Fuel oil is refined petroleum containing petroleum resins and asphaltenes. These components are insoluble in acetone, ether or alcohol. Most products that can remove them corrode the stain along with the clothing - which is why fuel oil is considered a defect that cannot be removed.
Don’t despair and take the item to the trash bin: washing fuel oil from clothes without harming the fabric is difficult, but still possible. Learn how to clean oil stains and important rules to follow during the process.
Rules for dealing with fuel oil stains
Before you start washing the stain, read the removal rules: they will help you not spoil the item and quickly get rid of the fuel oil.
- Test the product on an inconspicuous area of clothing: on the inside, in the groin area for pants and in the armpit area for sweaters. If the color and structure of the item are in order, you can use the product in a visible place.
- Place a thick cloth, cardboard or paper under the stain so that during the removal process at home, the fuel oil does not get onto the other side of the clothing.
- Remove the stain from the edges to the center, otherwise it will spread throughout the fabric. And also do not forget to slightly moisten the item so that fuel oil contours do not remain on it.
- Do not wash the item of clothing in the washing machine with other items. Before washing, it is necessary to get rid of the smell, otherwise all washed clothes will become saturated with it.
- Dry the treated item in the fresh air so that the unpleasant odor disappears faster.
How to wash special clothing stained with fuel oil - video:
It is recommended to wear gloves and a respirator: the smell of fuel oil is quite pungent, and it can also be absorbed into the skin. Additionally, some cleansers are quite harsh and can be harmful to your hands.
Folk remedies
To solve the problem of how to wash fuel oil from clothes, there are many available substances that can be successfully used at home.
- Butter
A small speck of fuel oil already absorbed into the clothes will remove the butter. Apply a generous layer of it to the stain and leave for several hours. Then moisten the cotton wool with any organic solvent and clean off all marks.
- Ammonia
You can get rid of fuel oil on clothes by moistening the marks with ammonia and washing the item after half an hour.
A mixture of ammonia and turpentine in equal volumes is another answer to the question of how to wash fuel oil from wool, velvet, and silk. Soak a sponge in it and wipe the stain thoroughly. They wash the item by hand using laundry soap, and then put it in the washing machine.
They also make a mixture of ammonia and turpentine (a teaspoon each), add starch and baking soda (2 tablespoons each), mix and spread over the oil stain. After drying, wipe off the oil product with a rag soaked in household detergent.
- Baking soda
Before scrubbing off the fuel oil, dilute baking soda (200 g) in water (10 l). Soak clothes for 50 minutes. After this, rub the stain with laundry soap and remove any remaining dirt.
- Antipyatin
You can cope with the problem of removing fuel oil stains from clothes by purchasing Antipyatin, which contains glycerin. This product is used for fresh small marks.
- Aroma oils
Here's how to remove fuel oil from delicate natural and artificial materials using aromatic oils:
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Choose fir, eucalyptus, pine. Wipe off fresh stains with a cotton swab dipped in these substances. If the contamination is ingrained, 5 minutes after soaking in oil, you need to clean the contaminated area with a cotton swab dipped in turpentine.
- Car shampoo
Heavily soiled work clothes are simply soaked in water with car shampoo diluted in it. To clean individual fuel oil marks, moisten a sponge or cotton pad and treat the contaminated area.
How and with what to remove fuel oil from thin fabrics?
Lightweight clothing made from natural and synthetic fabrics is very sensitive to cleaning agents. Removing fuel oil from polyester, cotton and other delicate fabrics should be gentle and gentle: the risk of damaging the item and ruining it irreparably is very high.
There are several gentle methods that can get rid of stains on thin fabric.
Dishwashing liquid
This method will help if the stain is fresh and small in size. The fabric is cleaned like this:
- Apply 2-3 drops of the product to the damaged area.
- Rub thoroughly and leave for half an hour.
- If traces remain, soak for an hour in warm soapy water.
Then the clothes must be washed by hand, using the same product or powder.
Tar soap
You can wash fuel oil using natural tar soap: it is gentle, but at the same time deeply cleansing. You can buy soap at a pharmacy or hardware store.
It is used like this:
- Soak damaged clothing for half an hour or an hour.
- Rub the stain with soap and leave for 15–20 minutes.
- Hand wash, rinse and dry.
Tar soap has a characteristic odor that is unpleasant to many, so rinsing should be long and thorough. Then wash the item of clothing in the washing machine.
Hot way
To remove fuel oil using this method, you will need loose moisture-absorbing paper and an iron. Cleaning the fabric is done as follows:
- Place the paper on the ironing board and place the item on top.
- Warm up the iron and begin ironing the damaged area.
- Repeat ironing until you can completely remove the stain from the paper.
Afterwards, the item must be soaked in powder, treated with a stain remover and washed thoroughly.
Eucalyptus oil
You can clean the fabric using oil: eucalyptus oil is best, a slightly less good option is fir oil. The method of application is simple:
- Place a piece of cloth or a layer of cotton wool under the stain.
