There is no doubt that DIY bike fixes save money and time. The problem, however, is that you have to deal with bike grease on your clothes when done.
That’s probably the most frustrating aspect, but it doesn’t have to be so if you know how to get bike grease out of clothes.
Just apply a degreaser to the grease stain and allow it to act for a few minutes. Then brush it gently before washing it off. Afterward, wash your clothes with laundry detergent as you usually do.
Above is a general process for doing it, but we will look at individual methods depending on your degreaser choice.
From dishwashing liquid and bar soap to baking soda and vinegar, there are many degreasers to consider.
Note, however, that matching your fabric with the correct degreaser is paramount, and I’m going to share with you a few tips.
How To Get Bike Grease Out Of Clothes With Household Products
Here are some household products that you can use to degrease your clothes.
- Biological laundry detergent – Best for synthetic fabric
- Dishwashing liquid – Best for fresh stains on synthetic fabric and cotton
- Bar soap – Best for fresh stains on soft fabrics
- White vinegar – Best for tough fabrics
- Baking soda – Best for fresh and dried stains on soft fabric
- Baby powder – Best for fresh grease on soft fabric
- Borax – Best for tough fabrics
1. How to Degrease Clothes Using Biological Laundry Detergents
Biological laundry detergents feature special enzymes which break down and dissolve grease. The degreasers generally suit synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, spandex, latex, and rayon.
Note that a laundry detergent works both as a degreaser and cleaner.
Supplies
- Laundry detergent (Consider the Distinctive Powder Laundry Detergent, which has no bleach and is generally safe on skin. What’s more, it has a relaxing fragrance and enjoys softening properties.)
- Damp cotton
- Clean water
Instructions
- Cover the greasy area with laundry detergent
- Rub your garment’s underside with wet cotton
- Let the detergent work for a few minutes before hand washing it (again with laundry detergent)
2. How To Remove Bike Grease From Clothes Using Bar Soap
Provided that the bike grease stain is fresh and the fabric is soft such as wool or silk, you can get rid of it with bar soap.
Supplies
- Bar soap
- Old toothbrush
- Laundry detergent
- Clean water
Instructions
- Dampen the greasy area with water and then rub a bar soap there
- Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub off the soap after a few minutes of acting
- Hand-wash the clothes with laundry detergent as you usually do
- Rinse the garment off and dry it
3. How to Degrease Clothes Using Dishwashing Liquid
Dishwashing liquids are fast-actors that you can count on to degrease your synthetic and cotton garments. Given that dishwashing liquid is available in most homes, the approach is a cheaper one.
Supplies
- Dishwashing liquid (You can try out the Dawn Dish Soap Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, which promises three times degreasing power)
- Baking soda
- Old toothbrush
- Clean water
- Laundry detergent
Instructions
- Add some dishwashing liquid to baking soda to make a thick paste
- Apply the paste to the grease stains and scrub gently with an old toothbrush
- Allow it to act for a few minutes before washing off with water
- Lastly, wash the garment with detergent as you usually do
4. How To Get Bike Chain Grease Out Of Clothes Using White Vinegar
White vinegar is an effective degreaser. Note, however, that you should only use it on tough fabric like jeans due to its acidic properties.
Overall, it works best when mixed with lemon in equal parts and vegetable-based soap.
Supplies
- White vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Laundry detergent
- Vegetable-based soap
- Old toothbrush
Instructions
- Mix vinegar and lemon juice in equal parts and then add vegetable-based soap
- Apply the mixture to the greasy stains and rub gently with a toothbrush
- Allow the application to act before washing it off
- Lastly, wash the clothes with detergent as per the label instructions
5. How to Degrease Clothes Using Baby Powder
Baby powder is a fantastic choice for fresh grease on delicate fabrics like wool and silk.
Supplies
- Baby powder
- Old toothbrush
- Hot water
- Laundry detergent
Instructions
- Dampen your greasy clothes with hot water
- Sprinkle some baby powder on the greasy areas
- Give the powder about 30 minutes to work before brushing it off
- Rinse the clothes with hot water and then wash with detergent as you usually do
6. How To Get Bike Grease Out Of Clothes Using Baking Soda
Due to its excellent alkaline properties, baking soda is a decent choice for both fresh and dried stains. The fabric, however, has to be a delicate type like wool and silk.
