Sorta OT - How do I get grease out of clothes?

[gumpy]

Oh yeah, I forgot, a little battery acid will take those grease spots right out!

Jimmy

That's another reason I have to promote my work clothes to REAL WORK clothes early. I run out of (literally) my REAL WORK clothes before they are worn out. 

[Hi yo silver]

Do what I have done for years in working on diesel locomotives on the railroad. Visit your local Goodwill or Salvation Army Thrift Store and buy second hand work clothes.  Keep them in your shop or garage, or in a in a container in a bus bay, changing into them when you have a dirty job.  When they are good and greasy, ditch 'em and use fresh ones.   

[RJ]

Brian -

My receipe is HOT water, 1 cup laundry detergent (usually Kirkland brand from Costco, but any of the majors will do), and 1/4 cup DAWN dishwashing liquid.  Set machine on small load, add soap, let fill and begin agitation.  Once agitation begins, reset water to large, and add clothes.  When agitation begins again, shut off machine and let everything soak for an hour.  After that hour, turn machine back on and let it finish it's cycle.  Repeat if necessary, but usually not needed.

Now, to avoid the problem that Richard mentioned, that of left-over oil contaminating the next load, I usually run the machine empty with HOT water, full load setting and 1/4 cup laundry detergent.  I know, "washing water" only is wasteful, but better than ruining good clothes.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[belfert]

Brian -

My receipe is HOT water, 1 cup laundry detergent (usually Kirkland brand from Costco, but any of the majors will do), and 1/4 cup DAWN dishwashing liquid.  Set machine on small load, add soap, let fill and begin agitation.  Once agitation begins, reset water to large, and add clothes.  When agitation begins again, shut off machine and let everything soak for an hour.  After that hour, turn machine back on and let it finish it's cycle.  Repeat if necessary, but usually not needed.

I wonder if this would work on a front loader.  There are no load size settings on a front loader.

Brian Elfert

[RJ]

Brian -

Use the same soap receipe, just add the clothes from the get-go.  Let agitate for awhile (3 - 4 minutes), then shut machine off for the hour soak, and restart.

Good luck!

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

Brian E, also cut Russ' soap receipe in half... since front loaders use half the water (and detergent) of the top loaders. Hate to see you have a "bubble experience"... 

Brian B.

[eglluvr]

Brian -

My receipe is HOT water, 1 cup laundry detergent (usually Kirkland brand from Costco, but any of the majors will do), and 1/4 cup DAWN dishwashing liquid.  Set machine on small load, add soap, let fill and begin agitation.  Once agitation begins, reset water to large, and add clothes.  When agitation begins again, shut off machine and let everything soak for an hour.  After that hour, turn machine back on and let it finish it's cycle.  Repeat if necessary, but usually not needed.

I wonder if this would work on a front loader.  There are no load size settings on a front loader.

Brian Elfert

Our frontloader locks the door, until the final rinse is complete....YMMV

Jim

[tekebird]

Have clothes your OK having grease stain on and don't worry about it.

Buy some work coveralls and let them get grease stained.

[belfert]

Have clothes your OK having grease stain on and don't worry about it.

These aren't my Sunday best or something.  I would just like to get most (not all) of the grease stains out.  It isn't like I don't have a ton of these shirts.

Brian Elfert

[loosenut]

This is the only old thread I could find in the archives.  I was wondering if there are there any improvements on the suggestions in this thread: wd-40, orange go-jo, kerosene, lanolin, toss when dirty, toss when stinky, buy used clothes-toss when stinky, tyvek overalls, overalls-toss when stinky, soak for an hour and what's the problem with a washed grease stain, is the last advice I can remember.

I've tried go-jo, soaking and tossing but it is starting to put a dent in my wardrobe.  I even asked at a couple of mechanics shops and the process is to give it to the wife or the service and it comes back clean. 

It seems if I stare too hard at the bus a grease just appears on my clothes.

Mike

PS It was interesting to read a 2006 thread.

[Tenor]

gotta put an ad in for Dawn as well.  It's what gets used on animals that have been caught in oil spills.  Works great on you and your clothes.  I just dump a bunch in with my regular tide.

Glenn

[luvrbus]

Mean Green and a power washer works for me a little rough on the fabric but a better alternative than the wife and her washer.     good luck

[Dreamscape]

I have an easier way, if the stuff doesn't come out, wear them till they fall off and throw them away!

I know it's not helpful but I've tried before and you know what, it doesn't work too well. Especially when you get black grease on them from a mixer gearbox, been there, done that!

Paul

[belfert]

I originally started this thread over two years ago. 

I ended using Dawn on my clothes, but by no means are they like new.  The Dawn lifted a lot of grease, but the grease spots are still evident.  I never expected the grease to totally go away.

[fe2_o3]

Laundromat-2AM...I've been kicked out of some of the best laundromats in the state.
Didn't hurt at all...Cable