There is no doubt that DIY bike repairs save money and time. The problem, however, is that you have to deal with bike grease on your clothes after work.
This is probably the most frustrating aspect, but it doesn't have to be if you know how to get bike grease out of your clothes.
Simply apply a degreaser to the grease stain and leave it on for a few minutes. Then brush it gently before washing it off. After that, wash your clothes as usual with detergent.
Above is a general process for this, but we'll look at individual methods depending on your choice of degreaser.
From dish soap and bar soap to baking soda and vinegar, there are many degreasers to consider.
However, keep in mind that matching your fabric with the right degreaser is of paramount importance and I'll give you a few tips.
How to remove bike grease from clothes with household products
Here are some household products you can use to degrease your clothes.
- Biological detergent– Best for synthetic fabrics
- Dishwashing liquid– Best for fresh stains on synthetic fabrics and cotton
- block soap– Best for fresh stains on soft fabrics
- white wine vinegar– Best for heavy duty fabrics
- Backpulver– Best for fresh and dried stains on soft fabrics
- Baby pillows– Best for fresh grease on soft fabric
- Borax– Best for heavy duty fabrics
1. How to degrease clothes with biological detergents
Organic detergents have special enzymes that break down and dissolve fat. The degreasers are generally suitable for synthetic fabrics such as nylon, polyester, spandex, latex and rayon.
Note that a detergent acts as both a degreaser and a cleaner.
deliveries
- Detergent (Note theUnique washing powder in powder formthat contains no bleach and is generally safe on the skin. In addition, it has a relaxing scent and enjoys emollient properties.)
- damp cotton
- Clean water
instructions
- Cover the greasy area with detergent
- Rub the bottom of your garment with damp cotton
- Leave the detergent on for a few minutes before hand washing (again with detergent).
2. How to remove bike grease from clothes with bar soap
Provided the bike grease stain is fresh and the fabric is as soft as wool or silk, you can use bar soap to remove it.
deliveries
- block soap
- Old Toothbrush
- laundry detergent
- Clean water
instructions
- Dampen the greasy area with water and then rub it with a bar of soap
- Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the soap off after leaving it to sit for a few minutes
- Hand wash clothes with detergent as usual
- Rinse and dry the garment
3. How to degrease clothes with dishwashing liquid
Dishwashing detergents are fast players you can rely on when it comes to degreasing your synthetic and cotton clothes. Since dishwashing liquid is readily available in most homes, the approach is cheaper.
deliveries
- Dishwashing liquid (You can try thisDawn Dish Soap Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, which promises triple degreasing power)
- Backpulver
- Old Toothbrush
- Clean water
- laundry detergent
instructions
- Add some dish soap to baking soda to make a thick paste
- Apply the paste to the grease stains and gently scrub with an old toothbrush
- Leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off with water
- Finally, wash the garment as usual with detergent
4. How to remove bike chain grease from clothes with white vinegar
White vinegar is an effective degreaser. However, note that due to its acidic properties, you should only use it on durable fabrics like jeans.
Overall, it works best when mixed with equal parts lemon and plant-based soap.
deliveries
- white wine vinegar
- lemon juice
- laundry detergent
- Plant-based soap
- Old Toothbrush
instructions
- Mix equal parts vinegar and lemon juice, then add vegetable soap
- Apply the mixture to the grease stains and rub gently with a toothbrush
- Leave the application on before washing it off
- Finally, wash the clothes with detergent according to the label directions
5. Degrease clothes with baby powder
Baby powder is a fantastic choice for fresh grease on delicate fabrics like wool and silk.
deliveries
- Baby pillows
- Old Toothbrush
- Hot water
- laundry detergent
instructions
- Dampen your greasy clothes with hot water
- Sprinkle some baby powder on the greasy areas
- Leave the powder on for about 30 minutes before brushing it off
- Rinse the clothes with hot water and then wash them with detergent as usual
6. Remove bike grease from clothing with baking soda
Because of its excellent alkaline properties, baking soda is a good choice for both fresh and dried stains. However, the fabric must be a delicate fabric such as wool and silk.
deliveries
- Backpulver
- Clean water
- Old Toothbrush
- laundry detergent
instructions
- Sprinkle some baking soda on the grease stain and leave it on overnight
- Then brush off the baking soda before washing the clothing according to label directions
- For best results, you can use detergent
7. Degrease clothes with borax
Borax is naturally caustic and therefore only suitable for hard-wearing fabrics. If you use it on a soft cloth, you may damage it.
