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How to Get Oil Stains Out of Clothes

With the holiday season right around the corner, excitement builds for family time and some incredible meals. Whether it be a huge Thanksgiving feast or lavish Christmas dinner, the holiday season is often all about great food. 

As you work away in the kitchen to create fabulous holiday meals, it’s easy to stain your best clothes with oil and grease. Even more, stains from olive oil, vegetable oil, and animal fats can be quite challenging to remove. 

To help you on your way this holiday season, Charlie’s Soap put together this brief guide on getting oil stains out of clothes. 

Remove Excess Oil as Soon as Possible 

The safest bet for cleaning an oil stain is to take decisive action. 

To start with, lay the stained piece of clothing on a table and insulate the inside with a piece of cardboard. Placing cardboard between the front and back of the garment ensures that the oil stain won’t transfer to the other side. 

Next, blot the excess oil off your clothing with a piece of paper towel. You can also use a dull knife to scrape the oil away from the fabric in certain circumstances. 

Once you have physically removed as much oil as possible, it’s time to move on to the next step. 

 

Pre-Treat the Oil Stain with Charlie’s Soap   

At this point in the oil stain removal process, you will need to work with a pre-stain remover or liquid laundry detergent. 

Soak the oil stain in pre-stain remover or detergent and let it soak for 10 minutes. As the cleaner soaks in, it will break down the oil and weaken its bonds with the material. 

Pre-Stain Remover 

Charlie’s Soap Pre-Spray Stain Remover is an excellent option for cleaning oil stains. Please note, if you opt for this cleaner, you will not use any detergent in the pre-treatment phase. 

Liquid Laundry Detergent 

Charlie’s Soap Laundry Liquid Detergent is also a great choice for pre-treating oil stains. If you choose this route, you can circumvent the need for a pre-stain remover spray. 

Rinse Clothes and Run Through the Washing Machine  

After your clothes have soaked for the allotted amount of time (at least 30 minutes, less for natural wool or silk), you need to rinse excess detergent and oil from the fabric. To start with, hand dip the garment in warm water and agitate it slowly. Once you have rinsed the soap and oil, your clothing can be run through the washing machine. Feel free to repeat this step if you think it needs another shot.

To get the best results in your washer, please follow the directions on the care label. In addition, you will want to wash your clothes with the hottest water possible – while also not doing damage to the fabric. Please note, oil stains wash away the best with hot water. 

 

Repeat Stain Removal Steps as Necessary  

After running your clothing through the washing machine, inspect the stain while the fabric is still wet. If you can still see the oil, you should repeat the above steps until it is gone. 

If you need to repeat cleaning steps for your clothing, you can skip the blotting/scraping phase because there won’t be excess oil on the fabric’s surface after it has been washed so thoroughly. 

 

Air Dry the Garment 

After you have carefully washed and inspected your clothes, it is time to dry them. 

You should start by air drying your garment. Please note, oil stains can sometimes be challenging to see on wet clothes, so inspect the fabric again once dry.

If you are confident that the oil stain is gone, you are safe to resume with regular washing and drying methods. 

 

Use Charlie’s Soap for Cleaning Oil Stains 

The website Bustle has a blog post titled “The 6 Best Laundry Detergents for Grease,” They list Charlie’s Soap as an excellent option for oil stain removal. 

In the piece, they state, “Most grease-removing detergents contain synthetic chemicals that may be agitating for people with sensitivities. Luckily, Charlie’s Soap unscented laundry detergent is gentle, [and] the concentrated, alcohol-based formula removes trapped odors and stains — even from oil or grease.” In the end, you can trust Charlie’s Soap will get your clothes clean while also not causing harm to your skin or the environment. 

At Charlie’s Soap, we love to cook as much as you do. However, we also know how frustrating it can be to get oil stains on your favorite clothes. 

Please Contact Us with questions about our all-natural cleaning products. 

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