Coconut oil can be extremely useful when it comes to cooking or moisturising. No matter what you chose to use it for, this wonderful product will eventually end up on your clothing, leaving unsightly greasy stains.
Fortunately, coconut oil stains (if treated on time) can be easily removed from fabrics with only a few common household ingredients that you probably already have at home. Keep reading to see what steps you should take when you end up having oily stains anywhere on your clothing, upholstery, or other fabrics.
Before you attempt any cleaning methods, make sure you check the care label of the fabric. If the fabric is labelled as ‘’dry-cleaning only”, you should get rid of any solids, and use a paper towel or a clean dry cloth to blot away most of the oil, then ring it to a professional. Do not attempt cleaning such garments at home because you will end up ruining them.
Make sure you follow any specific instructions that are mentioned on the label. If you are not sure whether or not you should wash the fabric at home, sprinkle the area with cornstarch (it will absorb some of the grease) while you decide on how to proceed.
How to get rid of coconut oil stains from clothing
- Get rid of any solids by scraping them off with a dull knife, an old credit card, or a plastic scraper. Blot away the stained area using a paper towel or a napkin. Press down on the stain but never rub it in to avoid its spreading.
- Sprinkle a large amount of baby powder, talcum powder, or cornstarch on the stain. You will notice that in 15-30 minutes, the powder will absorb a lot of the oil. When it becomes greasy, brush it off and sprinkle the area with fresh powder. Keep repeating this step until all of the oil is absorbed from the fabric. Use a soft-bristled brush when removing the greasy powder from the garment.
- Pre-treat the stain with an enzyme-based liquid laundry detergent. Pour a small amount and gently rub it in with your fingers. Allow it to sit for about 20-30 minutes. This time will allow the enzymes to break down the oil and make it easier to remove when washing the fabric later.
- If you don’t have a solvent-based stain remover, dab a heavy-duty liquid detergent on the stain and work it in with a soft-bristled brush like an old toothbrush or by gently pressing the cloth together with your fingers. If all you have is powdered detergent, prepare a paste with little warm water and apply it to the stain.
- Wash the garment as usual (use the hottest suitable water temperature mentioned on the label). Do not use more than the recommended amount of detergent for a regular load. If the stain is on a synthetic fabric that shouldn’t be washed in hot water, such as polyester or nylon, stretch the pretreatment portion of the fabric over a bowl and pour a steady stream of hot water directly onto the stain, then wash in cold or warm water.
- When your load is ready, inspect the garment for any oily residue. If the stain is not completely gone, repeat the steps above and wash it again (keep doing this until the stain is completely gone). If you cannot tell if the stain is gone while the fabric is wet, allow it to air dry, then inspect it.
Pro tip: Never put fabrics with greasy stains in the dryer. The high heat of the cycle may set the stain and cause it to become permanent.
For older, set-in coconut oil stains
- WD-40 – To protect the rest of the garment, place a white towel under the stain. WD-40 should be sprayed onto a cotton swab or a paper towel and gently dabbed on the stained area. A little goes a long way, so don’t use too much.
- Add powder – Brush the area with a soft-bristled brush after sprinkling it with cornstarch or talcum powder. The powder will clump together and begin to extract the oils from the stain. Brush out the clumps. Repeat this step several times until there are no clumps left and only fine powder.
- Again, apply some enzyme-based (or heavy-duty) liquid laundry detergent and work it in with your fingers. Allow it to sit for 20-30 minutes, then launder the fabric as usual.
Here are some additional tips that will help you remove coconut oil stains easier:
- Don’t leave the stain on the fabric for too long. The longer it sits, the more difficult it is to remove.
- Do not rub or scrub a coconut oil stain without any cleaning product on it. You can push it deeper into the fibres of the fabric, making its removal more difficult.
- Do not put the clothes in the dryer until you are certain the stain has been removed. The heat from the dryer can permanently set in the stain.