A selection of the best products for removing fuel oil stains

Removing stains from fuel oil is not so easy, because it tends to eat into the structure of the fabric, which means that regular washing is certainly not enough in such an unpleasant situation. Is it even possible to clean your favorite clothes from such stains? We are sure that this is possible, and we are ready to tell you exactly what means to use!

Gentle ways

Resins, including those found in fuel oil, are best washed off immediately after you get dirty: if you let them dry and become embedded in the fabric, then it will take much more effort and time to remove them. Gentle products are suitable specifically for those cases when you quickly notice a stain and can quickly begin cleaning, and certainly will not help much with old stains. So what can you do?

• Detergents.

If you have the opportunity to immediately begin the operation to rid the jacket of the stain, then try applying any stain remover or dishwashing liquid to the stain. Leave the product to act for 1-2 hours. It’s not a fact that such a procedure will completely and in one go help remove the stain and get rid of the problem, but it certainly won’t make it worse, so we recommend starting with it.

• Tar soap.

You can also remove stains with tar soap. Just don’t wash it: the harder you rub the fabric, the deeper the insoluble resins will penetrate into its structure, reducing your chances of quick cleaning. Just rub soap on the stain, leave for 1-2 hours and rinse the item.If soap doesn’t help wash off the fuel oil, move on.

• Car shampoo.

There is an opinion that this product helps clean things from fuel oil better than others, so if you have a jar of high-quality car shampoo, you can immediately soak your jacket in it.

• Fir or eucalyptus oil.

Try removing the stain with a cotton swab soaked in any of these essential oils. Of course, their solvent properties are not so strong, but you also don’t have to worry about them ruining the fabric or leaving whitish spots. Be patient and change cotton pads more often: as soon as one absorbs some of the fuel oil, you need to change it to a new one, otherwise you will only smear stains from fuel oil, which certainly will not help remove it.

• Oil.

A fresh stain can be spread with butter or margarine to prevent it from turning into a hardened resin stain, and then removed like other greasy stains using an iron or detergents.

• Iron and napkins.

If it seems to you that it is impossible to wash off the fuel oil, stop using water and detergents in favor of a regular iron. This method is suitable for fresh stains that are already beginning to harden, since under the influence of high temperature the fuel oil will return to its viscous consistency and can be absorbed into the napkins. Simply place one napkin under the stain and another on top of it and gently go over the stain with a heated iron. It is worth saying that this method is more suitable for regular jackets and other clothes made of thinner fabric than for down jackets.

Advice

Most likely, you will have to repeat any of these procedures several times before you can see your jacket in its original condition.If the stain does not want to dissolve, you will have to move on to heavy artillery.

Aggressive means

If you can’t wipe off the stain with delicate products, then other petroleum derivatives or alcohol will help you remove it.

• Turpentine and ammonia.

A mixture of turpentine and ammonia can remove fuel oil stains if you moisten a cotton pad or cloth with the solution and carefully apply it to the stain. The discs need to be changed, gradually removing more and more fuel oil until the stain is completely dissolved.

• Petrol.

In order to remove fuel oil using gasoline, you need a well-purified product, which can be found in technical stores, and not at a gas station. Soak a cotton swab with gasoline and apply it to the oil stain. As soon as the cotton wool turns black, replace it with a clean one. At the same time, remember that you do not need to scrub the contaminated area too much.

• White spirit or acetone.

These solvents will also help wash off the fuel oil, but it is better to use them only in a well-ventilated area. The steps remain the same as with gasoline: dissolve and absorb a little fuel oil with one cotton pad, replace it with a new one, and so on until the stain disappears.

• Toluene.

Another toxic but effective remedy that can remove fuel oil. But this time we recommend adding gloves to the ventilated room and cotton pads.

Advice

All of these substances can eat away at the paint and leave a white stain on your jacket. This is why it is very important to test the tissue reaction on an inconspicuous area.

It is not necessary to take your jacket to the dry cleaner, even if you have a fuel oil stain on it. Try one of these methods to get rid of it yourself first: our tricks may save you a lot of money!