10 Ways to Get Bike Grease Out of Clothes (Step By Step Guide)

The wind on your face, the sun on your back, the open road, and the grease on your clothes are all part and parcel of the biking life. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an avid biker, it’s inevitable to get grease on your clothes from time to time.

But a few silly grease stains should not stop us from living our biking dreams. So in this article, we’ll explore 10 foolproof ways to get bike grease out of your clothes.

But before we get into that, let’s discuss a few do’s and don’ts while dealing with grease stains.

Do’s:

• Read the care instructions on your garment before applying any cleaning method.
• Test the cleaning product on an inconspicuous area before using it.
• Scrape excess grease with a blunt knife or spoon before cleaning the stain.
• Blot the remaining grease with a clean cloth or paper towel.
• Place a plastic or aluminum sheet or cardboard between the layers of fabric to prevent grease from spreading.
• Always follow up the cleaning process with a regular rinse cycle.

Don’ts:

• Do not use hot water on grease stains, as it will spread the grease further into the fabric.
• Don’t fold or iron the clothes while they are still greasy.
• Don’t use water-soluble bleach or ammonia, as they aren’t effective for grease removal.
• Do not put the garment in a washing machine until you are sure all the grease is gone.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are 10 methods to get bike grease out of your clothes:

1- Corn Starch & Dish Soap

A classic remedy for grease stains—corn starch is an absorbent and lifts the grease from the surface. And the grease-cutting contents of dish soap seep deep into the fibers and clean the stain from within. Just ensure you get a good liquid soap with degreasing properties like Palmolive.

What you need:

• Corn Starch
• Dish Soap
• A toothbrush

Instructions:

1. Sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch on the stained area and gently rub it with a toothbrush.
2. Add more starch as it starts to soak the grease out.
3. Brush off the residue with a clean cloth or brush.
4. Repeat the process to lift as much grease as possible.
5. Now wet the stain with a few drops of water and then apply the dish soap directly to the grease stain.
6. Gently scrub it with the toothbrush, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
7. Rinse it with cold water and repeat until all the grease is lifted.
8. Follow with a regular cycle in the washing machine.

2- Chalk and Dish Soap

Chalk is another absorbent that does an even better job lifting grease than cornstarch. So if you have some chalk lying around in your house, try this method to get rid of the grease.

Both chalk and corn starch are gentle on fabric, so these two methods are great for delicate fabrics like silk or wool.

What you need:

• Chalk powder
• Dish Soap
• A toothbrush

Instructions:

1. Crush the chalk into powder and sprinkle it on the stained area.
2. Gently brush the starch with a toothbrush until most of the grease is absorbed.
3. Brush off the residue with a clean cloth or brush.
4. Repeat the process but this time, leave the chalk for 5 minutes. Its strong absorbent properties will pull out more grease in that time.
5. Clean it off with a brush.
6. Now wet the stain with a few drops of water and then apply the dish soap directly to the grease stain.
7. Gently scrub it with the toothbrush, then let it sit for 10 minutes.
8. Rinse it with cold water and repeat until all the grease vanish.
9. Follow with a regular cycle in the washing machine.

3- Laundry Bar Soap

Laundry Bar soaps have more fatty acid than liquid soaps, and their high alkalinity makes them perfect for eliminating grease and oil stains. Plus, you can apply a concentrated amount of soap compared to liquid soaps, making it more effective.

This method works particularly well on denim and cotton fabric as the sturdy fibers help make more leather, and the Soap penetrates through the fabric.

What you need:

• Bar Soap
• A toothbrush

Instructions:

1. Lay the fabric on a flat surface and pour a few drops of water over the stain.
2. Rub the Soap on the fabric, making sure you cover all the grease with a generous amount.
3. Let the Soap sit for 10 minutes, then scrub it with a toothbrush to work it further into the fabric.
4. Rinse off with cold water and repeat until all of the grease is gone.

4- Mechanic Soap

Mechanic Soap is specifically designed for people who work with grease and oil regularly. They contain strong degreasing agents, so they will be effective on bike grease, too, but are also gentle enough not to damage the skin. So if you don’t want to take any risks with your clothes, this is a great option.

You can pick these up from any auto parts store, and they are usually not very expensive.

What you need:

• Mechanic Soap
• A toothbrush

Instructions:

1. Most mechanic soaps come in powdered form, so you can adjust the concentration, but there are liquid and bar soaps too.
2. If you’re using a powder, mix it with water until you get a nice paste-like consistency.
3. Apply it directly to the grease stains and massage it into the fabric with your fingers.
4. Let the Soap sit for 5-10 minutes, then scrub it using a toothbrush to ensure all the grease is lifted.
5. Rinse it with cold water and follow up with a regular wash cycle in the washer.

