{"id":20287,"date":"2022-05-12T23:39:17","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T23:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/?p=20287"},"modified":"2024-08-05T17:56:04","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T17:56:04","slug":"how-to-get-oil-stains-out-of-clothes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/live-cleaner\/how-to-get-oil-stains-out-of-clothes\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Oil Stains Out of Clothes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While most stains come out in the wash, you might not know how to get oil and grease stains out of your clothes. These unfortunate stains can turn your favorite outfit into an unwearable mess.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step one to removing oil stains from clothes is having a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/laundry\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">plant powered laundry detergent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> made with enzymes and a our formula is 100% vegan formula, like our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/laundry\/hypoallergenic-laundry-detergent-with-enzymes-magnolia-lily\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so you can do your final wash after the stain is pre-treated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oil stains are challenging, but we\u2019re here to help make this difficult job a little easier. We\u2019ll share some of our best stain-fighting \u201crecipes\u201d and tips, even using the power of the sun to fight stubborn stains. Read on to discover how to get rid of oil stains on clothes and breathe new life into the garments you thought were destined for the donation pile.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Oil Stain Solution to Save Your Fabrics<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chances are, your grandmother or a well-meaning neighbor has recommended a DIY oil stain removal method they swear by. However, because of their unpredictable results, these are usually unreliable at best\u2014and damaging at worst when it comes to removing grease stains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s why we recommend sticking with solutions designed exactly for this purpose, like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/laundry\/oxobrite-multi-purpose-stain-remover-free-clear\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ECOS OxoBrite Multi-Purpose Stain Remover<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter what stain removal process you choose, it\u2019s also essential that you get to work on that stain as soon as possible. A stubborn oil stain that\u2019s been sitting is always harder to get out. Also, know the type of fabric that you\u2019re trying to treat, and be sure that any products you use on it are designed for the fabric type. Delicate fabrics like silk and wool may need professional cleaning when you need to remove stains.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all that said, we\u2019re here to help you rescue your wardrobe (and yourself) from oil stain distress. With the right products, it\u2019s probably easier than you think.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 1: Preclean<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the heat of the moment, you may be tempted to set aside the soiled item and worry about it later, or simply throw it in the washing machine and hope for the best. However, nailing the timing is crucial when it comes to getting oil stains out of your clothes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the initial oil stain happens, you might think it\u2019s all said and done. However, excess oil can linger on top of fabrics and continue to sink in slowly, which means you might end up with a much larger problem than you had at first. That\u2019s why eliminating a stubborn stain will be <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">far<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more effective if you first remove any oil still lingering around the tough<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To preclean the oil stain, start with these steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Place a piece of paper or cardboard under the stained area and the rest of the clothing to keep the oil from bleeding through.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a damp towel to carefully dab the area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do your best not to spread the oil around or push it deeper into the fabric.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Step 2: Mix Your Stain-Fighting Recipe<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve dabbed away any excess oil, don\u2019t despair if the spot\u2019s still there. We\u2019re about to get to the most important part: preparing the solution to save your fabric.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key to fighting tough oil and grease stains is to combine lipase enzymes. These break up lipid molecules, aka oil, to make them smaller and easier for detergents to remove. You also want a solution with minerals, which provide the gentle friction needed to lift stains away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re wondering if you should have paid more attention in chemistry class, don\u2019t worry\u2014the next steps are actually fairly simple.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What you\u2019ll need:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 oz <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/laundry\/hypoallergenic-laundry-detergent-free-clear\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00bd scoop of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/laundry\/oxobrite-multi-purpose-stain-remover-free-clear\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ECOS OxoBrite<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a mineral-based multipurpose stain remover<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The recipe: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a small bowl, mix your ingredients together to create a paste. That\u2019s it!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img data-opt-id=171081179  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-20295\" src=\"https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:640\/h:534\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/oxo.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:640\/h:534\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/oxo.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:1024\/h:854\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/oxo.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:768\/h:640\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/oxo.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:1294\/h:1080\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/oxo.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:14\/h:12\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/oxo.jpeg 14w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:1295\/h:1080\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/oxo.