16 Ways to Remove Machine Oil Stains
When repairing a car or bicycle, it’s easy to put a machine oil stain on your clothes. But getting rid of it is very difficult. Especially if you start to remove it not immediately, but after a while. The usual detergents and stain removers will not help to cope with this problem. But our experts have learned and tested the effectiveness of a few ways to remove machine oil stains and hasten to share them. The same means can be used to remove traces of any oil pollution: motor oil, technical grease, fuel oil, etc.
Basic rules of oil stain removal
Machine oil is a general concept, which includes not only a light colored oily liquid for the lubrication of door hinges, bike chains or sewing machine mechanisms, but also darker and thicker oil for car engines (engine oil), various lubricants (solid and liquid).
Machine oils come in three types:
mineral – based on petroleum with subsequent distillation and purification;
synthetic – based on synthetic hydrocarbons derived from petroleum products;
semi-synthetic – in the basis not more than 20% of synthetic components.
Thus, any oil consists of petroleum products and has a high chemical stability, firmly penetrating into fabric fibers. That’s why it’s very hard to get it out – you have to use solvents or strong alkalis.
If an oil stain has appeared on a garment, you need to follow a few rules to remove it without traces.
Get rid of the pollution as soon as possible, preferably in the first minutes. Only fresh oil stains can be removed with grease dissolving agents.
To prevent the stain from spreading over a larger area, if possible pour salt, baking soda, ground chalk, starch on it. These powders have absorbent properties and will quickly absorb most of the oil. Increase their effectiveness by preheating them to 50-60 0 C in a microwave oven or on a frying pan.
Do not wash or soak things in hot water if oil stains have not previously been treated with adsorbents – the size of the contaminated area may increase.
Before treating in any way, you should put a carpet pad under the soiled area – a towel rolled up several times. This way the oil will not contaminate the clean surface of the item after dissolving.
When removing old oil stains from delicate fabrics or painted clothes with solvents, you should first check how they will work on the material and the paint on an inconspicuous part of the item, and only then apply the solvents.
Care must be taken when working with solvents: work wearing sturdy rubber gloves, a respirator and protective goggles. In addition, it is important to take into account that these agents are easily flammable, so you must clean things away from open flames.
Removing stains with industrial products
Stains from machine oil are stubborn stains that cannot be removed by ordinary stain removers and laundry detergent. That’s why special industrial detergents have been developed for their removal:
Dr. Beckmann – stain remover from machine oil, grease and bitumen, 50 ml (Germany) – 130 rubles.
Mellerud – oil stain remover (Germany) 500 ml – 650 rubles.
Duty Oil – liquid for removal of technical oils, lubricants and petroleum products, 5 l (Russia) – 1000 rubles.
Pro-Brite Axel-6 Oil & Grease Remover – aerosol for removal of vegetable and technical oil stains (Russia), 300 ml – 350 rubles.
CLEANMULTI FORTE Pramol – alkaline cleaner for grease and oil (Switzerland), 1 L – 550 rubles.
All products contain a special combination of solvents and noninogenic surfactants for rapid and effective removal of oily contaminants.
People constantly encountering in the work with machines and various mechanisms need to have one of the means at hand. They are guaranteed to help remove even stale traces of lubricants, machine or engine oil.
Folk methods of removal
If there is no special remedy that removes traces of machine oil, then you should not rush to the store to buy it. To begin with, you should try to apply improvised remedies and solvents, which can be found at home or purchased at any hardware store.
How to remove fresh stains
If less than an hour has passed since the contamination of the clothes, the oil contamination can be removed using the following methods. They are suitable for all types of fabrics, white and colored things:
Laundry soap (72%). Moisten the stained area with hot water and rub liberally with soap. After 30 minutes, scrub the stain with a brush and rinse off.
Dishwashing liquid . Pour the liquid undiluted with water onto the stained area and leave it for 20-30 minutes. Rub the stain with a brush before rinsing it off.
Ammonia alcohol. For delicate fabrics dilute ammonia in water in the ratio of 1:1. On cotton and linen products you can apply it without diluting it. Ammonia should be left on the soiled area for 15-20 minutes, then rub with a sponge and rinse with water.
Bile soap (or a liquid stain remover based on it). Contains fatty acids and bovine bile, which is good for removing oil stains. Treat a mark of machine oil with soap (until copious amounts of foam form), wait 40-60 minutes, rub with a brush and wash with water.
Ethyl alcohol. Rub the oil pollution with a tampon moistened in alcohol until all traces disappear.
After treating clothes stained with machine oil using any of the above methods, you should wash them with detergent in a washing machine or by hand.
Tip! Before removing an oily stain, you should iron the stained area with an iron over tracing paper or parchment paper (set the temperature according to the type of fabric). Part of the oil will be absorbed into the paper, and it will be easier to remove the stain.
How to remove stubborn marks
To remove oil stains that have already been deeply absorbed into the fabric fibers, you need to use solvents. But it should be taken into account that most of them are not suitable for silk, wool, synthetic, as well as colored things. In total, we found 5 effective ways to remove stale stains:
Purified gasoline. Best used to clean delicate and dyed fabrics. It is based on oil, just like machine oil, so it will dissolve it and help get rid of the stain on your clothes. Gasoline should be moistened with a cotton pad or tissue and gently rub the stained area with it. You can put the disk directly on the stain for 15-20 minutes, and then clean it with a brush with soft lint.
Gasoline and dishwashing liquid (or baking soda) . An even gentler way to remove stubborn traces of machine oil. Mix the ingredients in a 1:1 ratio and apply the mixture to the stain for 30 minutes. After rubbing the stain with a brush, send the thing to the wash.
