, since vinegar is alkaline in nature, take care to not use it along with any soap.

These hacks can help you tackle even the most stubborn oil stains. Do you know any other home remedies to remove oil stains from clothing? Share them with us in the comments section.

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