I have some dried oil and grease spots that I would like to get out of primarily cotton cloth. I'm not exactly sure what weight or grade the oil is, but I suppose used motor oil would approximate it pretty well. Has anyone used a steam cleaner to try to remove stains from cotton clothing? I am thinking of getting one of these:

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2364594

Washing and foamy detergents are probably not options, but the steamer could perhaps be combined with some sort of chemical soil release agent if it didn't foam up all over the place. I think the energy in the steam would be pretty important for successful removal of these stains.

2/23/2008 7:20:11 PM

dat 190% cotton cloth

2/23/2008 7:39:33 PM

More like dat 67% cotton cloth.

2/23/2008 7:44:22 PM

Okay, does anyone think this will work? Just trying to get some other opinions before I drop a Benjamin on this thing.

2/23/2008 8:46:14 PM

oxyclean.

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 10:27 PM. Reason : steam doesn't do shit.]

2/23/2008 10:27:24 PM

Do you speak from experience regarding the steam? Since I can't really wash the cloth, I need a way to force the stain out (like displacing the soil with a jet of steam). However, I also don't want to leave any noticeable residue. I wonder if I could surface treat the stain with an Oxyclean paste and them steam it.

2/23/2008 10:35:32 PM

How will steam help remove a set stain like oil? I have a portable steamer and it didn't do shit for my cooking or motor oil stained clothing. Have you tried the tide to go pen?

2/24/2008 12:59:02 AM

Tried Tide pen. It didn't do anything but smear. The main problem is that due to the nature of the cloth, it cannot really be washed or agitated. It can be surface treated, but I am trying to figure out a way to remove the residual material. On all those steamer infomercials, they just apply it to a stain and wipe with a terry cloth. Basically, I am thinking of surface treating, and then using the steamer to force the stain through the cloth and onto a backing material like a cotton towel. I don't mean just a regular steamer like an iron, but more like a directed jet of steam that has sufficient thermal energy and is capable of moving soils.

2/24/2008 1:07:33 AM

matches

2/24/2008 3:03:22 AM

How about a stain remover like SHOUT?

Apply it to the stain thoroughly and let sit for a few days. Then handwash with detergent and very hot water and rub the fabric onto itself. I am sure it will lessen the stain by a lot, if not remove it.

2/24/2008 6:17:26 AM

Simple Green is safe on laundry, I got the recommendation from a mechanic who said he used it to get oil/grease out of carpet.

Could try that.

Also- possibly like dawn soap? if you can rinse it out enough that is.

2/24/2008 11:38:15 AM

murphy's oil soap maybe?

2/24/2008 1:59:37 PM

BRAKE CLEANER.

2/24/2008 2:03:49 PM

Quote :

"Getting Oil Out of Cotton Cloth"

2/24/2008 4:43:08 PM