Also note that borax is deadly, which means you need to handle it with extra care.
deliveries
- Borax Cleanser (You can try the natural and unscented one20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Boosters)
- lemon juice
- Old Toothbrush
- Clean water
- laundry detergent
instructions
- Mix equal parts lemon juice with borax powder to make a thick paste
- Apply the paste to the grease and rub gently with an old toothbrush
- Give the application some time to work before washing it off
- Then wash the garment as usual with detergent
Other options for removing fat from clothes
a) Stain Remover (Best for stubborn stains)
A stain remover like thatGrandma's Secret 7001 Stain Removeris designed for the toughest stains. Here's how you can use it to get rid of hardened fat.
Note, however, that a stain remover works best with hot water. You need to pour hot water into the greasy clothes after applying a stain remover.
After that, you can hand wash the clothes with detergent.
b) Ammonia (Best for all stains)
Despite its sharp, suffocating odor, ammonia is an effective stain remover. It removes all stains and not just grease.
Note, however, that ammonia alone will not work. You need to mix it with dish soap, baking soda and hot water in a 1:1:8:4 ratio (ammonia, dish soap, baking soda and hot water).
c) WD-40 Spray (best for all stains)
Although WD4-40 sprays are oily in nature, they do possess degreasing properties. Here's how you can use them to remove grease from clothes.
You need to spray WD-40 on the stain, rub it in gently, and then wash your clothes with detergent.
A fantastic WD-49 cleaner and degreaser is theWD-40 Specialty Cleaner & Degreaser.
d) Paint Thinner (Best for hard fabrics)
Since paint thinner relieves pain and cleans brushes, you can also use it to remove bike grease from clothing. It is generally ideal for heavy duty fabrics.
You need to apply paint thinner to the greasy part and then rub it gently with an old toothbrush.
After that, wash the clothes with detergent according to the instructions on the label.
e) Degreasing wipes (best for wiping fresh stains)
Sometimes it helps to have a quick degreaser that you can use to remove a grease stain on the spot. Well what you need are degreaser wipes like thatGrease Monkey Entfettungstücher.
Such degreasers allow you to remove fresh stains on any fabric. Remarkably, you don't need soap or water to remove grease stains when you have degreasing wipes.
In addition, you can wear them on your cycling adventures.
frequently asked Questions
1. Does bike grease soil clothes?
Bike grease sticks hard to clothing, making it a stubborn stain. Bike grease can spoil your clothes if you're not careful.
The good thing is that it can be removed with a strong degreaser or stain remover.
2. What is the best degreaser for clothes?
There are so many degreasers on the market such as:Grease Monkey Entfettungstücher,Grandma's Secret 7001 Stain Remover, orWD-40 Specialty Cleaner & Degreaser.
However, note that you can still use natural options like vinegar, baking soda, borax, and cornstarch.
3. How do you get dried grease out of clothes?
You can remove dried grease from clothing by following these steps:
- Dampen the greasy area and apply dish soap, bar soap, washing shampoo or laundry detergent.
- Scrub it gently with an old toothbrush before rinsing it off
- Then wash the clothes with detergent according to the instructions on the label
4. Does WD-40 remove oil stains from clothing?
WD-40 has degreasing properties, which means you can use it to remove oil stains from clothing. You need to spray WD-40 on the oil stain and let it sit before rubbing it off.
Relevant post:
- How to remove bike grease from clothes
- How often should I clean my bike chain?
Closing thought:
Now you know how to remove bike grease from clothes. Depending on which method works for you, tackling stubborn fat is now more convenient.