High-quality powders and functional washing machines can cope with almost any contaminant, but even they are powerless. How to remove an old grease stain from clothes with your own hands, using household products? The information will be useful to many housewives and will extend the life of your favorite clothes. You can get rid of stains with the usual substances that you have on hand.
General rules and preparation for removing grease stains
Stains from berries, fruits, and food will not just come off your clothes, no matter how expensive the powder is. If there are doubts that the washing machine will not cope with removing greasy stains, then you should not try to increase the dose of the cleaning agent and the procedure time. Old greasy stains on clothes do not react to the active ingredients of the washing powder.
The effectiveness of stain removal directly depends on the start time of the operation. Most vegetable fats belong to the drying class. Over time, they form a dense structure that reacts poorly to household chemicals.
Ideally, you need to neutralize its effect in the first minutes of contact with clothing and reduce its amount to a minimum. This will make washing much easier later.
Basic rules for breeding and preparation of material
Stains can be removed using modern means or traditional methods. There are a number of rules, following which you can easily remove any greasy mark on clothes:
Cotton knitwear
- To ensure that after removing the oily stain there are no traces left on the material, it is necessary to place several layers of thin material under the fabric (it is better if it is cotton knitwear).
- If the fabric is thick and the dirt has penetrated deeply into the structure of the material, you should use a medium-hard brush, well soaked in a solvent, instead of cotton fabric.
What and how can you remove an old grease stain?
Experience has shown which means and methods will really help and which will not. The capabilities of the modern chemical industry make it possible to obtain new substances with unique qualities, but in some cases old, proven methods turn out to be effective, and most importantly, less expensive and more gentle on tissues. The information will help you decide how to remove fat stains.
Stain removers
The range of products is huge. There are universal and targeted cleaning agents. It is better to purchase a product that specifically removes fat. You should carefully read the composition. The active ingredient may be:
- Sorbents. They work well only in the first minutes. Particles of the substance absorb fresh fat, old dirt is difficult to remove.
- Solvents. Actively affects fabric dyes. Many products in this category can be replaced with gasoline, acetone and other organic solvents, which are often used to remove stains in the household.
- Chlorine. Good for whitening. Fat, especially old fat, is not removed very well. Not safe for colored items.
- Enzymes. They are excellent at removing fruit and berry juices and traces of grass, but are not as effective in dealing with greasy stains.
- Oxygen. It works softer and more gentle than chlorine with approximately the same effect. Recommended for use on fresh greasy stains.
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Many factory cleaners can be replaced with substances found in any home. While expensive products from well-known manufacturers who care about their reputation are truly a good choice, dubiously produced products are no better than self-prepared formulations.
Laundry soap
Actively acts on fabric fibers, softening organic substances and without affecting dyes. It is important to actively influence physically with this method. The moistened item in the area of the greasy stain is rubbed with soap. Leave for several hours, then vigorously wash the area and rinse. If the removal is not complete, the procedure is repeated.
Steam treatment
The method is effective in the first minutes and hours after contamination. Under the influence of high temperature, fat becomes more mobile. It is necessary to place an absorbent base under the stain, for example, a napkin, tracing paper, or paper. If the iron is not equipped with a steaming function, then you can proceed as follows - hold the greasy stain over the spout of a boiling kettle for several minutes, then quickly spread it onto an absorbent base and iron it with a regular iron. The operation can be done several times until visible signs of contamination disappear.
Hot starch
The substance perfectly absorbs fat. If the starch is preheated, the process is accelerated many times over. To increase efficiency, you need to press the fabric tightly against the starch. One option for using this method is to iron it with a dry, hot iron over fabric laid out on a layer of starch. It is recommended to do the procedure several times, removing the old one and adding a new portion of the substance.
Glycerol
A small molecule of a substance can penetrate many substances, including fat. Glycerin has a destructive effect on oil stains. A few drops of the substance are applied to the desired area until completely absorbed. After a few hours, wash thoroughly. You can prepare a composition from equal parts of ammonia, glycerin and water. The mixture is applied to the surface to be cleaned and actively rubbed for effectiveness. The substance is gentle on the structure of the fabric and this method is often used for processing delicate fabrics.
Alcohol
Excellent grease solvent. Unlike products based on petroleum refining, it evaporates completely, leaving no odor or streaks. It is gentle on dyes and is considered one of the best means for breaking down fresh greasy stains. It removes old stains less well, but can significantly soften fat for treatment with other preparations. Often used before applying alkaline cleaning products, increasing their effectiveness.
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Gasoline and acetone
The appearance of dry cleaning was due to kerosene accidentally spilled on an old tablecloth, its composition close to gasoline and other petroleum distillation products. This group of substances has long been used in the professional processing of things. When working with gasoline and acetone, you need to be careful. Firstly, the substance is flammable, and, secondly, it has a powerful degreasing effect on the skin of the hands, drying it out. When handling old grease stains, you need to wear rubber gloves.
