Tips on Oil & Grease Stain Removal

How to Remove Oily, Greasy Food Stains

Stains caused by food are a normal part of everyday life. How many times have you gone out for pizza or spaghetti only to drop some on your clothing? Most often, the worst is feared – the clothing item or linen is permanently ruined.

Good news – there are many excellent oil stain removal tips that work exceptionally well and best of all, many times using products you already have around the home.

When removing greasy oil stains from clothing, the key is to eliminating the stain is to treat it as soon as possible. The quicker the stain gets attention the better the outcome. With so many pre-treat products on the market, you can apply the treatment and let it set for a while before you begin any of the mentioned options below. The following are tips for oil stain removal:

• Start by applying some type of absorbent, such as cornstarch, baby powder, salt, or talcum powder. Allow it to sit on the oil stain for one to two minutes and then gently brush it off. For smaller stains, this will work on the first try but if the stain is large or deeply set, continue by placing the stained area of the garment facedown on a clean paper towel. Then, gently blot the back of the stain using a dry-cleaning solvent, which can be purchased at most retail and grocery stores. If necessary, replace the paper towel. Next, spray the grease stain with a pre-treatment product and wash using the hottest water possible. Finally, rather than tossing the garment in the dryer, allow it to air dry.
• Try Dawn dish soap, which is designed specifically for oil and grease. Simply apply several drops to the stain and let it stand for a few minutes. Next, use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the stain. Wash according to the garment’s laundering instructions.
• Lighter fluid also works but make sure it is not butane. Drop the fluid directly onto the stain, letting it stand for one minute. Then, fill a sink with soap water using Dawn or Sunlight dish soap. After soaking for abut five minutes, wash the garment out by hand. Rinse in warm water and if necessary, repeat.

Oil and Grease Stain Removal for Carpets

If you have little children in the home or someone that works on cars, you can be sure at one time or another, you will be faced with cleaning an oil stain from your carpet. This type of stain can also be removed if the right process and product is used. Just as with clothing, the key to oil stain removal for carpeting is quick action. Below, we have provided you with some great solutions that will save you from buying new carpeting.

• For small oil stains, use a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a clean, white paper towel to blot at the stain. Make sure you never rub and work the stain from the outer edge toward the center.
• For larger oil stains, we recommend you purchase a dry-cleaning solvent. Again, moisten a clean cloth or paper towel, blotting at the stain from the outside in. You may find that you have to repeat this process several times over the following days or even weeks. If the stain persists, then you should consult with a professional carpet cleaner.

Eliminate Oil Stains from Concrete

Oil leaks in the garage or carport are common. If you have a car that leaks oil or someone has visited your home with a leaky car, there are a number of excellent options for getting those unsightly oil stains up. The following are some tips for oil stain removal to get oil or grease out of your driveway.

• First, spread kitty litter or sawdust onto the oil stain to absorb any excess, allowing it to sit for a day or two. Then, sweep up the dirty litter or sawdust gently. Next, pour dry cement on top of the oil stain, again letting it stand for a day or two, followed by sweeping it up.
• You can also use oven cleaner on your oil stain. For this step of oil stain removal, spray the stain with the cleaner and then let it stand for a couple hours. Using a clean, damp cloth, wipe it up. If the stain is extra stubborn, spray it with the over cleaner, cover it with plastic, and then tape it down overnight before wiping it up.

Although oil stains tend to be a little stubborn, with the correct product, remedy, and method, you can easily remove just about any stain. Therefore, whether clothing, carpeting, tile, concrete, and so on, using the process for best oil stain removal appropriate to the stain is all it takes. Remember that if you find clothing, linen, furniture, carpeting, or something else with an oil stain do not give up. With perseverance, the right product, and the right technique, grit and oil stains can be removed. Therefore, consider where the stain came from (food versus car) and then follow the simple rules for elimination. Unfortunately, there are times when an oil stain will simply not come up but in most cases, they will.