As we cook in the kitchen, we can’t avoid the possibility of having splatters or blots of oil touching our clothing. And this problem occurs, even while we’re on aprons and mittens. Plus, knowing that cooking oil stains can be a bother to take out shakes our minds. But the luck is some household hacks can be applied to remove oil stains from clothing of all types.
Important Notes to Consider Beforehand
Before choosing any of these solutions for your clothing, it is imperative to note a few warnings. Failure to do this may damage your clothing or cause them to fade or bleach.
- Always check the tag of fabrics, and wash the material per its tag instructions.
- You may need to try most of the processes repeatedly before the stains are entirely removed. And if they aren’t, take the fabrics to the dry cleaners.
- If the oil stains are fresh, blot some of them with paper towels first before removing them.
Removing Cooking Oil Stains from Clothes
You can remove oil stains from clothing in numerous ways. And below are some of the most effective methods;
With Baking Soda or Cornstarch and Dish Soap
First, dab the oil stain with a paper towel to remove the excess. Then, sprinkle a rich amount of baking soda over the stain and let it sit for 24 hours. Brush the baking soda off afterward, and add a mixture of vinegar-water solution. Then scrub the stain with some dishwasher soap and rinse off. Repeat the process until the stain vanishes.
Dish Soap
If the stain is fresh, you can use dish soap to remove the oil. First, place a piece of cardboard beneath the blob so it doesn’t transfer to the other part of the garment when you scrub off. Then, use a dry paper towel to blot the excess and apply some dish soap to the stain. Gently scrub with a toothbrush, and let the soap soak for five minutes. Repeat the process until the oil is ultimately out, and afterward, rinse off and wash as expected. This process is effective for set-in oil stains.
Vinegar
Add some vinegar to the oil stains after blotting the excess with paper towels. If the cloth is colored, combine the vinegar with some hot water so the color doesn’t bleach. Then, scrub the stain gently and repeat the process till it is removed. Once done, rinse and air-dry the cloth.
Vanish
Vanish works excellent for fresh oil stains as well. What you do is first blot out any excess oil with a paper towel. Then apply some Vanish gel to the blob and gently rub it in. Let the Vanish sit for ten minutes, then wash the cloth as usual.
WD40
Apply some WD-40 to the stain, making sure to touch it at the front and back. Then, let the lubricant sit for five minutes, after which you wash the cloth with a strong detergent and hot water. Do note that the WD-40 itself is an oil-based solvent, so you’ll need some water to get both it and the stain off. So, only use this option for fabrics washed in hot water and a strong detergent.
Powder
Pour some baby or talcum powder on the oil stain and press the coating down with your finger. Then, leave the powder to sit on the color for about 20 to 30 minutes. You’ll notice the oil soaks into the powder, and when this happens, scape the powder off. Repeat the process until the blob is wholly removed, and wash the fabric normally. This procedure works best for fresh stains on delicate clothing.
Chalk
This option is ideal for small dots of oil stain. First dab with paper towels to remove excess. Then, cover the spot with chalk and leave it for a few minutes so the oil is absorbed. Repeat the process until the stains are entirely removed. Then, wash the garment immediately and dry.
To find out more on how to get oil stains on clothes, watch this video.