Ammonia alcohol with turpentine. This combination is also safe for thin and natural fabrics, but it is not suitable for the treatment of colored things. Mix both means in equal proportions and rub the mixture into the soiled area. After waiting 30 minutes, rub the fabric with a brush and rinse.
Solvent 646 , acetone or white spirit. It removes oil stains well, but we recommend using it only for light colored cotton or linen fabrics. A cloth soaked in solvent should be wiped over the stain until it is completely gone. To avoid leaving streaks, clean by moving from the edges of the soiled area to the center.
Kerosene. It is also a petroleum product that dissolves machine oil. You should wipe the stained area with a cotton swab soaked in kerosene until the oily traces disappear. Then soap up with laundry soap and rinse under running hot water. Immediately after treatment the product must be washed. Kerosene is not suitable for removing stains from colored clothes and clothes made of silk, synthetics.
After cleaning clothes from oil stains with solvents or ammonia alcohol a specific unpleasant smell remains. Get rid of it, wash the thing with fabric conditioner and dry it in the open air.
Dry Clean
Stains from fuel oil or engine oil are very difficult to remove. If none of the methods do not help to remove the dirt, or if there are doubts that you can save your favorite thing by yourself, you can use the help of professionals.
Dry cleaning is a reliable way to get rid of traces of engine oil on clothes that will not require any effort from you. A thing made of any material will be given expert help without the risk of ruining it.
Conclusion
Due to the multi-component composition of machine oil and the difficult to remove the traces left behind from petroleum products is not easy. But, using the tips of our experts, it is still possible to do it. If you do not put aside the treatment and washing of the stained thing in a long box, then the chances to save it with the help of improvised means greatly increase. Stale oil stains can only be removed by solvents or dry cleaning.
How to remove heavy oily dirt from clothes
Tips for removing stains from fabric Stains that are not removed immediately can become ingrained and unrecoverable. Immediately take steps to prevent the stain from spreading and soaking deeper into the fibers by drying it out with a clean cloth, blotting paper, or simply sprinkling salt. Stains can be divided into four categories: – Stains that can be removed by normal washing, such as from watercolor paints, or milk. – Stains that can be removed by bleaching or boiling with detergent, such as tea, fruit juice and water-soluble ink. – Stains that require pre-wash preparation and/or soaking before washing, e.g. stains from grass and blood. – Stains that require special treatment before cleaning, e.g. glossy paints. A combination of these measures may be necessary to remove the stain completely. But remember: never use more than one chemical in the same operation, as toxic chemical fumes can form. Always keep in mind that the most important thing is speed. Stains left for long periods of time or exposed to heat may become unrecoverable altogether. The key to removing stains is to be quick! Immediately use a clean cloth or tissue paper to wipe off the excess soiling liquid. Soaking or special treatment before washing and washing afterwards will dissolve many stains but some require special treatment. Stock up on the products listed below and you’ll be ready to fight the stain immediately. Talcum powder is used to dry fats and oils as soon as they spill. A blunt knife is useful for scraping things like jam or egg. Clean white rags – have them on hand for drying or for applying cleaners. Small natural sea sponge, hygroscopic absorbent cotton, and white paper towels are also very helpful. Detergents – an aerosol liquid used to treat items before washing, a stick of special soap and a liquid biological detergent remove stains well. Methyl alcohol (denatured alcohol) is useful for removing grass stains from heavily stained fabrics. Glycerin, diluted in half with water, softens dried-on stains. Allow it to work for an hour and then wash the stained garment. Acetone or nail polish remover can remove nail polish stains well, but should not be used on acetate fabrics. Hydrogen peroxide. Test the fabric for stain strength before using it. Before washing, dilute one part of 20 percent hydrogen peroxide with nine parts water and soak dried stains. White spirit. Test fabric for dye strength and use undiluted, dripping on grease or fresh paint stains (do not use on acetate fabrics!). Vinegar applied to stains and odor marks helps neutralize odors. Borax (crystalline boric acid). This mildly alkaline product neutralizes stains from coffee and acidic foods – wine, fruit juices. Bleaches. There are two types of bleach: chlorine and oxygen bleach. Chlorine bleaches remove unpleasant odors, accelerate the action of detergents, kill bacteria and do a general cleaning. They are not applicable to colored fabrics, silk. How to wash brake fluid from clothes. Cleaning difficult soiling How to wash such soiling? Try one or more, and for sure you can save the soiled thing. The first way is to use a dish detergent like “Fairy”.
Apply it to a damp sponge, rub it over the soiled area, then wipe it several times with a clean sponge, removing the water and dirt. Repeat the procedure several times. Method two: wash the smudge with a substance called “heptane,” then wash it with powder. Method number three: apply Vanish to the stain (bleach for laundry or colored clothing will also work), or another compound that is good at removing greasy marks. The fourth method: take white spirit (pre-check the fabric for color fastness), without diluting it, drip on the stains (not applicable to acetate fabrics). Fifth method: hydrogen peroxide (also requires a colorfastness test). Mix a 20% solution of peroxide and water at a ratio of one to nine and simply soak dried marks. The sixth method involves the use of vinegar, which will not only clean the dirt, but also neutralize the smell. Antipyatin soap . It can be bought in a regular supermarket or household goods store at a low price. In practice, the tool is often more effective than advertised stain removers. Soak the thing in warm water, apply “Antipyatin”, after a quarter of an hour, rinse. If the dirt does not wash off, soap the item again and rub with a brush. After cleaning, wash it in the washing machine. You can alternate some options or try several at the same time, the main thing is to take into account the peculiarities of the fabric so that the product remains wearable after cleaning.
