We have all been there. That insanely annoying oil stain that just won’t get off your favorite pair of overalls. How to remove it? Surely many thoughts go through your head, imagining the worst, while you hopelessly rub it with a wet paper towel. A permanent dark blob clotting your fine working garments. Or the complete opposite, denial of any consequences if you don’t treat it immediately.
We at All Seasons Uniforms know what it feels like—it’s not fun, but we gotta do it, and we have to do it quickly!
Cleaning oil stains is not as difficult as it has been popularly portrayed, but one thing you have to be constantly aware of is the necessity to act as quickly as you can, from the moment you spot that glob ooze onto your work pants. The good news is: whatever the case, it is very possible you will be able to almost completely remove that stain at home with materials you most likely already own.
Working with tools, machines, car parts, or in a kitchen environment where dirt and grime abound is a messy business. Read on then to find simple, cheap and popular remedies to get that grease stain off your workwear—you will be surprised to find out many of these remedies already exist in your kitchen.
Baking Soda
Baking soda works as a kind of magnet for oil in fabric, and it is particularly recommended for heavy fabrics. It essentially pulls the oil into it and will often be an effective first move before you start actually treating the stain. First remove the excess oil from the fabric with a cloth or a kitchen towel, then sprinkle baking soda on the stain and let it sit and react for about 24 hours. Once this process is over, brush it or hoover the baking soda, then apply a few drops of vinegar and water. Scrub with soap and rinse for a few moments. Remember though, being a simple and efficient method does not necessarily mean it will clean off completely, if the stain persists, repeat the cycle until it works.
Cola
This is a very simple remedy and what you just need is a bucket with 2 to 4 liters of Coca-Cola, or the necessary amount to completely submerge your greasy clothes in the bucket. Let that sit overnight and then wash the next morning with the usual laundry detergent. Not only is this technique efficient for grease stain removals, but it will deodorize your clothes as well.
WD-40
Everyone has a can of WD-40 laying around at home somewhere. And who would have believed it! Applying a form of oil to grease will help remove it!
Spray a little bit of WD-40 onto the stained area of your clothing and let it sit for 20 minutes. Afterwards rinse it thoroughly with warm water, then wash it alone in the washing machine with normal detergent and air-dry it, as drying it in a tumble dryer will quite possibly let the stain set into the fabric.
Dish Soap
In general it is not recommended to rinse clothes where grease has already set in before treating it, as water will not allow the oil to move anywhere… So better work on it while it’s dry. Put a piece of cardboard under the fabric to avoid transferring oil to other parts and absorb the grease with a dry towel or napkin to remove excess. Apply dish soap rather softly on your fabric and brush with your finger or a toothbrush, then let sit for about 5 minutes. Afterwards rinse with warm water and then wash as you usually would. Dry normally.
Hopefully these tips and remedies will help getting those nasty blobs off of your working clothes, but be prepared, at work when the possibility of staining yourself is high, and also be prepared for failure, as you will not always be able to remove them if you don’t degrease it quickly.
About the Author
Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with hundreds of clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Nick revamped the company’s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.