Supplies
- Baking soda
- Clean water
- Old toothbrush
- Laundry detergent
Instructions
- Sprinkle some baking soda on the grease stain and allow it to act overnight
- Then brush off the baking soda before washing the clothes as per the label instructions
- You can use laundry detergent for the best results
7. How to Degrease Clothes Using Borax
Borax is naturally corrosive, and that makes it only suitable for tough fabric. If you use it on a soft cloth, you could damage it.
Also, note that borax is lethal, which means you have to handle it with extra caution.
Supplies
- Borax detergent ( you can try the natural and unscented 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster)
- Lemon juice
- Old toothbrush
- Clean water
- Laundry detergent
Instructions
- Mix the borax powder with lemon juice in equal parts to make a thick paste
- Apply the paste on the grease and rub it gently with an old toothbrush
- Give the application some time to act before washing it off
- Then wash the garment with detergent as you usually do
Other Options for Removing Grease from Clothes
a) Spot Remover (Best for Tough Stains)
A spot remover like the Grandma’s Secret 7001 Spot Remover is designed for the toughest stains. Thus, you can use it to get rid of hardened grease.
Note, nonetheless, that a spot remover works best with hot water. You need to pour hot water into the greasy clothes after applying a spot remover.
After that, you can hand-wash the clothes with laundry detergent.
b) Ammonia (Best for All Stains)
Despite having a sharp, suffocating smell, ammonia is an effective stain remover. It removes all stains and not just grease.
Note, however, that ammonia doesn’t work alone. You have to mix it with dish soap, baking soda, and hot water at a ratio of 1:1:8:4 (ammonia, dish soap, baking soda, & hot water).
c) WD-40 Spray (Best for All Stains)
Though WD4-40 sprays are naturally oily, they possess degreasing properties. Thus, you can use them to get rid of grease from clothes.
You need to spray WD-40 to the stain, rub it gently, and then wash your clothes with detergent.
One fantastic WD-49 cleaner and degreaser is the WD-40 Specialist Cleaner & Degreaser.
d) Paint Thinner (Best for Tough Fabric)
Given that paint thinner dissolves pain and cleans paintbrushes, you can also use it to get bicycle grease out of clothes. It’s generally ideal for tough fabric.
You’ll need to apply paint thinner to the greasy part and then rub it gently with an old toothbrush.
After that, wash the clothes with detergent according to the label instructions.
e) Degreaser Wipes (Best for Wiping Off Fresh Stains)
Sometimes, it helps to have a quick degreaser that allows you to get rid of a grease stain on the spot. Well, what you need are degreaser wipes like the Grease Monkey Degreaser Wipes.
With such degreasers, you can get rid of fresh stains on any fabric. Remarkably, you don’t need soap or water to eliminate grease stains when you’ve degreaser wipes.
Moreover, you can carry them on your biking adventures.
FAQs
1. Do Bike Grease Stain Clothes?
Bike grease sticks hard on clothes, making it a stubborn stain to deal with. If you are not careful, bike grease can spoil your clothes.
The good thing is that it’s removable using a powerful degreaser or spot remover.
2. What Is The Best Degreaser For Clothes?
There are so many degreasers on the market, such as the Grease Monkey Degreaser Wipes, Grandma’s Secret 7001 Spot Remover, or WD-40 Specialist Cleaner & Degreaser.
Note, however, that you can still use natural options like vinegar, baking soda, borax, and cornstarch.
3. How Do You Get Dried Grease Out Of Clothes?
You can get rid of dried grease from clothes by following these steps:
- Wet the greasy area and apply dishwashing liquid, bar soap, washing shampoo, or laundry detergent.
- Scrub off gently with an old toothbrush before rinsing off
- Then wash the clothes with detergent as per the label instructions
4. Does WD-40 Remove Oil Stains From Clothes?
WD-40 has degreasing properties, which means you can use it to remove oil stains from clothes. You’ll need to spray WD-40 on the oil stain and allow it to act before rubbing it off.
Relevant Post:
Closing Thought:
Now you know how to get bike grease out of clothes. Depending on the method that works for you, you can now tackle hardened grease more comfortably.