
Have you ever cringed at the thought of accidentally spilling a drop of olive oil and thought that dress was done for? Don’t worry, today we’re going to talk about how to easily remove these headache-inducing olive oil stains! Whether it’s a small mistake in the kitchen or an accidental spill while dining out, olive oil stains can be really stubborn. However, with a few simple tips, you can make these stains absolutely invisible!
1. Avoid curing the stains by treating them in the first place
We all know that the longer a stain lasts, the more trouble it takes to remove it. Olive oil stains are no exception! So, the first time you see an oil stain on your clothes, you want to be as quick as possible. Grab a napkin or paper towel and press gently to soak up as much excess oil from the surface as possible. Remember not to rub oh, this will instead spread the oil stain even more.
2. Sprinkle baking soda to absorb the oil easily
After sucking out the excess oil, the next step is to use some “magic”. Take out the baking soda, it is a good helper to remove the oil stains! Sprinkle some baking soda on a grease stain and rub it gently for a while. The baking soda will help absorb the oil and make the stain less stubborn. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then gently brush off the baking soda with a brush and check to see if the stain has lightened. **Tip:** Baking soda works best on fresh olive oil stains!
3. Detergent + Warm Water, Degreasing and Eco-Friendly
If you don’t think baking soda is strong enough, try detergent at home! Detergent oil effect is very great, but also very gentle stain remover. Take an appropriate amount of dishwashing liquid, add it to warm water and soak the stain for a few minutes. Afterwards, gently scrub the stain with your hands, being careful not to use too much force, lest you damage your clothing. Detergent is not only able to remove olive oil stains, but also effective in removing other oil stains, it is simply a must-have for the family.
4. Try baby oil or mineral oil
This may sound strange, but baby oil or mineral oil is also great for removing olive oil stains. While this may sound like a bit of an “oil on oil” approach, they can actually help dissolve the oil and make the stain easier to remove. All you need to do is apply a small amount of baby oil to the stain, wait a few minutes, blot with a damp cloth, and then rinse normally. You’ll be amazed at how well this “oil on oil” works!
5. Use a combination of vinegar + water
Just because olive oil stains are hard to remove doesn’t mean we can’t use natural cleaning methods! Mix white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio and pour it into a spray bottle. Lightly spray the oil stain, wait a few minutes, and wipe it off. The acidic content of white vinegar will help break down the grease and make your clothes look brand new.
6. Into the washing machine, the final step
Once you’ve completed the pre-treatment above, the final task is to put the clothes into the washing machine for a regular wash. Use a laundry detergent that is appropriate for the material of the clothes and choose a moderate temperature for the wash. This will ensure that the grease stains are completely removed and that you don’t harm the clothes.
7. Extra tip: Avoid using hot water
When dealing with olive oil stains, many people may think of washing the oil stains directly with hot water, but this is actually not appropriate. Hot water may cause the oil stain to become more fixed to the clothing. Cold or lukewarm water is usually better for treating oil stains and avoids the “curing” phenomenon.
8. Don’t rush, be patient
If you find that the stain is not completely removed after washing, don’t rush to put the clothes in the dryer. The high temperature may make it more difficult to remove the remaining stains. At this point, you can repeat the previous steps and wait patiently until the stain is completely gone. With one step at a time, the oil stain can really disappear without a trace!