Hot brine
A method that allows you to effectively remove grease stains at minimal cost. It is very good to use a boiling saline solution. Add salt to the kettle at the rate of 150 g per liter of water. The fresh stain is watered from the spout. It is better to soak old stains in a hot solution until it cools completely. The procedure, if necessary, is repeated several times. Salt is an active bleacher, so natural fabrics may lose their bright colors and fade.
Turpentine and ammonia
Ammonia is considered one of the best grease removers and is often included in industrial products. You can prepare the following mixture yourself: turpentine is mixed in a 1:1 ratio with pharmaceutical ammonia. Wipe the greasy stain with the mixture. Leave for an hour and a half. After this, we wash off the old greasy stains by hand or in a machine. The gentle effect on fibers allows the method to be used when cleaning fabrics subject to shedding and shrinkage.
Vinegar
Housewives often use this remedy. Every kitchen has vinegar. How to remove old greasy stains from clothes with this substance? If you treat the area with vinegar in the first minutes after the grease gets in, this will allow you to avoid a labor-intensive procedure in the future. For degreasing, only table or diluted vinegar is used. After application, leave it for 15–20 minutes, after which the item is rinsed. If contamination remains, the procedure is repeated.
Soda and dishwashing liquid
The method has long been successfully used to remove old stains. They use both dry powder, sprinkling it on the dirt, and a solution, blotting the desired area of the item with it. Dishwashing liquids contain soda or substances with similar effects. A damp cloth with dirt is soaked in the product and left for a while; when mixed with water, it works even better than concentrate, fighting stubborn greasy stains.
Fresh contamination
Most often in everyday life we come across fresh fatty contaminants. This is easier to remove than washing off an old greasy stain. Some traditional methods effectively cope with the problem of recently diagnosed greasy stains. All of the methods below include products that help with cleaning without harming the appearance of the product.
The peculiarity of using improvised means is the efficiency of the method, as well as their low cost.
Laundry soap
The product is effective against greasy stains of any level of complexity. The method is simple: slightly moisten the stained area, treat it with a bar of laundry soap and leave the greasy stain for 12 hours. Use warm water and place the product in a bag. After washing the product as usual, repeat the procedure if necessary until the stain is completely removed. It is recommended to use brown bars.
Sugar and laundry soap
If after the first use of the previous method the effect is not enough, then you need to add sugar to it. Lather the stain with laundry soap, sprinkle sugar on top, and leave to act for 15 minutes. Brush the area with a soft clothes brush and wait another 15 minutes. Wash your clothes as normal.
Salt
The substance is effective against old stains. Wet the stain with warm water and sprinkle it generously with salt. Leave it for a while and rub the cloth. Wipe off any remaining product and wash the product. To remove a greasy stain on a bolognese jacket, use this method.
Salt will not affect the quality of the filler and will not leave streaks on the material, which will eliminate the need to completely wash the product. Salt can be used as an independent remedy, or applied on top of various compositions.
Chalk powder
To remove grease stains from silk and other delicate fabrics, use chalk powder. To do this, take chalk and grate it into powder or pound it in a mortar. Sprinkle the resulting mixture onto the wet spot and leave the product to absorb the grease for 3 hours. Remove residues with water.
Tooth powder, talc, baking soda, baby powder
These substances act as absorbents. Sprinkle generously with any of the above products on a greasy stain on a T-shirt or other clothing, cover the area with a cotton cloth and spray with hot steam from an iron several times.
Set the product aside overnight. In the morning, wash as usual.
Any of the above powder products are perfectly interchangeable. It is recommended to remove a greasy stain from a Bolognese jacket by sprinkling the product onto the stain and leaving it overnight. In the morning, brush off any dry residue and treat the stain with wet wipes.
Bread crumb
You can quickly and easily remove greasy stains from clothes at home using bread crumbs. Blot the fresh greasy drop with a piece of bread, press down lightly, you can put a weight on top. Leave it for a while. Then use one of the above methods and wash the product.
This method effectively fights dirt and leaves no trace of it. Use fresh, warm bread whenever possible.
Mustard powder
Dry mustard is suitable for removing fat from dark-colored coats. The advantage of this method is the wide availability of the main ingredient. Buy mustard powder and prepare it into a thick paste by adding water. Apply to desired area. To get rid of old grease stains, leave the paste on the material until it is completely dry. Then remove the crust and scrub the fabric with a clothes brush. Finally clean the clothes by washing them under normal conditions. It is not recommended to use on white fabric or light-colored materials, as it has coloring properties.
