Sometimes, the toughest stains don’t come from spills and accidents but from your skin itself. Are you struggling to remove oil stains or waxy textures from your favorite sheets and garments?
Whether your skin is naturally oily or you’ve been sweating from the summer heat, lingering skin stains are normal this time of year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get rid of them!
Here’s how to clean oily sheets and clothes for an end-of-summer refresh.
Laundry Tips: How to Clean Oily Clothes and Sheets
The pre-treating method
As with nearly all stains, pre-treating oily residue—starting the removal process before using the washing machine—is essential.
One easy product to try is Dawn dish soap. For individual stains, simply apply the soap directly to the mark, rub it in, and let it sit for 15 minutes before machine washing.
If you’re dealing with an all-over waxy texture, add one tablespoon of soap per gallon to a basin of warm water. Add the garment or sheets, soak it entirely, and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Before machine washing, give it a good rinse under the sink to remove as many suds as possible.
For a stronger product, try the same steps with Lestoil instead of dish soap.
Either way, select a warm water setting on your machine.
Want to learn more about unique laundry products to try?
The soaking method
If you have time for a more intensive strategy, follow these steps:
Add ½ cup of Borax, ½ cup of Oxiclean, and ½ cup of liquid laundry detergent to a large pot on the stove.
Place your items in the pot.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn it to the lowest heat setting.
Let everything soak in a simmer for at least one hour.
Rinse the items under warm tap water, then machine wash as usual in high heat.
The baking soda method
Do you prefer more natural cleaning products? Baking soda can also save the day!
For individual stains:
Make a paste by mixing four tablespoons of baking soda with a ¼ cup of water.
Cover the stain with the paste and let it dry completely.
Machine wash the item in cold water with a gentle detergent.
For all-over oil stains:
Fill a basin with enough room temperature water to submerge your items.
Mix in about ½ cup of baking soda.
Add your items and agitate them for 1-2 mins.
Let them soak for about 8 hours.
Machine wash as usual with cold water and gentle detergent.
Now that you know how to clean oily sheets and waxy clothes, you can scrub away summer heat once and for all!
In a pinch and need speedy laundry help? Search WaveMAX laundry near me or visit our website to schedule a professional wash and fold pick-up and drop-off in the Denver metro area.
