Tuesday, I went over to help a teammate with a drum agitator. The air motor on top was spitting a bit of oil through its muffler. I noticed it when I felt a drop hit my face. Then I saw it all over my hand. And then... I saw it all over my shirt. It's a nice shirt, not quite dressy but not slobby either. (Thankfully, it's gray.) I wanted to put a drop of Dawn into the washer, but was afraid I'd have an epic soap-foam waterfall to deal with. So I put it through the wash with my normal detergent and cool water, then hung it to air dry. Yep... still got spots all over it.

Short version: I got oil on my shirt. How do I get it out?

Dawn dishwashing detergent works for me get the super strength and lather it up. It breaks down the oil very good. You might have to do it treat it a few times.

if Dawn dish soap doesn't work get some liquid freon (if you still can).. I use 1.1.1 Trichloroethane. Gets the oil out in a jiff, and washes right out in the laundry.

Also good to squirt a drop or two down someone with plumber's butt when they are bent over or squatting working on an aircraft strut, brakes, or tires

tatortodd will know

Another option: A full service dry cleaner can remove most stains.

I use hand degreaser or hair shampoo before washing....on collar's of shirts.

Well, I managed to get most if not all the oil stains out of my husbands shirts for him, I usually soak it in a tub with some Dawn, then I get a small scrub brush and make sure I put Dawn directly on the spots and scrub with the brush. Then I rinse and put through the normal wash cycle. I’ve had good luck this way.

Earlier in the year, I spent 3 weeks tearing down a 40-50 year old logistics/stacker crane system along with the red iron/railroad track it ran on.

In all my years of LE, the Military and heavy construction have I ever been so oily and greasy.

I grab a plastic tote and filled it with water then added either dawn, shout stain remover, or All laundry detergent.

I then let it soak overnight.
Then wash

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
tatortodd will know

I’m a house mouse now. Been a looooong time since I got oil on myself at work. Even then, it was FRC coveralls so I tossed them as they wouldn’t be fire retardant anymore (either oil not coming out or degreaser damaging FRC threads).

Thanks, y'all. It looks like Dawn is the way to go. Will try mrap's idea of putting it into a plastic tote overnight, then scrub on it like Ms. m1009 said.

Can't deny, though, that freon trick sounds like fun.

I've never had good luck removing anything after it's already been washed once .

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
I've never had good luck removing anything after it's already been washed once .

Yeah, this. That seems to set the stain, at least in my experience. But hey, try the things suggested here, you never know.

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
I've never had good luck removing anything after it's already been washed once .

Understood... and that's why I let it air dry instead of running it through the dryer. I know drying a garment will "set" a stain.

Not totally sure about exhaust stuff. That would be carbon heavy with water. Another vote for Dawn, but I'm not sure of anything after washing. Maybe ask a dry cleaner?


With OIL I always use the advice I got to use Spray and Wash and GoJo mixed, right on both sides of the stain. Lightly working it with an old toothbrush. Got it walking under a car and getting a really dirty drop of oil on a $85-90.00 shirt (in about 1992). Works like a dream on oil and auto grease.


Were it mine and I already washed it, I would go, right now, and coat it with a laundry pre treat spray and any automotive hand cleaner ya got. Especially if it is orange smelling. Just leave it a day while you talk to a dry cleaner.

Dawn. Directly on the spot, use a brush or your hands and work it thru the oil. Then rinse in the sink.

Dawn, if it’s good enough for ducks, it’s good enough for everything. We used it in the bilges, and oil spills when I was in the CG

If that doesn’t work I’ve used brake cleaner to remove oil from an expensive white shirt. Put a rag down to boot and spray right on it. But I’d check it first it was a cotton shirt. Might not want to use it on synthetic

I’ve always found this stuff very effective at removing oil spots from clothes by slathering a bunch on, letting it soak in, and then running it through the washing machine.

Dawn, scrubbing by hand or with a toothbrush.

I keep an old Dawn bottle around with diluted Dawn. If I get oil on me I'll add a quarter cup roughly to the wash. Never had an issue with too many suds.

Pre soak with preferred stain remover then pour a couple cans of Coca Cola in the load. Wash with hot water & detergent. In all my airplane wrenching USN years, this was the best method I ever found for getting hyd fluid & JP5 out of coveralls & uniforms.

Acids in the coke break down the petroleum but wont eat the fabric. Might take a couple cycles to get complete depending on the amount.

When I worked in garages part time I always used Lestoil in my laundry to clean my jeans. It got all the grease out. That was 30 years ago so it may not be as good nowadays.