Jeans are valued for being difficult to get dirty and easy to wash, but nothing is impossible. Oil stains are a big problem for denim. If you often come into contact with traffic, and especially if you repair cars, then sooner or later a stain from engine oil will appear on your clothes. Such impurities are strongly absorbed into the fibers, and it will not be possible to get rid of them by ordinary washing, even in a washing machine. The use of bleach for denim is not recommended. Let’s figure out how to wash machine oil from jeans without damaging the fabric.
Traces from machine oil belong to the category of greasy stains, and they are washed off accordingly. Previously, we have already described the most effective ways to remove fat from denim. We will recall the basic rules:
- the cleaning process should begin as early as possible, this will simplify and speed up the process, prevent stains from penetrating deeper into the fibers;
- the detergent is first tested on a piece of fabric or an inconspicuous area of clothing;
- the main tools are a sponge or a brush;
- the stain should not be rubbed, it is recommended to remove by soaking, rubbing can lead to deepening of the problem.
Thinking through all stages of the cleaning procedure in advance will avoid damage to things. Following the rules will help get rid of stains without much difficulty.

First actions
Having detected a stain of motor oil, it is important to start removing it immediately. You will need:
- dry wipes,
- starch or soda,
- dish soap,
- sponge or brush.
Instruction:
- Wipe excess oil with a dry napkin. Take two napkins, place them on both sides of the jeans and squeeze them. Excess oil will be absorbed into the paper. Do not rub! It is important to apply, when the napkin absorbs the oil, change it to a clean one. Repeat several times.
- Dilute starch or soda with water to a thick paste.
- Apply the cleaning slurry to the stain and leave to dry.
- Shake the dry mixture. Evaluate the result. If necessary, repeat.
- Take dishwashing liquid. Apply the cleaning composition to the dirty jeans and keep it on the fabric for 30-40 minutes.
- Wipe the area of contamination with a brush or sponge dipped in the cleaning solution. Clean from the edges of the stain to the middle.
- Rinse the jeans. Thoroughly wash the clothes from absorbent residues and washing-up liquid.
- After finishing the cleaning process, wash the jeans in the usual way.
Although the described procedure requires you to make numerous movements, there will not be a trace of machine oil left on the jeans. And now let’s talk in detail about what means and how you can use them to remove engine oil from jeans, in addition to those listed in the instructions above.
Absorbents
No time to wash jeans – no problem. While you are doing other things, dry absorbents can clean clothes from greasy stains. There are several products that absorb grease, thereby removing it from the denim fibers. The following will help: starch, chalk, soda, toothpaste, salt, talc, baby powder. Grind the koeida before use. Quick application of the listed compositions will help prevent the penetration of machine oil into the denim fibers.
The instructions are simple:
- Remove the jeans and lay them on a horizontal surface with the stain facing up. It is advisable to put a napkin under the greasy mark so that the oil does not spread on the wrong side of the clothes.
- Wet the edge of the applied stain, this will stop it from spreading through the fabric.
- Sprinkle machine oil on top with any of the absorbents of your choice and go about your business for 5-10 minutes. At the end of this time, return to the jeans and shake the absorbent, pour clean. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times.
- Clean traces of dirt with a brush.
- Wash off the remains of the oil stain with soap. Rinse off.
Household chemicals
Since the stain from machine oil is a greasy stain, it can be washed off jeans with the appropriate means. In household chemical stores, you can see a lot of products designed for these purposes.
- Stain removers. Choose special products for denim or, as an extreme case, for colored fabrics. Do not take for white clothes, otherwise the jeans will lighten. Soap the contaminated area according to the instructions and leave for half an hour. Wash and rinse.
- Dishwashing liquid. It contains substances that break down fat, so it is effective in washing clothes. Pour on the oil stain, keep for 15-20 minutes, remove with a napkin, wash the jeans. When processing white jeans, it is recommended to additionally add acetone. Important, dishwashing liquid creates a lot of foam, so before washing in the washing machine, rinse the fabric well to completely wash out the product.
- Soap for removing greasy stains, for example, Antipyatin. Wet a bar of soap, rub the jeans, leave for 5-10 minutes. Rinse off. If necessary, wash again.

Aggressive compositions
If the jeans are heavily soiled with machine oil, or it has been a long time, it may not be possible to wash the clothes with absorbents or household chemicals. In this case, such means as gasoline, turpentine, acetone, and solvents will come to the rescue. Important: the cleaning methods described below can spoil the fabric, lead to a change in color, so check their effect on an inconspicuous area beforehand.
- Mix turpentine and ammonia in equal proportions. It will help even with old pollution. Use the mixture to treat the stain. Apply, hold for 5-10 minutes, wash off. The smell of the product is specific, so you will need to wash it off with soap and fragrances.
- Gasoline – helps to get rid of even old greasy stains. Take two napkins or cotton pads soaked in gasoline, put them on different sides of the jeans. Hold until the oil dissolves, about 15-20 minutes. The oil should remain on the napkins. Wash the jeans by hand using powder.
- Acetone-based nail polish remover. Treat the fabric with a sponge soaked in acetone, hold for 15-20 minutes, wash with soap. The tool is ideal for cleaning coarse fabrics.
Grandma’s methods
Experienced housewives can wash any stain with any handy tool. The same can be said about engine oil. For example, in the kitchen you can find many products that remove fat without a trace. These tips are especially useful if you are on vacation in nature and get dirty with motor oil. There is no time or opportunity to do laundry, but you have products for a picnic – they will help us.
The following products are used to remove machine oil stains:
- Potato. Finely grate the potato, apply it to the wrong side of the jeans, after half an hour, remove the crust of dry bread along with the fat.
- Bread. Take the bread dough and roll it over the contaminated area on your jeans. Throw away the contaminated bread, take a clean one and repeat until the stain disappears.
- Dry mustard. Sprinkle the area contaminated with machine oil with mustard, after 10-15 minutes wet the sponge and rub the stain. Wash with soap and rinse.
What to get rid of
The choice of cleaning agent depends on what is at hand. In removing machine oil stains, it is important to act quickly. Jeans won’t wait for you to buy a special stain remover someday tomorrow. The longer the engine oil is absorbed, the more difficult it will be to remove it later.
High efficiency in the fight against machine oil stains is shown by folk remedies, the main components are always at hand, this saves time and money. Therefore, if it is not possible to quickly use household chemicals, it is better to turn to the listed improvised means.
If it was not possible to wash off the engine oil the first time or it has been several days since it became dirty, then it is recommended to use household chemicals or aggressive chemicals when cleaning. The first category includes stain removers, special soap for removing greasy marks. In the second – gasoline, acetone, turpentine, etc.
