10 Ways to Get Motor Oil Out of Clothes (Step-By-Step Guide)

 Any form of oil stain might be difficult to get rid of while it’s fresh. However, old stains are much harder to get rid of. Water alone is insufficient to remove oil stains since they are set into fibers differently than other stains. So, how may old oil stains be removed from clothing?

No matter what kind of oil stain it is or how long it has been there, you will need some pre-treatment to remove it.  In this article, we have listed “10 Ways to Get Motor Oil Out of Clothes Even After Drying.”

How to Get Motor Oil Out of Clothes After Drying?

The right products must be used to remove old motor oil stains effectively even after drying. Liquid cleansers work best for removing motor oil stains from clothing. These cleansers can more successfully remove stains that have been there for a while by penetrating deeper into the fabric. The stain and how long it has been there will affect each product’s actual effectiveness.

On clothes with embedded motor oil stains, the baking soda and dish soap methods both work effectively, however you might need to repeat the scrubbing procedure a few times before the entire stain disappears.

Starting on dry fabric is one tip for removing a set-in stain. Before using the soap or baking soda, avoid getting the garment wet. Water acts as a barrier between your cleaning agent and the oil stain since oil and water don’t mix.

Hot water will also be required. Unless you use heat to melt the grease, such as hot water from the faucet, it will solidify. So use hot water for washing and rinsing when you get there!

10 Ways to Get Motor Oil Out of Clothes

The best cleaners to try for removing motor oil stains from clothes after drying are listed below, along with instructions on how to use each one. Keep in mind that a product that works for you might not for someone else. To find an effective one, you might need to try few ways.

1. Soaking

Before you start the washing process, using a pre-soak for an oil-stained clothing is an excellent low-effort technique to remove at least the majority of the motor oil stain. In fact, putting the stained clothing in the washing machine won’t get rid of it. However, if you soak the clothes first, the laundry detergent will have more time to work on the stain and you will get far better results!

Steps to follow:

• If the stain still seems moist, blot it first. Go to step two if the oil has already dried.
• Directly apply some detergent on the stain and work it in with your fingertips.
• Next, put one to two liters of boiling water in a bucket.
• To make suds, add 1/4 cup of laundry detergent and swish your hand in the water.
• Make sure the stained item is completely submerged in the water before placing it in the water.
• Before washing the clothes in your washing machine as usual, let them soak for at least an hour.
• The cloth should not be dried in a dryer. Rather, hang it up to dry naturally. You’ll have another chance to cure the black spot if it doesn’t go later.

 

2. Acetone

Acetone, a substance found in the 95% of nail polish removers, is a powerful oil-dissolving agent. Applying a strong concentration of acetone, similar to the amount found in nail polish remover, should be safe to do if motor oil was spilled on work coveralls or durable clothing, such as jeans. The use of acetone, however, may cause more sensitive fabrics to flow or stain.

Steps to follow:

• By turning your clothing inside out and locating the innermost part of a seam, you can quickly spot test it.
• Apply a tiny bit of acetone to this seam.
• To make sure it still looks good in 15 minutes, wait!
• Your clothing should be positioned so that it stretches over a basin or a bucket.
• With the basin ready to catch any drips, apply acetone to the stain.
• Give it fifteen minutes to sit.
• Remove the acetone by rinsing it with cool running water.
• Use your washing machine as usual to wash the item, but avoid using the dryer.
• Check to see if the stain is still there once the clothes has finished air drying!

 

3. Cornstarch

Although degreasing agents are typically used in motor oil cleaning techniques, most oil stains can also be successfully removed using an absorbent powder! For this straightforward procedure, you can use cornstarch, talcum powder, or even baby powder.

Steps to follow:

• The stained cloth should be spread out on a flat surface, such as a table or tile floor. Put an absorbent object, such as a fresh towel or cloth, behind the spot.
• One tablespoon of cornstarch is all that is required to cover a tiny stain. You might wish to sprinkle as much as a quarter cup of cornstarch on heavier stains.
• Cornstarch should be smoothed out to create a thick, even layer covering the stain.
• Give the powder 30 minutes to absorb the oil by letting this settle.
• To remove the clumpy cornstarch, use an old toothbrush.
• Wash the item as usual, but avoid putting it in the dryer.
• Repeat this procedure numerous times if you still see a dark, greasy patch after letting the cloth air dry.

 

4. Baking Soda

A motor oil stain on garments can be eliminated in two different methods using baking soda. In addition, you can utilize baking soda as an absorbent powder by substituting it for cornstarch in the earlier technique. Another option is to combine it with vinegar for a quicker elimination.

Steps to follow:

• Always position your garment such that a barrier of protection is behind it. A thick object, such as a rag, will function better for this procedure than a piece of cardboard.
• Sprinkle some baking soda on the stain.
• After 15 minutes, remove it with a quick brush.
• Another handful of baking soda should be used.
• The baking soda should now be covered with a tablespoon of white vinegar. It ought should bubble up!
• To apply this, scrape the area with an old toothbrush.
• Give it another fifteen minutes to rest.
• Remove the baking soda by rinsing it under hot running water.