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 3: Treat the Stain<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With your oil stain solution in hand, the next step is to lay out your soiled clothing on a clean surface and get to work. Follow these steps for effective stain removal:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Apply the paste <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Dab the paste onto the stain, enough to completely cover it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rub the stain<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 With an old, soft toothbrush or dry towel, gently rub the mix into the stain. By working the paste directly into the stain, you can more effectively lift and remove the oils. Feel free to add more paste if necessary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Let it sink in<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Let the paste sit on the stain for 15\u201320 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rinse and repeat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Rinse the fabric with cool water. If the stain is still visible, you can repeat the process as needed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 4: Wash Normally<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the stain is no longer visible, simply add the garment to the rest of your laundry and run a normal wash cycle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People often think that hot water will help in situations like this, but the truth is, there\u2019s no need to use hot or even warm water\u2014as long as you\u2019re using a detergent like ECOS that works in all water temperatures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hot water accounts for about 90 percent of the energy needed to run a washer, so cold water washing is better for your fabric and better for the environment, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Avoid Conventional Stain Removers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might need some quick thinking and a bit of know-how to fix an oil stain, but the last thing you need is to give yourself additional problems in the process. That\u2019s why we recommend steering clear of conventional cleaning products, and stain removers in particular. Many of these contain bleach and other harsh chemicals that are dangerous for your health and the health of the planet. Plus, they\u2019re hard on garments too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Health concerns <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Many conventional stain removers contain ingredients like ammonium lauryl sulfate sodium borate, and methylisothiazolinone, chemicals that can be corrosive to your skin and eyes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Environmental concerns<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Others use aerosol sprays and chemicals like disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulfonate and \u200b\u200bchlorine bleach, which can be toxic for our ecosystems.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Damage to clothing <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Still others contain harmful chemicals like chlorine bleach, which are not only toxic to people and animals but also can damage your clothing beyond repair.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Use Sun-Powered Stain Removal<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your clothes are clean, fresh, and oil-free, it\u2019s finally time for their day in the sun. Literally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After adequately pretreating, laundering, and rinsing your stained garment, the best place to let it dry is in direct sunlight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The major benefits of drying a stained garment in the sun include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>UV rays<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 The ultraviolet rays of the sun work to break down chemical bonds, causing a natural bleaching process. But don\u2019t let that shirt sit <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">too <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">long\u2014because while this can be helpful to fade some stains, long-term exposure can also lead to the overall fading of a garment\u2019s color.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>It\u2019s safe for another attempt<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 While an electric or gas dryer may set in stains that haven\u2019t been completely removed, line drying does not. If your stain remains after the piece of clothing has air dried, consider giving pre-treatment another shot.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The benefits of sun-powered stain removal aren\u2019t to be overlooked. Plus, you\u2019ll be conserving energy by avoiding the dryer, saving you money on utilities and making a positive contribution to the planet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img data-opt-id=1508250704  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-20296\" src=\"https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:640\/h:426\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/outside.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:640\/h:426\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/outside.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:1024\/h:682\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/outside.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:768\/h:512\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/outside.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:1536\/h:1023\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/outside.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:18\/h:12\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/outside.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:1600\/h:1066\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/outside.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Preventing Oil Stains Before They Happen<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To prevent further stains in the future, keep an eye out for foods, objects, and products that might catch you by surprise, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cooking spray<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Butter and margarine<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oil-based hair care products<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oil-based skincare products<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Makeup<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Machinery<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gasoline<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also avoid clothing-related heartbreak by ensuring you check your pockets before you toss items into the wash. Many favorite t-shirts have perished to those dark spots of oil simply because we forgot to take that cherry lip balm out of our sweatpants pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, oil stain accidents happen\u2014and now that you\u2019re armed with our guide on how to handle them, you should feel free to continue enjoying all that basil-tomato-mozzarella goodness, with plenty of olive oil. When you\u2019re gearing up to treat yourself with an oil-based hair mask or change the car\u2019s motor oil, however, it always helps to wear an apron.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Save Yourself From Oil Stains With ECOS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tough stains can be a pain, but few things are more satisfying than seeing the oily stain fade and your favorite piece of clothing come back to life. With these tips, you should be well-prepared to contend with the worst that oil has to offer, but if you\u2019re ready for the easy solution, look no further than ECOS. Equally important to oil stain care is knowing how to properly care for and wash your clothes on a regular basis. Whether it\u2019s learning how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/live-cleaner\/4-tips-on-how-to-wash-white-clothes\/\">wash white clothes<\/a> to preserve that bright white color, or how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/live-cleaner\/a-guide-on-how-to-wash-colored-clothes\/\">wash colored clothes<\/a> to keep those vibrant hues, we have the tips and resources to help you through it all. Knowing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/live-cleaner\/how-to-separate-laundry-and-other-secrets-to-laundry-success\/\">how to separate laundry<\/a> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can also be extremely beneficial to your laundry routine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our laundry detergents and stain removers are sure to stop oil stains where they start. Explore our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">safer, sustainable cleaning products<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn more.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While most stains come out in the wash, you might not know how to get oil and grease stains out of your clothes. These unfortunate stains can turn your favorite outfit into an unwearable mess.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":20292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20287"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25700,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20287\/revisions\/25700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}