How To Remove Oil Stains From Clothes

  • Amrita Singh
  • June 30, 2023
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How to remove oil stains from clothes
How to remove oil stains from clothes

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Oil stains have a knack for appearing on clothes from anywhere. Whether you’ve accidentally dropped oily food or poured a few drops of hair oil on your clothes, the oil stains can definitely leave you in distress. While you can’t prevent these stubborn stains, you can definitely remove oil stains from clothes by reading this article.

So, if you’ve discarded a garment because of a stubborn old oil stain, don’t worry. Your clothing will be stain free again by using any of the 4 methods explained ahead in this article:

4 Ways To Remove Oil Stains From Clothes

Here are the 4 ways to remove oil stains from clothes that we will explain in this article: 

  • Removing oil stains from clothes using baby powder/ talcum powder
  • Removing oil stains from clothes using commercial stain remover.
  • Removing oil stains using baking soda and vinegar
  • Removing oil stains from clothes using soap and detergent

Remove Oil Stains From Clothes Using Baby Powder/ Talcum Powder

How to remove oil stains from clothes using talcum powder or baby powder
Removing oil stain with baby powder
Removing oil stains from clothes with baby powder or any white talcum powder works well when the stain is fresh. Let's see how we can use it.

  • Step 1: Blot away any excess grease or oil with a paper towel. Try to get as much oil away from the clothing as possible before you move on to the next step.

  • Step 2: Cover oil stain generously with baby powder. You can use generic baby powder or any general talcum powder available at home.

  • Step 3: Remove the powder from the clothing with a paper towel or spoon. Do this carefully, avoiding any spillage on the other parts of the clothing.

    Click here to find the most suitable detergent. 

  • Step 4: Pour 2-3 drops of hand dishwashing detergent and water into the stain with your thumb. You can increase the quantity if the stain is spread onto a larger area.

  • Step 5: Once the detergent begins to foam up, take an old toothbrush and begin rubbing the stain using circular motions.

  • Step 6: If the stain is still visible you should try a commercial stain remover.

Remove Oil Stains From Clothes Using A Commercial Stain Remover

How to remove oil stain using commercial stain remover
Removing oil stain using a commercial stain remover
Purchase any commercial stain remover such as Vanish to remove oil stains from clothes. Generally, all of them have a usage instruction guide, you can use it as follows too

  • Step 1: Use a stain remover such as Vanish to remove oil stains from clothes. Spray the spot remover on the stained area.

    Check out some effective stain removers.

  • Step 2: Scrub the stain remover with a toothbrush gently in circular motion for 2-3 minutes.

  • Step 3: Place your garment in a tub or any other clean, flat surface.

  • Step 4: Boil water and pour it carefully on the oil stains.

    Caution: In case the fabric is delicate or it is not recommended to use hot water on it, you can use lukewarm water. 

  • Step 5: Try to lift up the pot of water as high as possible. This method works for two reasons: 1) Hot water helps in breaking the oil bonds. 2)The higher up the water is when you pour it, the more forcefully it will hit the clothing.

    Caution: Be careful! Try to avoid any splatter that might come back and you may burn yourself.

  • Step 6: Repeat the steps for each area of oil. Turn the garment inside out and treat the stain with another round of spot remover/boiling water if the method doesn't work the first time.

  • Step 7: Wash the garment, alone, with laundry detergent. Follow the washing instructions on the garment care label while washing.

  • Step 8: Let the garment air-dry. Hang it using a hanger in a clean, dust-free area.

    Check out which method is best for drying clothes - using a dry machine v/s line drying.

Remove Oil Stains From Clothes Using Baking Soda And Vinegar

How to remove oil stains using baking soda and vinegar - An oil stained garment
Removing oil stains using baking soda and vinegar
This method will work only if the stain is still fresh. Here is what you need to do with baking soda, distilled white vinegar (a mixture of ½ cup water and ½ cup vinegar) and detergent:

  • Step 1: Place the garment on a clean flat surface.

  • Step 2: Sprinkle baking soda all over the stain. The quantity should be enough to cover the stain entirely.

  • Step 3: Leave, the garment for 24 hours or at least overnight. This will allow baking soda to soak the oil.

  • Step 4: Scrap away the baking soda residue using a toothbrush.

    Also read: 5 Uses of baking soda in laundry that you must know

  • Step 5: Then sprinkle the mixture of vinegar and water on the stained area generously.

    Make sure the stain is completely soaked in vinegar, it will get removed gradually.

    Also read: Top 4 uses of vinegar in laundry.

    In case it still persists, you can try to remove oil stains from clothes using a detergent or soap bar. 

Can’t identify the type of fabric to pick a stain remover?

Approach Experts

Remove Oil Stains From Clothes Using Soap Or Detergent

How to remove oil stains using soap and detergent - An oil stained garment
Removing oil stains using soap and detergent
You can use bar soap like Rin bar, Ariel bar, etc., or any mild detergent available at home such as Surf excel, Ariel, Rin, Wheel, etc.

  • Step 1: Cover the entire oil stain with liquid dish detergent. If you are using a soap then dampen it with water, then rub the bar onto the stain until sufficient soap has transferred to foam up amply.

  • Step 2: Take a clothes brush and rub the stain gently in a circular motion. If the fabric is too delicate like silk, or satin or the stained area contains lace, embellishments etc. you should rub the stained area gently with your hands. Keep rubbing for 2-3 minutes or until the stain lightens.

  • Step 3: Leave the garment as it is for 15-20 minutes. This will let the soap or detergent get soaked into the fabric.

  • Step 4: Rinse away the soap using cool water. If you see soapy water dripping from the garment, rinse it again. Keep rinsing until there is no soapy residue left in the garment. In case the stain is still visible repeat the process.

  • Step 5: Once you remove oil stains from clothes, let them air dry.

    We always recommend air-drying clothes after stain removal, click here to know why air drying is better for your clothes. 

Pro tip: In case the stain is too tough, you can let hydrogen peroxide soak into a stain overnight. The longer hydrogen peroxide stays on a stain the better it works. Repeat the process listed above the next day.

Don’t have to time to remove stains at home? 

Try Tumbledry

These were 4 tried and tested ways to remove oil stains from clothes. Just in case the stain persists even after trying all these methods, you will need to get a dry cleaning service. Generally, it happens when the stain is too old or the garment is too delicate to be washed at home. 

Don’t worry, you can send such heavily stained garments to Tumbledry.

To know more about stain removal, laundry and dry cleaning, keep visiting Tumbledry. We post regularly on these topics. 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not necessarily purport to reflect the values or views of Tumbledry.

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