Remove grease stains - tips for almost all materials

• General removal tips
• The different materials
  • carpet
  • wallpaper
  • Tiles (wall and floor)
  • Spilled oil on smooth floors
  • Fine textiles (silk)
  • Clothing (cotton / synthetic fiber)
  • leather
  • Wood (wooden furniture and wooden floors)

The mishap happened quickly: When eating, sauce spills onto the shirt or the burger falls to the floor. In both cases, good advice is now expensive: Grease stains are a big problem because they are often difficult to remove. But with the right tips, you have a very good chance of fighting the stains. We will show you how to best deal with which materials.

The problem with greasy stains is that they bind quickly to the material and are resistant to water. Oil is water-repellent, so when it comes to treatment with pure water it ripples again. On many materials, water initially only provides for a distribution of the fat and thus for a spread. It is important to use degreasing cleaners and to react quickly. This can counteract the grease stain. We show you which means are best.

General removal tips

In many cases, it may be advisable to use detergent. Conventional dishwashing detergent is degreasing and therefore well suited. It is important that the agent used specifically dissolves and encloses the fat molecules. It has to adhere to the individual molecules and release them from the material. However, dishwashing detergent has a disadvantage: Dyes are often used. They can leave residues due to discoloration. In order to avoid this, you should, if possible, select a product that is as color neutral as possible and also remove the rinsing agent residue-free and quickly. Mostly this requires a large amount of water. To protect the environment, organic products are the best choice.

The different materials

carpet

Grease stains on carpets are one of the most common applications. The problem is that fixed carpet can not be washed like textiles in a washing machine. A good solution is therefore a vacuum cleaner. He brings moisture into the carpet and sucks the water out of the ground in the next step. Detergents can be used as additives in special containers. The remedies should be degreasing, making soap or dish soap a good choice. Also liquid hand wash soap can be used. If you do not have a vacuum cleaner on hand, then you can also use a wet vacuum. Proceed as follows:

1. Step: Moisten the stain.
2. Step: Rub soap or detergent on the stain and rub vigorously with a sponge.
3. Step: Suck the water and soap out of the carpet with the wet vacuum cleaner.
4. Step: Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the grease stain is removed and no soap residue is present. Rinse with clean water and vacuum the water.

Disadvantages of the method with the wet vacuum:

• the effort is higher than with a vacuum cleaner.
• You need to use more water, which can damage the floor underneath.

Costs: Wet vacuums are already available for around 37 euros. A good vacuum cleaner costs around 100 to 150 euros.

wallpaper

Especially in the kitchen, it can happen that grease splashes on the wall. While tiles can be wiped well, grease stains on the wallpaper are initially a problem. It is important to react as quickly as possible. A suitable tool is blotting paper, which you can press on the stain. Use the heat of an iron and press it onto the blotting paper. In the best case, the fat is absorbed by the paper. If there are any leftovers from the grease in the wallpaper, you can repeat the process or take another action. High-quality wallpaper can be wiped moist under certain circumstances, so that this results in cleaning options.

Attention: Moist wiping may cause the stain to expand or damage the wallpaper, so it must be used wisely. It should always be the last stopgap. Be sure to use a soft cloth.

Cost: blotting paper is available in a set for a few euros, so the cost of a single piece is very low.

Tiles (wall and floor)

To clear smooth tiles from grease stains, a lot of water and detergent are necessary. Although ceramic tiles can be wiped well, fatliquoring aids are required for this purpose. Mix detergent and water in a small bucket and wipe off the tiles generously. After the grease has been removed, you must wipe again with clean water.

Costs: Cheap dish soap is available for around 0.70 Euro to 1 Euro.

Spilled oil on smooth floors

If oil has accidentally spilled on the floor, for example when repairing the heating in the boiler room, cat litter can help. It absorbs the oil and thus binds it. Cover the oil stain completely with the cat litter and act quickly. If the oil penetrates the soil, it can be difficult to remove. Let the cat litter work overnight and then sweep it up.

Costs: The costs of cat litter vary greatly and depend on the brand. Cheap litter can be bought for less than 3 euros.

