Operation Anti-grease, or how to remove a greasy stain on clothes

Grease stains on clothes can be divided into 2 categories: fresh and old. It is difficult to get rid of them effectively.

And if fresh ones can be removed using improvised means, then special cleaning products will be required to combat old stains.

And in some cases, it is completely impossible to get rid of them at home, and you have to go to dry cleaning.

We will tell you in the article whether and how to remove a greasy stain on clothes (fresh or old) at home.

The main differences between fresh and old pollution

The main difference between the two types is how much fat is absorbed into the fabric. If the stain was planted relatively recently, it will be much easier to remove. Many remedies that can be found in any housewife’s home will help you get rid of it.

With outdated ones the situation is much more complicated. Since the grease is already well absorbed into the fibers of the fabric, simple methods are highly likely to fail to remove it. To do this, you will need to resort to stronger and more expensive cleaning products.

Preparatory stage

Before cleaning, You need to remember a few simple rules and prepare the necessary materials for this:

1. First of all, carefully study the label from the manufacturer. There you can find recommendations for the choice of detergents, washing mode and water temperature.

   Do not neglect this rule, as this significantly increases the chances of not ruining your clothes when washing.

2. Prepare the necessary materials: cotton cloth or paper, a soft brush, a cotton pad or a piece of clean cloth, clean water and materials for the solution.
3. Using a soft brush, you need to clean your clothes from foreign objects: dust, wool, dirt, etc.
4. When diluting the solution, use the weakest concentration; if there is no effect, then gradually increase it.
5. Be sure to turn the item inside out. Place a cotton towel or paper under the stain, first folding it in several layers, and only then begin cleaning.

Before you start cleaning, you need to test the solution on an inconspicuous area of ​​the item or a test piece of fabric, if you have one. This procedure will significantly increase the chances of not ruining the item.

How can you grow something you just planted at home?

If the stain is still fresh, it will be much easier to get rid of than an old one. This can be done at home, using both improvised means and chemicals.

1. Salt. Regular table salt will do. You need to sprinkle it on the stain and use a sponge to gently rub it into the fabric. Then leave it for a while so that it absorbs all the fat.

   Next, use a soft brush to shake off the residue; if it was not possible to remove the stain the first time, repeat the procedure.

2. Chalk. This method is similar to the previous one, the only difference will be the algorithm of use.

   You don’t need to rub chalk into your clothes like salt; just sprinkle the stains on top and wait one hour. Use a damp cloth to remove any traces of chalk.

3. Potato starch. The method is similar to the previous one. The difference is that you need to wait less, just 15 minutes is enough. After which the starch layer must be removed with a brush.
4. Bread crumb. It perfectly absorbs greasy stains. You need to apply it to the contaminated area and wait until the grease is absorbed, then wash the item in the washing machine.
5. Mustard powder. Mix water and powder; the consistency of the mixture should be like porridge. Apply it to the stain and leave for 30 minutes, then gently scrub with a soft brush.
6. Dish detergent. It is better to choose trusted manufacturers and not use a cheap product. A good choice would be "Fairy". It copes equally well with all types of contaminants, the important condition is that they are fresh.

   This method does not require preliminary preparations, just apply a little product to the contaminated area and, using a cotton pad, rub it well into the fabric until foam forms. Leave for 15 minutes and wash in warm water.

7. Shampoo for oily hair. This method is completely similar to the previous one. The algorithm of actions looks the same.
8. Laundry soap. It is considered a universal remedy for any type of stain. The contaminated area must be well soaped and rubbed with a soft sponge or cotton pad from the edge to the center.Then leave for half an hour and wash in the washing machine. To improve the effect, you can also sprinkle sugar on top of the stain, but this method is not suitable for delicate fabrics.
9. Shaving foam. Regular shaving foam works well in the fight against fresh greasy stains. Apply a layer of foam evenly over the entire dirty area and leave for 20 minutes. After this, wash the item in warm water.
10. Alcohol. Both ammonia and ethyl will do. Works well on all types of fresh stains, but is not suitable for delicate fabrics. The stain should be thoroughly moistened with alcohol and left for one hour, then washed in warm water.

How to remove old stains at home?

It is much more difficult to remove old marks, but this is possible both with the help of improvised means and chemicals.

1. Brine. Add a glass of salt to a bowl of water and stir well. Soak clothes in this solution for 3 hours, then wash as usual.
2. Vinegar. It will help you get rid of the juice of berries and grass. Soak a cotton pad in vinegar, then apply it to the stain and rinse in cold water.

   After rinsing, you need to sprinkle the stain with salt, it will absorb the residue and prevent the stain from spreading.

