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How to get bike grease out of clothes?

It’s an unfortunate reality that sometimes, clothes get dirty even when we’ve tried to take great care of them. The best way to deal with this is to prevent it from happening in the first place. However, if your bike grease-stained top has already made its way into your wardrobe, there are many ways how to get bike grease out of clothes.

How to get bike grease out of clothes
How to get bike grease out of clothes?

Here are tried and tested methods for removing bike grease stains from clothes.

Use baby wipes

Insert damp baby wipes between the fabric and the stain, allowing the baby wipe to absorb as much of the grease as possible. You can do this by either adding more baby wipes in layers or by placing a whole stack on top of each other if they’re thin enough. Leave in place for several minutes before washing normally in warm water. Repeat the process if necessary.

Apply petroleum jelly

Cover any remaining visible oil stains with a layer of petroleum jelly and leave for several minutes before washing in warm water.

Rub some petroleum jelly onto the grease stain before tossing it into your laundry hamper for laundering later on. Wash your clothing at the hottest temperature the fabric can handle, and you shouldn’t see any grease stains left afterward.

Spray with WD-40 or cooking oil

Spray the greasy area generously with WD-40 and rub some baby powder into it. Allow to sit for 10 minutes and then launder as normal. If you don’t have any baby powder, use ordinary talcum powder instead and apply some cooking oil over it. Rinse well until the powder is gone and then launder as normal.

Apply shaving cream

Place a generous amount of shaving foam on top of the grease stain and leave for 20 minutes before laundering as normal using cool water. You can add salt to this mixture which will add extra scrubbing power when laundering your clothes; hence its effects are more than just having grease removed.

Turn the clothes inside out

Turn your stained clothing inside-out and apply more powder or liquid, depending on what you’re using, then place in a plastic bag and leave overnight. Wash the next day in hot water to wash away grease stains.

Use an eraser

Rub over any remaining oil stains with a pencil eraser or similar cleaning device until it’s gone before laundering as normal. If there are no remaining marks after this process, launder normally at high temperatures. For stubborn stains, makeup three separate batches of lemon juice mixed with boiling water and add two tablespoons of salt into each one before leaving the clothing in them for approximately one hour per batch. Once there are no longer any visible stains, rinse in cold water and launder. If you don’t have any lemon juice, try using white vinegar or alcohol instead.

Apply dishwashing liquid

Apply some dishwashing liquid to the stain and cover it with cling film for 24 hours before washing normally at high temperatures. Hang your clothing out overnight if possible to dry when you need them again, otherwise tumble-dry on the highest setting that the fabric can tolerate. For items that cannot be washed in hot water, such as suede shoes, use a damp cloth to rub over the grease stains while wearing rubber gloves before hanging outside to dry. Alternatively, you can use a mix of equal parts white vinegar and water to clean greasy marks from suede.

Try vinegar or hand sanitizer

Pour white vinegar directly onto the greasy part of your clothes, rub it with a clean toothbrush in circular motions, and then hang in direct sunlight to dry. Alternatively, you can use hand sanitizer gel to draw out the oil in the same way by applying it directly onto the stain using a cotton ball or tissue before washing as normal.

Use hairspray

If your greasy item is made from fabric, spritz it generously with hairspray before tossing it into your washing machine along with some detergent. For silk clothing, try spraying on some vodka instead and avoiding putting too much pressure on the fabric while rubbing at any stains which may be visible afterward.

Apply salt, cornstarch, or talcum powder

Mix equal parts cornstarch (cornflour), Epsom salts, and baking soda before sprinkling onto the grease stain. Add enough water to make a thick paste before applying it to the affected area of clothing. Leave for 30 minutes before rinsing in cold water and then laundering as normal. Suppose you don’t have any baking soda; substitute for an equal amount of talcum powder instead. Use either fresh lemon juice or vodka mixed with vinegar or alcohol instead of hairspray if your garment is made from fabric, taking care not to soak it so much that it damages the material.

Place dryer sheets

Place some dryer sheets inside your clothing as you iron them, as this will absorb any oils or grease which may be on the surface of your clothing. Always use an ironing cloth over delicate materials to prevent causing any unwanted damage before placing it in the dryer.

Use WD-40

For surfaces such as metal, vinyl, plastic, and rubber, use WD-40 instead before cleaning it off with a clean cloth or paper towel. You can then launder normally afterward. This solution is not recommended for clothes that cannot withstand high temperatures because it doesn’t always wash out thoroughly enough during laundering.

Try a bar of soap

Rub a small amount of a bar of soap onto the grease stain before tossing it into your washing machine for laundering as normal. However, this method is only really effective on items made from natural fibers such as wool, cotton, or silk. If you have synthetic fabrics in your wardrobe that cannot be washed at high temperatures, then hold them over steam next time you’re doing laundry to remove as much oil as possible from the surface instead.

Dissolve cornstarch in lemon juice

Make a paste by mixing one tablespoon of corn starch with two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice until it forms a thick substance. Apply this to the grease stain by rubbing with a toothbrush before washing as normal.

If you’re looking for a way to get bike grease out of clothes, we hope this post has provided some helpful ideas and tips. Although it might be difficult at times, the best thing you can do is try your hardest not to let it build up in the first place!

How to get bike grease out of clothes?
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