We've all been there. You're cooking or eating, and somehow manage to get cooking oil stains or grease stains on your clothing. Tough stains can be a real pain to get out, and sometimes the most stubborn stains don't come out at all. You've tried everything the internet suggests: cornstarch, laundry detergent, special solvents, a toothbrush, warm water, baby powder, bleach, dry cleaning solvent, and the like, but your stubbornly absorbent shirt remains stained. If you spilled olive oil on your clothes while cooking, never fear. There is a way to remove oil stains so your favorite band t-shirt isn't ruined forever. Remove olive oil stains with these easy tips.
Olive Oil Stain Removal: What You'll Need
It's actually not super difficult to get oily stains out of your clothes before you toss them in the washing machine or send them to dry cleaning.
Most guides online suggest getting a paper towel, baking soda, liquid dish soap/dishwashing detergent, and water when it comes to olive oil stain removal tips.
Stain Removal Steps
First, blot at the stained area with paper towels. You're trying to get as much of the excess oil off before you move onto another step.
Next, you're going to put some of the soap on the stain and gently rub it in. Leave it in for a few minutes, then rinse the area with hot water. Repeat steps if they don't work, but if this method continues to be ineffective, that's when you'll use baking soda.
After you've applied the baking soda, simply wipe it off, then move onto the soap step. Wash it all off with the hottest water you can manage, then check to see if the stain remains.
You're going to want to make sure it's completely gone before you ever launder the piece of clothing because if there's even a little left, the dryer might set the stain. Always air dry after taking these steps before you ever put it in the washer or send it off to a dry cleaner!
You can also try putting on hydrogen peroxide before adding the baking soda, but be careful because it can ruin some dark clothes. If you're dealing with white cloth, it might be a safer bet.
You can also try to pre-treat with a store-bought stain remover rather than these DIY methods.
One final note: always check the care label of your clothes before taking any of these steps. When in doubt, ask a laundry or dry cleaning expert for tips! Hopefully, with these tips you'll be able to remove olive oil stains without resorting to expert advice.