Salt and alcohol
A greasy stain on a sofa upholstery can be easily removed with alcohol and salt, which will not harm the material. However, before using alcohol, it is necessary to test it on an inconspicuous area to observe the reaction of the tissue. Using the same method, you can easily get rid of grease stains from knitwear. Soak the material generously in alcohol and sprinkle a thick layer of salt on top.
Leave to act until the material is completely dry, brush off the salt and wash the product in hot water. Alcohol can be used independently in cases where it is not possible to wash the material, for example, if grease has dripped onto the upholstery.
Dishwasher
The peculiarity of dishwashing detergents is that they easily dissolve grease. The mild composition allows the detergent to be used for washing delicate or woolen fabrics. The composition and effect are effective and capable of removing oil or grease stains. If dirt needs to be removed from a product with soft fibers, for example, a shirt, then it is enough to soap the fabric and leave it for half an hour. Then run very hot water over the area and wash as normal. If the fabric has coarse fibers, scrub the area thoroughly with a brush.
Blotter
The product is effective only against fresh oil stains; it will not remove old ones. Lay out the paper on a horizontal surface, and cover the fabric that needs to be cleaned with another layer of blotter on top. Heat the iron and carefully work the surface of the paper. Thus, the bottom and top paper should absorb all the fat.
Ammonia
The product is effective against any fatty stains. Soak a cotton pad in ammonia alcohol and apply it to the fabric. Afterwards, leave the product to work for a while. Brush out any stains and wash the item normally. Ammonia has a specific aroma. Therefore, additional rinsing may be required.
How to remove a grease stain from jeans?
A special feature of the fabric is the dye - denim. Denim fades with any wash. How to remove greasy stains without ruining the item? The dye is not resistant to wet abrasion. This makes it difficult to remove grease stains from jeans. Active substances can only be used on old, washed items; new ones are treated exclusively with delicate products. At home, you can use a composition based on ammonia, glycerin, and hot starch.
Features of removing traces of fat from T-shirts of different colors
When choosing a method for treating a T-shirt from grease stains, it is recommended to take into account the color of the material. This will allow you to restore the item to the highest possible quality.
White
After quick response methods have been used to remove grease stains, it is possible to remove the remaining traces using a stain remover for white fabrics . A soiled T-shirt must be treated with a stain remover, according to the instructions for the specific product, and the item must be left to lie.
A cotton T-shirt without synthetic fibers in its composition can be exposed to high temperatures. To do this, boil the kettle, pour boiling water over the stain, turn the item inside out and repeat the treatment. The fat will break down from this effect.
For white T-shirts, which contain not only cotton, but also synthetic fibers, exposure to boiling water is not suitable. This item can be pre-soaked. After removing the stain, the item is washed at the maximum permissible temperature using detergent. In this case, white items must be washed separately from dark and colored items.
In addition to purchased products, white T-shirts can be treated with hydrogen peroxide, ammonia with soda and whitening toothpaste.
Black
For black and dark clothes with fresh greasy stains, you can use Coca-Cola as a stain remover . Its effectiveness is due to the inclusion of orthophosphoric acid.
The T-shirt is completely immersed in the undiluted drink and kept until the stain disappears. Mustard powder and commercial stain removers approved for use on dark fabrics can also be used.
Colored
Processing a colored T-shirt is a procedure that retains the risk of discolouration of the brightly colored material.
Home remedies should be used with caution. The safest method for removing old stains is a mixture of water, salt and ammonia .
Store-bought products should only be chosen that are designed for processing colored items or are universal.
Gentle removal of greasy stains from delicate fabrics
Things made from thin materials require a special approach. How to wash fabric without damaging it? When choosing a stain removal product, delicate fabrics must be tested. A small amount of the substance is applied to an area of fabric that is not visible when worn. For example, hem turns, sleeves, areas under patch pockets, collars and appliqués. Compositions based on ammonia and glycerin have proven themselves to be gentle, so try them first. If there is a reaction to them, then you should not try more active mixtures and it is better to dry clean the item.
In conclusion, we can say that in most cases, grease stains can be easily removed at home. It's important to do this quickly. If you treat this area with improvised means in the first minutes, then most likely there will be no traces left. It is much more difficult to remove fat after several hours. An item that has been left with a greasy stain for several days or even weeks will require the use of active substances and physical labor. If the item has been washed and has been lying around for some time, then even professional dry cleaning cannot always effectively cope with the task.
Special means
Manufacturers of household chemicals, of course, could not ignore the problem of stain removal and have developed a large number of stain removers that help fight greasy marks, among other things. The most famous of them:
- Antipyatin soap;
- Vanish gel;
- Amway spray;
- pencil from Faberlic;
- bleach “Bos Plus Maximum”.
The disadvantage of such chemicals is that they are not always on hand and are quite expensive. And the success of a grease removal operation often depends on how quickly the stain was treated.