Fine textiles (silk)

Dabbing food on the tie or shirt, so it is in many cases greasy spots. They can not be removed in any case, but it is worth a try, otherwise the garments would have to be disposed of. For removal, baby powder (for example from Penaten) has proven itself. Let the stain dry first. The baby powder works best if it is not absorbed by the water, but can directly bind the fat. Gently pour the powder on the grease stain and then gently squeeze it. Leave the baby powder to work overnight and then vacuum it up with the vacuum cleaner.

Tip: Brushing the baby powder does not have the same positive effect as using a vacuum cleaner. As an alternative to baby powder, you can also use baking powder. The effect is a bit weaker, but often enough.

Costs: 100 grams of Penaten baby powder are available for around 2 euros.

Clothing (cotton / synthetic fiber)

Clothing has the great advantage that it can be cleaned in the washing machine. However, a pre-treatment and the right detergent are necessary to remove grease stains. The deeper the fat is drawn into the fabric, the heavier the removal. Therefore, you must start treatment right after the mishap. Take a kitchen crepe and dab off as much of the fat as possible with the cloth. Fill a bowl with lukewarm or preferably hot water.

Tip: The water must not be warmer than recommended by the manufacturer of the clothes for the laundry. Be careful not to burn yourself when washing your hands.

Dissolve one tablespoon of detergent powder in the water. If you do not have this at hand, you can also use dish soap or liquid soap. Now dip the clothes in the bowl and wash out the stain. Then rinse with clean water and return the clothes to the washing machine.

Tip: You can also treat footwear shoes with the same method, but the temperature of the water should not exceed 40 degrees Celsius. For the final wash in the washing machine use a shoe bag.

Cost: Cheap washing powder is available for about 3 euros, brand wash powder cost about 5 to 15 euros.

Another home remedy for cleaning textiles is school chalk . After you remove excess grease with kitchen paper, paint the spot over a large area with chalk. Let the chalk work for a few hours and then brush it off.

leather

Leather is a natural material and, like the human skin, absorbs fat very well. This property is a problem that occurs when removing grease stains. The key is to react quickly. Natural leather is harder to clean because the fat is already absorbed quickly. Pigmented leather has a protective layer, which is beneficial in cleaning. To remove fresh grease stains, proceed as follows:

1. With the help of a handkerchief, toilet paper or kitchen crepe you suck on the surface fat. Lay the paper on the leather, but do not press it on the leather. Excessive pressure can cause the grease to penetrate the leather.
2. Repeat the procedure until there is no more fat on the surface. Now you can gently press the paper to pick up already drawn in fat.
3. Next, dissolve enzyme-free detergent in lukewarm water. Dab the grease stain with a rag. Then take a new cloth and suck the liquid out of the leather.
4. Let the leather dry. Leather shoes can be stuffed with paper for better drying. Clothes are dried while lying on a drying rack.

Tip: Leather must never be placed on the heater to dry, otherwise the leather will be destroyed.

For leather you can alternatively use dry shampoo. Spray the dry shampoo on the stain and let it work for a few hours. Then brush off the detergent.

Tip: To protect the structure of the leather, you should use a leather care after cleaning.

Cost: Dry shampoo is available for 3 to 10 euros.

Wood (wooden furniture and wooden floors)

Lacquered wood absorbs fat less well than natural wood. Many wooden furniture and laminate floors are provided with a protective layer, which simplifies cleaning. Therefore, react quickly and clean the surface with a microfibre cloth, a little water and lemon juice or detergent. Be careful not to leave the lemon juice on the wood too long as it can attack the structure.

In the case of untreated wood, whistling is a good solution:

• Mix porridge with water and a porridge.
• Let the porridge rest for around 24 hours.
• Apply the porridge to the surface in a circular motion.
• Wipe the surface with water.

Tip: Test the procedure in an invisible location to see how the wood reacts.

Costs: Whistling (white clay) is available for around 5 to 10 euros.

Tips for quick readers:

• Detergent is degreasing
• Detergents should have as few dyes as possible
• Remove the grease with a cloth
• Pre-condition clothes, then wash
• Apply school chalk and brush off
• Allow baking soda to take effect
• Maintain leather after cleaning
• Use pipe fines for wood
• Use baby powders for silk ties
• Wipe painted wooden furniture
• react quickly and do not allow fat to enter
• Use a vacuum cleaner for carpeting
• Wet vacuum suitable as an alternative
• Cat litter for spilled oil