- Soak a piece of cotton wool in the oil and rub the stained area.
- Rub the fuel oil, replacing the damaged cotton wool, until it disappears completely.
Afterward, wash your clothes with a quality stain remover to remove dirt and odors.
Aggressive means for washing fuel oil
Compositions that will help wash fatty fuel oil are divided into alkaline and acidic. The first include gasoline, acetone, and caustic soda. Acidic - turpentine, ammonia. Ethyl alcohol, any shampoos, and toilet soap do not remove stains from surfaces.
Refined gasoline
Contamination can be easily washed off with gasoline, which is sold in the hardware department or tourist stores and is intended for burners, stoves, or refilling lighters. It will cope with the most difficult stains. It is forbidden to use gasoline for things made of synthetics - under its influence they are deformed. Suitable only for natural fabrics - after treating them, wipe the area with soapy water.
To wash off stubborn fuel oil, the following instructions will be useful:
- Place a thick piece of paper under the stain.
- Dampen a rag with gasoline and wipe the stain from the edges to the middle.
- Dissolve washing powder in water and add stain remover.
- Soak clothes for 1 hour, then rinse well.
Acetone
The product effectively dissolves fuel oil, but can damage tissues that require careful handling. To clean a robe or other item from contamination, you need to soak a cotton pad or napkin in the liquid and wipe the stain.
Caustic soda
Caustic alkali quickly dissolves fatty substances. Apply it to the stain, leave it on for 25 minutes, and then wash it as usual. If it was not possible to remove the fuel oil using this method, then dissolve 1 tbsp. l. caustic soda in half a liter of water and soak the stain. Then wash the item. The use of alkali on cotton and wool fabrics is prohibited.
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Removing stains from thick fabrics
Thick fabric items that are cleaned of fuel oil most often include work suits and denim. Removing stains from this type of clothing is easier: these fabrics are not so delicate, so you can use aggressive products without the risk of ruining the item.
Gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel
Aggressive and toxic, but perfectly working products. When choosing gasoline, you should give preference to a pure product from a hardware store rather than a refill.
The method of application is similar to using oil:
- Place fabric, cardboard or thick paper under your clothes.
- Soak a piece of cotton wool in the product and wipe the stain.
- Soak the item, then wash it by hand and put it in the washing machine.
The same method of application is suitable for toluene: this product is more difficult to buy, but it cleans things more effectively.
Removing motor oil and fuel oil from clothes - video:
Butter
The oil is used on old and dried stains to soften them and subsequently wipe them off. The usage method is:
- Remove the oil from the refrigerator and keep it at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.
- Cut a small piece and place it on the stain.
- Leave for 3-4 hours, then remove and treat with any cleanser.
In addition to butter, a mixture of glycerin and 72% laundry soap can be used for the same purposes.
Car shampoos
Car cleaning shampoos are aggressive and potent products purchased at auto parts stores. It is used as follows:
- Soften the stain with oil if necessary.
- Apply shampoo to the damaged area.
- Rub in and leave for half an hour.
After the expiration date, the item must be washed: first by hand, to eliminate the smell, and then in the washing machine. To improve the effect, you can use a stain remover.
Clay paste
You can remove fuel oil stains at home by preparing a clay paste. It requires 50 ml of turpentine, 50 ml of ammonia, 50 g of white clay and 45 g of starch.
- Mix the components in equal proportions.
- Apply to clothes and leave for 2-3 hours.
- Remove the mixture with a brush.
This method can damage the fabric if you use an overly hard brush. Prefer softer bristles, and then put the item in the wash on the “heavily soiled” cycle.
Organic solvents
Organic products dissolve oils, resins and can help solve the problem of how to remove fuel oil stains from clothes.
When resorting to removing traces of fuel oil using gasoline, remember that what is required is not ordinary, but purified gasoline purchased at a hardware store. We saturate a piece of soft rag and remove the oil stain, replacing the dirty rag with a clean one. Gasoline can be replaced with kerosene.
A mixture of baking soda and white clay, taken in equal volumes, into which ammonia and turpentine are poured to form a viscous slurry will help remove fuel oil from clothes. It is distributed over the oil marks and kept until dry. Before washing, all that remains is to remove the dried particles of the mixture with a brush.
You can quickly remove fuel oil stains with toluene, which is part of a number of cleaning products. When working with them, you will need personal protective equipment - a mask, gloves.
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We wash fuel oil from outer clothing
Fuel oil can end up not only on jeans or a T-shirt: it often contaminates outerwear, such as jackets, sheepskin coats, fur coats or coats. How to clean such things without damaging them or ruining their appearance?
Useful video:
Cleaning jackets
Removing fuel oil from a jacket or down jacket may seem like an easy task, but this is the wrong conclusion. Despite the density of synthetic jacket material, it is not resistant to aggressive agents for thick fabrics, so it is easy to damage.
