How to Get Bike Grease Out of Clothes

Getting any kind of grease out of garments is already hard as it is, talk more of blackened grease from a bicycle chain. Stains caused by bike grease are difficult to remove because they contain dissolved dust, dirt, and metallic particles that leave a stain even laundering.

If you have got ugly stains on your clothes due to bike grease? Then you may have tried to launder it only to find that the bike grease vacates but not without leaving stubborn stains behind. Do not give up yet because, in this post, we have outlined 10 tried & true ways to eliminate stubborn bike grease stains from your clothes.

10 Ways To Get Bike Grease Out Of Clothes

There are various approaches for removing bike grease from garments; go gentle or extra-tough depending, on the fabric type. Delicate fabrics like wool and silk don’t do well with harsh chemicals; for those, you may need to look up the garment’s care tags to see what the limits are.

Bike grease is hard to remove because they are water-resistant. In essence, the best way to get bike stains out of clothes is by first absorbing as much of it as possible before applying cleaning agents to the stain. 

With that in mind, we have ordered the list in a somewhat orderly fashion so that you can follow it without missing anything. With that said, here are 10 of the best ways to get bike grease stains out of your clothes: 

1. Cornstarch

If you get bike grease on your clothing, your first instinct is probably to wash it off with soap and water; you will only successfully remove some of the greases – some grease (and grease stain) will remain. That’s where cornstarch comes in. 

Corn starch is highly absorbent, and so, it can help to absorb the most grease from your clothing. Applying cornstarch will not extract the grease stains, but rather set the stage for other cleaning agents to work without interference.

Apply a thick layer of cornstarch to the grease stain and ensure that the affected spot is properly covered, then leave the garment to sit for 12 hours or overnight. 

2. Baby Powder

Baby powder is effective for getting oils out of clothes; it can absorb grease just as easily (baby powder contains Talc, which is a very absorbent mineral). If you don’t have cornstarch nearby, you can use baby powder instead. Spread baby powder on the grease stain then let the garment sit overnight. Make sure the grease stain is completely and evenly covered to achieve the best result. 

3. Dish Soap

A good dish soap, like Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, can come in handy for eliminating bike grease stains from your clothes. If you already applied cornstarch or baby powder on the grease spot and let it stand overnight, then it’s time to scrape it off and finish off the grease stain with a good dose of dishwashing soap. 

Drench the stain with dishwashing soap and let the garment stand for 15 minutes to allow the soap to act. After that, wash the garment as usual, but follow the instructions on your garment’s care tag. This method is suitable for all fabric types. 

4. Enzymatic Detergent

Enzymatic detergents contain enzymes specifically formulated to break down stains and odors which regular laundry detergent may fail to remove. Persil Laundry Detergent Liquid is an excellent option you can try. 

After extracting excess bike grease from your garment using cornstarch or baby powder, apply some Persil Laundry detergent to the grease stain and work it into the fabric until the spot is thoroughly saturated. Let the garment sit for about 15 minutes (or more for thick materials). Next, rinse off and wash the garment normally. 

Warning: Do not use enzymatic detergents on wool, silk, or other delicate fabric types. Always do a spot test using a small, inconspicuous part of the cloth before applying bio-cleaners to your garment.

5. Baking Soda + Detergent Paste

We take it, some stains can be very difficult to remove. Take this measure if the bike grease stain won’t come out completely: 

  • Mix a small amount of baking soda with liquid dishwashing soap until a consistent paste is achieved
  • Moisten the affected area using a moist rag, then apply the paste to the spot.
  • Work the paste into the fabric using an old toothbrush and let it sit for about 30 minutes. 
  • After the waiting period, rinse the paste off and wash the garment normally. 

Tip: You can clean white converse using this method.

6. Spot Remover + Hot Water

Alone, spot removers are excellent for removing tough, dried-on stains from garments. But not all grease comes out when you wash your clothes. A simple trick is to simply dissolve the grease stain with hot water, right after applying a spot cleaner.

If you have stains from bike grease on your cloth, spray the greasy section of the garment with spot remover and allow it to stand as specified in its usage instruction. Next, pour hot water on the greasy spot. This will help to break down any remaining grease particles causing the stain. Then wash the garment normally.  

Goo gone is a great spot and stain remover you can try. 

7. Tub O’ Towels

Tub O’ wet wipe towels are heavy-duty towel wipes that use a unique cleaning solution to dissolve tough stains – even stubborn ones caused by oils, and lubricants like bike grease. 

Banish the toughest kinds of stains with Tub O’ wipes –  it’s as simple as rubbing the spot with a Tub O’ wet wipe. After application, wait 30 minutes to allow the cleaning solution to act on the grease stain. 

When you need to rinse the grease stain, however, do so with the hottest temperature of water the fabric can tolerate. If you still notice a faint grease blemish on your cloth, just repeat this entire process. 

8. Vanish + Laundry detergent 

Apply Vanish liquid cleaner stain remover to the grease stain, then work it into the fabric thoroughly. Next, allow some time (about 30 minutes) for the stain remover to work. In the meantime, make a paste with laundry powder and a tiny amount of water. 

After the wait, smear the detergent paste on the grease spot and, once again, work it into the cloth fiber. Let it sit again for a few minutes, then wash the spot off with water (preferably hot). There’s hardly a stain that can survive treatment Vanish and laundry detergent.

9. Bar Soap

Using bar soap is an excellent way to pretreat bike grease smears on your garment before washing it in the machine. Here’s how you should do it: 

  • Without adding water, rub bar soap on the grease spot until completely covered. 
  • Using a wet sponge, work the stained area into a sud. 
  • Rinse away the sud using the hottest water temperature the garment will allow.
  • Now, you can finish off the stain removal process by tossing the garment in a washing machine. 

10. Washing Vinegar

Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is great at bringing out stains from everything including fabric – and washing vinegar packs a high concentration of acetic acid for that purpose. 

You can get fresh and old bike grease stains out of your fabric with a few simple actions . Wet the grease stain with washing vinegar and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. After that, throw the garment in the washing machine and wash it using the normal washing cycle.

How Do You Get Bike Grease Out Of A Waterproof Jacket? 

Cleaning waterproof clothing is a tricky business because you do not want to take any drastic measures that may damage its DWR treatment. But when you’ve got stubborn bike grease blemishes to remove, how do you go about it? 

Here are two ways to safely get bike grease out of a waterproof jacket:

Method 1

  • Extract as much grease as possible from the jacket using a clean rag.
  • Apply makeup remover on the grease stain and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. 
  • Rub off the makeup cleaner using a clean rag. 
  • Toss the jacket in a washing machine, pour a cup of vinegar in, and wash it without any soap or fabric softener. 
  • Spread outside to dry.

Method 2

  • Remove as much bike grease as possible using a clean rag.
  • Douse the affected area on the jacket with isopropyl alcohol. Make sure it’s not colored. Then let it stand for a few minutes.
  • Toss the jacket in a washing machine and pour in a dose of vinegar (no detergent or fabric softeners please). 

Note: If you wish to wash more than one waterproof jacket, wash them singly, not together. 

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