Oil is one of the toughest stains to remove when it comes to getting old stains out of the couch, it can be nerve nerve-wracking task. The point is how to get old oil stains out of the couch by using DIY methods.
It is advisable to remove oil stains instantly, but if you do not remove fresh oil stains from your couch or sofa it turns into a hard and toughest stain to remove. Keep reading the blog post and learn the 6 best ways to get old oil stains out of the couch.
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How To Get Old Oil Stains Out Of Couch
Your couch is one of the most used pieces of furniture around your house whether it is placed in your living room or bedroom. Your couch attracts varying stains and spills especially when you have kids or pets.
When you eat some oily food by sitting on your couch, it can result in oil spills on your couch fabric. Luckily, there are the best ways can help you get rid of ugly and tough oil stains to enhance the beauty and ambiance of your couch.
What to Do with Fresh Oil Stains
One of the most common mistakes you make to remove fresh oil stains is rubbing. Rubbing is not a solution to get rid of fresh oil stains even by doing so you can make your stain even worse. Rubbing expands the stain further and the stains remain forever.
The best trick to remove the fresh oil stain from the couch is to dab. Take a paper towel and dab it onto the surface to absorb excess oil. Apply minimal pressure and avoid damaging the fabric.
6 Ways to Remove Old Oil Stains from the Couch
No matter whether your couch has pizza grease stains, fries grease stains, or your oil-based moisturizer stains, getting oil and grease stains out of the couch can be done by following one of these ways.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the magic stain fighters used to remove a variety of old and tough stains effectively. This DIY method is old and can be used for several years.
How to Use:
- Blot the area with a paper towel. Make sure the paper towel is not dyed, a white, clean paper towel is sufficient. Let the paper towel absorb the oil as much as it can.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the surface of the couch and let it set for around 30 minutes.
- Vacuum the baking soda or you can use a damp cloth to remove the baking soda, use minimal pressure.
- Repeat the process if the stain is not removed thoroughly.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch works the same as baking soda does. Cornstarch is also a DIY ingredient that helps to get rid of old oil stains. You can use cornstarch alone or you can combine it with detergent or mild dish soap according to the nature of the stains.
How to Use:
- Dab the stain with a paper towel. Do the same process again to completely soak up the oil stains.
- Sprinkle cornstarch on the greasy or oily area.
- Let it set for 30 minutes or overnight to soak the residue of oil and grease.
- Vacuum the cornstarch and repeat the process until the stain is completely removed.
Alcohol
Can you imagine alcohol can do magic to lift oil and grease stains? If you do not want to use the above-given methods for some reason, you can use alcohol without any hesitation. How to get old oil stains out of the couch with alcohol?
How to Use:
- Take a small amount of alcohol on a paper towel. Make sure the quantity of alcohol on the paper towel should be moderate.
- Blot the stained area.
- Alcohol can be more useful to get stains out of the couch when the oil stains are fresh.
- Take warm soapy water to blot the area to remove the alcohol residues.
Baby Powder
Baby powder can help to absorb the stain and work the same way as baking soda and cornstarch do. Let’s find out how baby powder works.
How to Use:
- Sprinkle baby powder over the stains.
- Let it set for around 1 hour so that the powder absorbs the oil.
- Vacuum the powder.
- If you feel the oil stain is left, you can use mild dish soap and water to remove the stains.
WD-40
WD-40 is the famous DIY method to remove oil stains. WD-40 is effective in getting stains out of the couch but comes with little drawback as it creates discoloration on the couch.
How to Use:
- Dab the stain with a paper towel.
- Spray a moderate amount of WD-40 on the stain.
- By using the paper towel, dab the stain again.
- Pour a small amount of liquid soap and water on a white, clean cloth and clean the stained area of the couch.
Liquid Cleaner
If you are concerned about the fabric of your couch or sofa and you are wondering how to get old oil stains out of the couch without damaging it,specific types of oil-removing liquid cleaners are available on the market.
Commercial oil-removing liquid cleaners do a good job and are considered the best solution to get old stains out of the couch. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to use the cleaner. Always use any of the cleaners with caution.
Tips to Remove Oil Stains from the Couch
Here are a few tips that can help you to remove oil stains from the couch effectively. Read the tips keenly to prevent the situation worse.
- Oil and grease stains are hard to remove. Tackle the stain as soon as possible.
- Do not rub the stain with a paper towel or cloth as you will expand the stain unconsciously.
- Baking soda is the most powerful ingredient that can help to get rid of the stains. Sprinkle baking soda generously over the stain and let it set for almost 30 minutes because the baking soda can absorb the oil.
- When you are working on oil or grease stains, use very little water. Excess water can also spread the stain.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals like vinegar as it can cause discoloration or can damage the surface of the couch.
- Avoid using heat until you are sure the stain is gone.
- It is best to test any of the cleaning methods on an inconspicuous area of the couch rather than apply directly over the stained area.
How do you get dried oil stains out of fabric?
Some fabric materials can be very difficult to remove the stains. Dishwashing liquid and warm water are effective in removing oil stains from the fabric. There are different types of fabric including cotton, polyester, chenille, and more. Always test any cleaning method on a small portion of the material.
To get rid of stains, dampen the stained area with warm water and apply a small amount of dishwashing liquid directly. With a soft bristled brush rub the stain in a circular motion. Rinse the area with warm water. Repeat the process until the stain is removed. Now, you can machine wash your fabric with hot water and detergent.
Does vinegar get rid of oil stains?
Vinegar is effective but it may not be suitable for all types of oil stains. Blot the stain area with a paper towel. Dampen the affected area with white vinegar. Allow the vinegar to sit for 15 minutes to lift the oil residues. With a clean cloth blot the treated area again to soak up the oil mixture and vinegar. With warm water, rinse the area.
Try to avoid strong vinegar as it can lead to damage to the material or discoloration. Always test the cleaning solution on a small portion of the material.
Will hydrogen peroxide remove oil stains?
Hydrogen peroxide is inexpensive and can work on oil stains. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong chemical so it is advisable to test on an inconspicuous area before applying over the stain. Spray a small amount of solution directly on the stained area. You can use a clean cloth to apply on the stained area. Blot the stain to lift the oil mixture, and rinse the area with warm water. Wash the fabric with detergent and hot water, until the fabric type is suitable.
Conclusion
Oil and grease residue are the most challenging stains to get rid of from a couch. In this blog post on how to get old oil stains out of the couch, you must try to remove the stain immediately. To get old oil or grease stains out of the couch use above given DIY methods according to the available resources. You can use any liquid cleaner specifically designed to deal with tough oil stains.
