Cleaning expert Jess from Australian homewares brand Hommey has shared a simple two-ingredient treatment to remove stubborn oil-based stains from clothes before they go into the washing machine. The method uses washing-up liquid and baking soda, two common household items.
How to clean oil-based stains
Jess recommended washing-up liquid as the key product for tackling oil-based stains, explaining that it acts as a degreaser. Once the stain is covered with washing-up liquid, she advised adding a sprinkling of baking soda and rubbing it into the stain. The homemade paste should be left to soak into the fabric for a few hours or overnight.
When the garment is ready to wash, Jess advised running the clothes on a cold wash with a modern bio-detergent. She explained: "It's a degreaser. Oil is a grease. You wanna break it down as quickly as possible. Get any dishwashing detergent straight into it when you take it off at the end of the day."
Why baking soda helps
The technique works because baking soda acts as an absorbent, soaking up the oil and drawing it out of the fabric. Combining washing-up liquid and baking soda provides the benefits of both absorbing grease and cutting through it. Washing-up liquid helps break down tough oil stains, loosening them before washing.
If the baking soda clumps together, this means it is doing its job. Baking soda also works as a deodoriser.
Treat stains quickly
However, the hack will not work if the stain has been allowed to dry out or if the garment has been put in the tumble dryer before treatment. For set stains on white clothes, Jess recommended using a dash of hydrogen peroxide.
She said: "Set oil stains are not your friend. Here's a general rule. Do not let a stain dry. So treat it as soon as you can. If you treat it and wash it and it's still there, treat it again before it dries, and do it over and over again until you get it out. And now you know how to adult properly."
