The smell of grease is one that is particularly difficult to get out of clothing. Whether you or someone you care for is working in the oil and gas industry, in a garage, or simply enjoys working on anything with wheels, this stank just refuses to go away once it gets into clothing. Even when clothes are washed regularly, they can still smell slick and dirty. This guide focuses on How to Get Grease Smell Out of Clothes.
Part of the problem with getting greasy smells out of clothes is that the stank penetrates into the fibers of the fabric. Once it takes up residence there, it’s hard to get it to move on. You’ll have to very aggressive about rooting out the source of this offensive odor. The good news is that you can conquer it and have clean-smelling clothes. Your clothes will be fresh and clean once you try the solutions our exhaustive research has found for you.
How to Get Grease Smell Out of Clothes
1 Oxyclean the Stank Out
Add a scoop of Oxyclean to your laundry detergent to give it a boost and lift the distinctive stank of grease out of your clothing. This product will work with liquid or powder soap. If you decide to try this solution, you will need to add the product to your wash water and wait for it to dissolve before you place the clothes in the wash water. If you are washing your clothes in cold water to save money, dissolve the Oxyclean in a cup of warm water before adding it to your wash.
2 Harness the Power of 20 Mule Team Borax
Borax is a natural product and it can also be used to give your laundry detergent a boost. The chemical name for this product is sodium tetraborate. You can find the 20 Mule Team brand product in the laundry aisle at the grocery store. Add 1/2 cup to a load of laundry to lift out the smell of grease and other assorted yecchiness in your clothing.
3 Lestoil the Odors Away
Lestoil is a pine-scented all-purpose cleaner. Look for it in a hardware store, at Home Depot or online. To use it on greasy clothing, rub a small amount onto the stanky item. Take your fingernails and work the liquid into the fabric. Toss into the washing machine and run it through a regular wash cycle.
4 Brush on Some Eucalyptus Oil
Make a paste out of eucalyptus oil and liquid dishwashing detergent. This product is available at health food stores and online. Rub it onto the clothing. You can use an old toothbrush to get it into the fabric and make sure it penetrates the fibers. Leave it in place for about 10 minutes. Wash the clothes as usual.
5 Go Green With Simple Green Degreaser
Simple Green is a biodegradable cleaner. It’s available at Sam’s Club and hardware stores. Spray a small amount of the product onto the clothing and brush in with an old toothbrush and some water. The best way to deal with greasy, smelly clothes is to spray the brush with the the Simple Green and add the water to it. Wash the clothes in cold water and hang to dry. Hot water and using a dryer will cause the grease and the accompanying smell to bake into the fabric. Repeat the process if necessary if you still notice an aroma after the first treatment.
6 Go for GOJO Hand Cleaner
Mechanics know that GOJO hand cleaner is an effective product for removing grease at the end of the working day. It can also be used to get the grease smell out of clothing. Treat the clothes with GOJO before washing. You will need to wash these items separately. Run the load through the washer a second time and use baking soda instead of laundry soap in the second load to cut out the GOJO smell.
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Thanks for these tips. Wish I had gotten them about 25 years ago. The smell is nauseating to me.