You can clean your jacket using gentle methods:
- tar soap;
- dishwashing liquid;
- turpentine and soda;
- fir oil
Fuel oil can also be removed from a down jacket with car shampoos or clay paste used on work overalls or jeans. After this procedure, the item must be washed in a washing machine according to the instructions on the label.
other methods
Do you need to clean overalls, work clothes, textiles from difficult-to-remove stains from fuel oil and other lubricants? The following tips will help you with this and can help you get rid of even the most stubborn stains.
Machine washable
Industrial degreaser
Never soak clothing contaminated with heating oil or oil in cold water. Fatty substances will be fixed in fabric fibers due to chemical properties!
Cleansing procedure:
- Apply a commercial degreaser to a sponge soaked in hot water. You can use a general-purpose degreaser, available in household chemical stores; Before use, read the instructions and make sure that the substance is suitable for the item being treated.
- Test the product in an inconspicuous place to avoid discoloration of the fabric.
- Using a sponge, carefully treat the blot, leave the substance to act for 5 minutes (or follow the instructions).
- Then put the clothes in the washing machine, add a good stain remover in addition to the washing powder you usually use.
- It is recommended to wash at 60°C. But if the fabric from which the clothes are made requires a gentle temperature regime (not higher than 30-40°C), it is advisable to add a little dishwashing detergent to the drum.
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Treating stains with dishwasher
Dishwashing liquid
Dishwashing detergent is good at removing grease from kitchen utensils, so it can be used to remove fuel oil stains from clothes. It contains special substances that absorb fat. Apply a little product to the dirty area and rub with a small sponge or your hands.
If the blot is large and has penetrated to the wrong side, apply the product to both sides of the item and wipe again. Leave it to act for a while, then rinse with water and wash.
You can use vinegar water to rinse dish soap - it is more effective than plain water. Mix vinegar with water (1:2), rinse the stain in the solution. Vinegar can be replaced with lemon juice or acid. After this procedure, place the clothes in the washing machine, select a program according to the instructions on the label.
Starch + turpentine + ammonia + white clay
Mix these components thoroughly, apply the resulting suspension to the stain, and a little to clean surroundings. After drying, wash.
Stain removers Vanish
"Vanish"
If the fuel oil has not had time to penetrate the fabric fibers (up to 30 minutes after contamination), you can use a household cleaner such as Vanish. Apply it for 1-2 hours, then wash the item, again adding “Vanish” to the washing machine.
Car shampoo
The next effective remedy is shampoo used when washing cars (it can be bought at the automobile market). Apply shampoo to the blot for 30 minutes, then wash - by hand or in the machine - using regular powder.
Car shampoos
Baking powder, baking soda
These 2 powders, found in almost every kitchen, can be excellent helpers in removing fuel oil from things. Mix the powder with a little water. Apply the paste to the stain and leave to act (30-60 minutes). Then rinse under running water and wash as usual.
Starch
Sprinkle starch onto the greasy area and leave for at least 15 minutes. Then scrape or rinse and wash the garment.
Baby powder
Baby powder
Use the powder in the same way as starch, but leave it on for at least 30 minutes.
WD-40, lighter filler
Spray a small amount of WD-40 or lighter fluid onto the stain and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Then rinse the dirty area in warm water and wash.
Bile soap
Bile soap acts as a classic stain remover - it removes lubricants from most surfaces. Just rub the stain with it and rinse with water. To improve the result, you can use a brush; it will ensure better penetration of soap between the fibers.
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Bile soap for removing stains
Salt
To avoid the use of chemicals (which is important when cleaning baby clothes), try classic table salt. Apply a little salt to fresh stains (for old stains it will be ineffective), moisten with water, and rub with your hands. Wash in the washing machine, adding regular powder.
Artificial sweetener
A true master of the common cleaning products category, this artificial sweetener is suitable for treating any greasy stain. If fuel oil gets on your clothing or other surface, immediately wipe the area with an artificial sweetener that absorbs grease and moisture.
This method only works for fresh stains, but if you notice the stain in time, you can easily save your favorite shirt.
Shaving foam
Shaving foam
Take some shaving foam (not gel) into your hands and gently rub into the dirty area. Wait until the foam is completely absorbed and dry, then place the item in the washing machine using the longest program possible.
Butter
Paradoxically, you can remove fuel oil well using heavy-duty butter. Lubricate dirty areas, leave for a while, then scrape off the oil, treat the area with a small amount of technical gasoline or other grease solvent.
Butter
Cleaning other outerwear
At home, you will not be able to remove a stain from a coat, sheepskin coat or fur coat. Even delicate DIY products that can be used to treat jackets can destroy the structure of such items and permanently ruin their appearance.
You can try to remove the stain with dish soap or tar soap, but the best solution is to take difficult-to-clean clothes to the dry cleaner. Specialists who know how to handle such materials will be able to clean a wardrobe item quickly and without harm to the structure or appearance.
Useful tips for removing greasy stains from fuel oil - video:
Cleaning clothes from fuel oil is a complex and painstaking job. However, if the stain is fresh, the likelihood of successfully removing it at home is very high. In other situations, it is better to go to dry cleaning.
