How To Get Bike Grease Out Of Clothes

Imagine riding your bike on a Saturday in your favorite attire. Suddenly the bike's chain comes off and you begin repairing it. After fixing it, you noticed you've collected grease and dirt on your favorite t-shirt.

It may look like a mystery but no matter how careful you were, a bike's grease has a way of getting onto your clothes. You are not alone because every cyclist goes through the same thing.

The bad news is removing bike grease is tough. With a bit of patience, the good news is you can learn the different ways of removing stains from clothes. And if you want to save money, you can use household ingredients. But first....

Contents

1 Why do grease stains stick on clothes?
2 Ways you can remove bike grease out of clothes.
- 2.1 Biological Laundry Detergent
  - 2.1.1 Step 1: Spread the washing powder on the cloth or fabric.
  - 2.1.2 Step 2: Rinse with cold water.
  - 2.1.3 Step 3: Regular wash.
- 2.2 Using a dishwashing liquid to remove bike grease
  - 2.2.1 Step 1: Apply Talcum or Cornflower.
  - 2.2.2 Step 2: Sprinkle dishwashing fluid.
  - 2.2.3 Step 3: After that, you can give your clothes a regular wash.
- 2.3 Bar Soap or Shampoo
  - 2.3.1 Step 1: Use the bar soap or shampoo to cover the spot.
  - 2.3.2 Step 2: Rinse the fabric.
  - 2.3.3 Step 3: Wash the cloth.
- 2.4 Borax

Why do grease stains stick on clothes?

grease on clothes

Grease is made of emulsified soap mixed with vegetable oil or mineral that makes it a semi-solid lubricant. That said, grease has a high viscosity.

If you apply it to a solid surface, it creates a protective layer against the water. In other words, bike grease has water-repelling characteristics which make it sticky.

What that means is, you'll need something more than water to get rid of grease. Even with average laundry cycles, you'll still have a hard challenge removing the grease.

Having learned about the several methods of removing grease, let's look at a few ways that have worked for me.

Ways you can remove bike grease out of clothes.

This process depends on the type of clothing fabric you have. First, check your clothes' label to know the kind of fabric and washing instructions.

When your clothes have dirt make sure you start to clean them as soon as possible. If you have sensitive hands, make sure to wear protective gloves.

Biological Laundry Detergent

If you have synthetic clothes, you will have an easy time removing bike grease using this method. You can remove both dry and fresh grease using natural laundry detergent. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Spread the washing powder on the cloth or fabric.

A washing powder is a degreaser. You can apply it to the grease stains. Using a brush, you can slowly rub the washing powder on the grease stains.

Step 2: Rinse with cold water.

Once you have finished rubbing, you can wash and rinse the cloth using cold water. Let the water run through the clothes for a few minutes.

Step 3: Regular wash.

When the stain is completely out, you can put the clothes in a washing machine. Ensure you follow the instructions on the clothes care label when washing. When you are done, you can dry the clothes in the air.

Using a dishwashing liquid to remove bike grease

cleaning detergents

Dishwashing liquids can remove bike grease on synthetic and cotton clothes. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Apply Talcum or Cornflower.

If the grease stain is dry, sprinkle a little cornflower or talcum on the stain and wait for five minutes. Then you can use a brush to scrub the grease.

Step 2: Sprinkle dishwashing fluid.

Dishwashing fluids can remove oil and grease from dishes. The good news is, they can also remove grease from synthetic and cotton clothes.

All you have to do is put a tiny drop for the magic to work. If you find it sticky, you can mix it with baking soda and then use a toothbrush to rub the mixture.

Step 3: After that, you can give your clothes a regular wash.

If you find that the stain hasn't been removed, you can repeat the same method three times. When cleaning, make sure to follow the care label for instruction.

Bar Soap or Shampoo

washing shampoos

Bar soap or shampoo is ideal if you have a fresh stain on your clothes only. Here is the process to follow when cleaning your cloth using bar soap or shampoo.

Step 1: Use the bar soap or shampoo to cover the spot.

Then apply the shampoo or rub the bar soap on the grease stains. After you are done, dump the clothes in water or ammonia. Using the soap, rub on the stain until you see the foam. Laundry bars are excellent in grease stain removal.

Step 2: Rinse the fabric.

Here you will need to mix vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:2. The mixture will react with soap and remove all the alkalinity. After that, dip the stained part into the mix to remove the soap and the stain.

Step 3: Wash the cloth.

Once the soap and the stain are out, wash the fabric using laundry detergent to eliminate the remaining stains. After that, you can let it dry.

Borax

If the above solutions don't work, you can try Borax. Borax is one the best corrosive natural compounds. Borax is a natural solution that should be stored in a safe place.

The compound can be lethal when ingested. Borax is a stronger natural compound than baking soda. Ensure you don't have kids near you when you are using it. Here are steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Mix the compound with lemon juice to create a paste
Step 2: Apply the paste over the stain
Step 3: Give the past time to react with grease stains
Step 4: Clean the stained part with water
Step 5: After that, you can do the regular washing and allow the clothes to dry

Conclusion

Let's face it.

Bike grease is one of the toughest stains to remove on clothes. When it comes into contact with your clothes, never give them more time. Please get rid of them. Dry grease stains can damage your favorite clothes.

The good news is the methods above will help you get rid of the stains. If you plan to carry out serious maintenance on your bike, ensure you have gloves and protective clothing.

That way, you'll avoid stains. Otherwise, you will start buying baking sodas in bulk. Ensure you don't wear your favorite clothes when you are riding a bike. Although the methods above will get rid of stains, do all you can to make sure you can avoid bike grease on your clothes.