3. Soda. Will get rid of traces of sweat. Mix baking soda (2 tbsp), dish soap (1 tbsp) and hydrogen peroxide (4 tbsp). Apply it to the stain, wait 5 minutes and rinse with cold water.
4. Turpentine. Mix turpentine and ammonia in proportions 1:1. Apply to the stain, wait an hour and wash the item in the washing machine.
5. Dentifrice. It is necessary to apply tooth powder to the entire surface of the stain and allow it to absorb. Then put the item in the washing machine.
6. Refined gasoline. Gasoline can clean off any dirt. To do this, apply gasoline to a cotton pad or piece of cloth and wipe the area thoroughly. After this, all that remains is to wash the item in the usual way.
7. Gasoline and starch. It is necessary to mix them to a thick sour cream and apply to the stain. Using a sponge or cotton pad, wipe the area well, rinse with warm water and wash in the washing machine.
8. Glycerol. Apply a few drops to the stain and spread with a cloth or cotton pad over its entire surface. Leave for 30 minutes. Then, using a fabric that absorbs moisture well, a sponge or a cotton pad, remove the residue and wash as usual.
9. Ammonia. Will help cope with stains from coffee, chocolate, sweat. Mix water and alcohol in proportions 2:1, apply to the stain and wait 30 minutes. Then wash the item in warm water.
10. Hydrogen peroxide. Will help get rid of coffee, tea, hair dye stains. Apply to the contaminated area of ​​fabric, wipe with a soft sponge and leave for 15 minutes. Then remove any remaining dirt and wash in the washing machine.

Removal from different types of tissues

Some products work better on certain types of fabrics. Next, let's look at what products are best used for products made from:

1. Cotton. Ordinary gasoline works well to get rid of greasy marks on cotton clothes. The product is very aggressive, so it must be used in small proportions.

   It is best to slightly moisten the contaminated area of ​​the cloth, place a paper napkin under the stain and wait until the gasoline is absorbed.

2. Calico. On cotton clothes, a solution of ammonia and water in a ratio of 1 to 2 will help effectively get rid of greasy stains.
3. Synthetics. Dirt on synthetic items can be easily removed using ammonia. To do this, you need to make a solution: 1 teaspoon of ammonia per glass of water, mix well and carefully apply to the contaminated area. After this, place the item on the ironing board, cover it with a cotton cloth and iron it with an iron.
4. Plush. Turpentine will help get rid of greasy marks on plush clothes.
5. Atlas. Oily stains on satin fabric can be removed using a clear detergent. To do this, you need to carefully apply a small amount of product to the stain and rub with a damp cotton pad until foam forms. Afterwards, simply rinse in warm water; if the result is not satisfactory, repeat the procedure.
6. Velvet. An ordinary bread crumb will help remove stains from velvet clothes. It needs to be pressed onto the contaminated area of ​​​​the fabric and left for some time, allowing the fat to be absorbed. Then put the item in the washing machine and the stain will disappear.
7. Knitwear. You can remove dirt on a knitted product using soap and sugar. You need to wet the stain with hot water, soap it well and sprinkle with sugar. Using a brush, rub the contaminated area for several minutes, then leave for half an hour. Then all that remains is to wash the item in the normal washing machine mode.
8. Silks. Silk is considered a delicate fabric, so you need to be careful when removing stains from silk items. A solution of glycerin, water and ammonia in proportions 1:1:1 will help with this.
9. Polyester. The method for removing greasy marks from this type of fabric is simple.Apply potato starch to the stain, place a cotton towel on top and iron. The procedure must be repeated until the stain disappears, adding starch at the same time.
10. Wool. Woolen items can be removed from greasy stains using purified gasoline. Lightly moisten a cotton pad and gradually move from the edge to the center of the stain, rubbing the product over the entire stained area.

In order not to spoil the item, first test the effect of the selected product on an inconspicuous area of ​​​​the fabric.

What is the difference between washing white and colored fabrics?

Wash white And black things significantly different from washing colored items. Many folk remedies are ideal for white and black things.

For example, to remove dirt on a white fabric, you can use:

• baby powder,
• talc,
• laundry soap,
• ammonia,
• brine.

The steaming method using tracing paper is also used.

Dirt on black clothing can be soaked in CocaCola or Pepsi., then put it in the washing machine. They also use mustard powder, diluting it with water to form a porridge and rubbing it into the greasy stain.

With colored clothes the situation is somewhat more complicated. The fact is that, unlike white and black clothes, they can lose their color, especially if aggressive chemicals are used. It may happen that when you try to clean a greasy stain, a separate section of the fabric may become more faded.

It has a high price tag, but the line includes many products for different types of fabrics. Using this product will allow you to safely remove greasy stains without losing the color quality of the item.

From folk remedies you can answer a solution of their water, salt and ammonia. Dilute the solution in proportions 1:1:1. This will help effectively remove oil and grease stains without damaging the fabric.

What to do if the item has already been washed?

Once a stain has been placed on clothing, it is highly not recommended to immediately throw it into the washing machine.

In most cases, this will not help get rid of the stain, but will only worsen the situation; not only will it not be washed off, but it will also spread over a larger area of ​​the product.

If it happens that the item was washed, it’s okay, it can be fixed. First of all, you can use one of the presented methods for removing old stains.

Before doing this, you need to pay attention to the type of fabric and choose the appropriate method so as not to aggravate the situation even more.

If the item is expensive, it is better not to risk it at all, but to go to dry cleaning. It is equipped with professional equipment to remove all types of stains. It will cost a little more than cleaning at home, but the result is guaranteed to be positive.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products Here.

Useful video

How to remove grease stains from clothes, video recipes:

Finally

Although at first glance it seems that the procedure for removing a grease stain is very complicated, it is not so. There are many ways to get rid of pollution at home. using improvised means.

We discussed most of them in detail in the article. The main thing is to follow simple rules and pay attention to the type of fabric so that the chosen method does not harm the item.