5- Heavy Duty Wipes

Wipes may not be the remedy you think of when it comes to grease stains, but surprisingly, if you have the right wipes on hand, they can be quite effective. Heavy-duty wipes are specifically designed to remove grease and oils from hard surfaces, but they can be used on clothes too.

Heavy-duty surface cleaner wipes, like the ones from tub o’ towels, are some of the best wipes to tackle grease stains.

What you need:

• Heavy Duty Cleaning Wipes

Instructions:

1. Take the wipe and press it against the stained area. Rub it a bit to lift up some of the grease.
2. Continue to press and rub with the wipe until most of the grease is gone.
3. If necessary, clean the stain with dish soap and a toothbrushing method.
4. Rinse off with cold water and toss the garment in the washing machine.

6- Laundry Spot Treatment

Laundry spot treatments like Shout or OxiClean are absolute lifesavers when it comes to getting grease out of clothes. These products use powerful chemicals that break down the grease and lift it out of the fabric.

If you have a different spot-treating product, just make sure it’s not only chlorine/ammonia based, as bleach isn’t effective on grease.

What you need:

• Laundry Spot Treatment

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions on the back of the bottle; if it includes wetting the fabric, then do so.
2. Spray the spot treatment directly on the grease stain and let it sit for 10 minutes.
3. Many stop treatments don’t need scrubbing, but with grease, it’s always better to massage the fabric a bit with your fingers.
4. Rinse the garment with cold water and repeat the process if the stain is still there.

7- Dry Cleaning Solvent

Dry cleaning solvents are the alternative for getting grease out of non-washable or delicate fabrics. These are specifically formulated to break down the toughest stains and oils without water. Plus, as they are made for fabrics, they’re safe for delicate clothes.

One catch, though, dry cleaning solvents can be a bit expensive, and you need to be very careful when using them as some of them may be flammable.

What you need:

• Dry Cleaning Solvent

Instructions:

1. Lay the garment on a flat surface, preferably outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
2. Wear a mask for extra protection.
3. Spray the dry cleaning solvent directly on the grease stain and let it sit for 10 minutes.
4. Using a cloth or paper towel, dab the fabric until most of the stain is gone.
5. Repeat the process if needed, and then let it air dry.

8- Landry Degreaser

Laundry degreasers are special detergents formulated for washing heavy, greasy items like mechanics overalls and chef’s aprons. They are specifically formulated to break down and lift oil and grease from fabrics without damaging them.

These detergents are also often used interchangeably for cleaning other household items like garage floors and BBQ grills. So if you’ve products for those lying around, they make a terrific substitute for a special detergent.

What you need:

• Laundry Degreaser
• Scrubbing brush

Instructions:

1. Read the instructions on the box of the degreaser; if it requires wetting the fabric, do so.
2. Spray the degreaser directly on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes.
3. Using a scrubbing brush, massage the fabric to eliminate the grease.
4. Rinse the garment with cold water and check for remaining stains.
5. Repeat the process if needed and then follow up with a regular wash in the machine.

9- Kitchen Degreaser

The greasy place in the house is probably the kitchen, so it makes sense that you’ll find some of the best degreasers from the kitchen section. Since these are designed to break down the toughest stains from your oven and stove, they can tackle the bike grease on your garments.

Just make sure you select a heavy-duty degreaser like Goo Gone with no added fragrances or other chemicals.

What you need:

• Kitchen Degreaser
• Scrubbing brush

Instructions:

1. Kitchen degreasers come in different forms like a spray, paste, or liquid. Whichever one you have, first wet the fabric with just a few drops of water.
2. Spray the degreaser directly on the grease stain and let it sit for 10 minutes.
3. Using a scrubbing brush, massage the fabric to get rid of the grease.
4. Rinse the fabric and follow up with a regular wash in the machine.
5. The product might leave a faint smell behind, but most of the time, it goes away after the wash. If not, run the garment through the wash a second time.

10- Professional Cleaning Services

If you have some money to spare and the clothes are too delicate or valuable to take a risk with yourself, visit a professional cleaner. Those people are specially trained to clean any kind of garment and will know what product to use and how to use it without damaging the fabric.

The exact cost is difficult to say as it depends on the garment, but usually, they are more expensive than doing it yourself.

What you need:

• Nothing! Just make an appointment and leave the rest to the professionals.

Instructions:

1. Visit your local cleaner and explain the situation to them.
2. Try to get details about the products they’ll use and the method.
3. If you are comfortable with it, leave your garment in their hands and wait for the results.

Conclusion

Getting grease out of clothes can be a tricky job, but with the right products and instructions, it is definitely possible to do it yourself. And these 10 methods cover almost any situation you might find yourself in.

If you’re relying on your kitchen or laundry cabinet only, dish soap, corn flour, or chalk are your best bet. For tougher stains, you can go for heavy-duty wipes or degreasers such as mechanic soap and laundry degreasers. And if all else fails, you still have the option to take it to a professional cleaner.