How-to-Get-Essential-Oil-Out-of-Clothes

How to Get Essential Oil Out of Clothes

Knowing how to get essential oil out of clothes can be the difference between saving your favorite white layering tee and having to send it to the dump. Surely we all want to apply essential oils to our clothes is to make our clothes smell pleasant and feel fresh. So, what should we do when we got an oil patch on our favorite fabrics?

How Do I Remove Essential Oil Stains From Clothing

Ingredients

  • A piece of cloth or paper towel
  • Baking soda (based on the size of the stain)
  • Natural dish soap (a few drops to 1 teaspoon)
  • Vinegar (natural oxygen bleach)

Instructions

1. Blot the stains with a paper towel

Use a piece of cloth or paper towel to wipe off as much essential oil as possible to keep the most stubborn stains remains. Press gently, don’t rub, because rubbing would only help spread the stain.

If the essential oil stain has completely set, you can skip this step.

2. Apply baking soda

Sprinkle baking soda powder on the stained surface, then rub it with an old toothbrush to make it absorb for about an hour. The powder acts as an absorbent, to draw out excess oil absorbed into the fibers, leaving the fabric with less oil for further steps.

The sooner you do this, the better result of getting essential oil out of clothes. This step will help draw out some essential oils and make it easier to remove oil stains. Baking soda will turn yellow-brown after absorbing oil. Remove those discolored powder with a flat knife and repeat this process until the powder no longer absorbs the stain.

Remember to place a piece of cardboard or plastic between any layers of clothing, to avoid moving the stain to the other side.

holding-brush-to-clean
3. Pre-clean with dish soap

Apply a dish soap directly to the stain, then rinse the stain with a small amount of water until it creates a paste-like cover over the stained area. Use an old toothbrush to work the foam deeply into the fabric. It is best to work from the opposite side to the stain (or the back of the fabric), so we can prevent pushing the stain further into the clothes.

4. Wash the clothes on a hot cycle

After removing the oil stains on the clothes as much as possible, put them in the washing machine together with standard detergent and half a cup of white vinegar. Wash the fabric with hot water as it helps to melt and dissolve oil stains.

And you can get essential oil out of your clothes with oxygen bleach instead if you need a stronger solution.

However, do not put it in the dryer once the washing process is completed. This attempt may set residual oil stains on the fabric, making the stain almost impossible to remove. After air drying, check to see if any stains still remain. If so, repeat step 4 again. Only after confirming that you have completely removed oil stains, then you can proceed to the normal drying works.

Essential-oil-bottle-beside-white-towel

Eucalyptus-a Natural Detergent Handy Than You Think

Using oil to remove grease stains may sound weird though, it works actually. Eucalyptus essential oil is effective in removing oil stains, including helping you get essential oil out of clothes. Eucalyptus contains rich cineol, a natural substance that functions like a degreasing solvent. So effective it is, this oil’s degreasing performance is even better than some of the commonly used petroleum-based solvents.

There is no better substance than eucalyptus oil for the removal of grease stains and tar from clothes. Besides being used as clothes cleaners, Eucalyptus Oils are very useful for the renovation of cars and furniture.

Note: Stick to eucalyptus oil that is top-quality, pure, and rich in cineol to ensure its grease removing properties.

Use eucalyptus oil in step 3: Put a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil on the stain and wait 30 minutes. Then rinse the stain with a small amount of water. Repeat this procedure until the stain is gone. 

Then move to Step 4 as mentioned above. 

brown-textile-fabric

Finding a Stronger Solution?

Another practical method to remove such oil stains from clothes is to use 70% isopropyl alcohol. You can use 90% rubbing alcohol or any other concentration you want. But we would recommend 70% rubbing alcohol, as it is an effective concentration that can be safe to your skin in small amounts.

Soak a proper amount of alcohol with a cotton ball, and then gently tap on the stain. Do this for a few minutes, and you should see a noticeable outcome.

For larger stains, you can add rubbing alcohol to the spray bottle and then spray it onto the stain until the fabric is soaked. Rubbing alcohol needs roughly an hour to enter the fabric and remove stains. Normally you need to do this in a well-ventilated place to avoid exposure to alcohol vapor. When you are satisfied with the results, rinse your clothes with hot water afterward.

Can Essential Oils Stain Clothes? And How?

Like other oils, essential oils may stain our clothes and fabrics as well. 

Undiluted essential oil would usually form an obvious stain when it came into contact with your clothing. On the most common fabrics, the stains look like discoloration or dark patches, similar to grease patches from any other type of oil. Although not the worst type of stain, these patches are occasionally nasty and obvious.

Some fabrics, especially synthetic fabrics, react more to essential oils. The affected area changes its appearance and even change color instead of forming oil patches. Unfortunately, if this happens, the fabric is probably damaged and cannot be repaired. We all know that essential oils deteriorate plastics. Hence, we should never allow undiluted essential oils to contact with any type of plastic (including plastic bottles). Synthetic materials are also likely to deteriorate when in contact with essential oils. So, make sure they are always separated from each other.

Natural-Essential-oil

How to Use Essential Oils on Clothes Without Staining Them?

Many perfumes can be pungent and harsh, while what we really want is a natural and pleasant scent. Essential oils are a natural and healthier alternative when we want to fragrance ourselves up. 

Follow these instructions to keep you comfortable while enjoying the benefits of essential oils:

  • Just dilute the oil before use, in this simple way you can easily avoid essential oil stains on your clothes. The diluted spray not only makes application easier, but also minimizes the risk of skin sensitization to essential oils. 
  • The safest and most effective way is to use an essential oil diffuser. In this way, you can thoroughly perfume your clothes without worries about oil stains or overdose.
  • Putting on clothes after the oil absorbs when in a massage.
  • Avoid adding these essential oils to your laundry:

Blue Tansy

Jasmine

German Chamomile

Patchouli

Vetiver

Myrrh

Tangerine

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