 

5. Shampoo

Unbelievably, most shampoos are effective at removing motor oil stains from clothing! Additionally, it can handle delicate fabrics without harm.

Steps to follow:

• Place your stained item first on a level surface. Put a clean rag or a pad of paper towels beneath the spot. Otherwise, the oil can seep through to the clothing’s other areas!
• Next, apply the teaspoon of shampoo over the stain. No matter how much you use, the shampoo won’t harm the fabric, so you can measure it if you like.
• Rub the shampoo well into the fabric fibers using your fingers or a soft towel.
• Allow this to rest for 30 minutes.
• Shampoo should be removed using running water, or you can wash the clothes in your washing machine using the cool water option.
• The cloth should not be dried in a dryer. Instead, let it to air dry before checking to see if the stain is gone.

 

6. Dawn Dish Soap

Most people choose to use Dawn dish soap to remove motor oil stains off surfaces. Although all soaps have the potential to remove oil, dish soap has a particularly potent power to disintegrate and remove minute oil particles.

You can use regular dish soap, but experts contend that Dawn has an especially potent capacity to remove motor oil due to the presence of surfactants.

Steps to follow:

• To treat a motor oil stain using Dawn dish soap:
• To collect any leaking grease, place something behind the oil stain. You can use a piece of clean cardboard or a folded paper towel.
• Just a tiny bit of Dawn should be applied to the area that is dark. More than half a teaspoon shouldn’t be required.
• Rub the soap into the discoloration with your fingertips or a fresh sponge. A thin, oily lather will start to form.
• Allow this to sit for 30 minutes.
• Run cool tap water directly through the stained area to rinse it. This will enable the grease-carrying soap to wash away down the drain.
• At this time, be sure the stain is still visible.

 

7. WD-40

WD-40 can occasionally erase difficult motor oil stains despite the fact that it functions as a lubricant. The trick here is that some types of fabric will also get stained by this substance. In the event that some of the other solutions don’t work for you, you should probably save this technique to try later.

WD-40 will remove grease spots from polyester clothing fairly effectively!

Steps to follow:

• Spread out the affected area of the garment after locating the stain. Behind the stain, place a clean rag.
• The stain should be wet to the touch after liberal application of WD-40.
• Give it fifteen minutes to sit.
• Next, squirt some dish soap onto the discoloration. This can be brushed in with an old toothbrush.
• Over the sink, rinse the soap and WD-40.
• Use cold water in your washing machine to wash the clothes. Allow it to air dry rather than using a dryer, and then check to see if the stain is still present.

 

8. Blotting

This method is especially excellent if you’re working on a project right now, such as changing the motor oil. You probably don’t want to immediately go inside, get dressed, and attack the stain since you want to finish your project first. However, if you take thirty seconds to gather a few paper towels and remove the stain, you’ll end up saving a ton of time.

Steps to follow:

• Blotting the wet area as soon as you discover it is one of the greatest ways to stop a motor oil stain from settling in and becoming challenging to remove.
• Blotting is the act of dabbing a damp spot with a clean, dry rag or an absorbent paper towel.
• As you do this, the dark oil will appear on the rag’s surface, letting you know the technique is effective.
• Blotting won’t completely get rid of the oil stains. However, it will get rid of the bulk of the filth before it has a chance to dry, making it much simpler for you to add another treatment strategy later.

 

9. Baby Powder

Another great motor oil stain remover is baby powder. Therefore, baby powder can help you get rid of oil stains that have proven to be difficult to get rid of.

Steps to follow:

• Add some baby powder to the stain, then let it dry for however long you’d want.
• After some time has passed, dust off the powder from the fabric and treat the stain with liquid dish soap. Put your fabric in the washer to rinse it.
• If the fabric won’t tolerate warm or hot water, use cold water.
• Before allowing your clothing to air dry after washing, make sure the stain has been removed.

 

10. Rubbing Alcohol and Salt

While salt is a great absorbent and aids in stain removal, rubbing alcohol is a degreasing ingredient that helps dissolve grease. Both are successful at removing stubborn stains.

Steps to follow:

• In order to create a solution, mix 1-part salt and 4 parts alcohol.
• Apply the prepared solution to the stained area by dipping a cotton swab or a cloth into it.
• Give the solution at least 15-20 minutes to absorb into the fabric.
• Remove any residual salt from the garment with a wet washcloth.
• Last but not least, wash the garment and let it air dry thoroughly. If the stain continues, repeat the method outlined above.

Wrapping Up!

We hope that these X ways can help out you in removing motor oil out of the clothes after drying. Employing a degreaser or an absorbent powder can help you remove motor oil from clothing. To prevent staining, blotting wet oil stains as soon as possible is effective. Another low-effort stain removal technique is to pre-soak an oil-stained clothing before washing it.