AUUGGHH! How to get oil out of fabric?

[turbojimmy]

So I took the GN out today. In the corner of the garage, normally not visible with the car in the garage, is a Valdez-sized oil spill. Sitting in the middle of the spill is a cardboard box. The cardboard box had sucked up a lot of oil. Within the cardboard box are my new, yet-to-be-installed rear seat covers. The fabric sucked up a fair amount of oil, but stopped where the stitching for the visible-part of the seat starts. A little bit got on the gray part of the seat.

Best part is that this is used (dirty) oil. I conducted a crime scene investigation and came up empty handed until I noticed an empty windshield washer fluid jug with a pin hole in the bottom. How'd it get the pin hole? One of my yet-to-be-installed boxed lower control arms fell on top of it crushing the bottom of it against one leg of the engine stand.

Lessons learned:

- install parts as soon as you get them
- recycle your used oil immediately

Anyone know what I can use to clean the oil-soaked seat covers?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[The Blob]

If you can put them in the washer...

In the laundry section at Wal Mart there should be a rack of stain removers in little yellow bottles. I don't know the brand or what they are called but the bottles are numbered with each number being for a different kind of stain. I'm pretty sure they have one for oil stains. Apply stain remover as per directions, then wash.

If you can't put the seat covers in the washer, I'd try the stain remover, then hit them with the hose, then leave them in the sun for a day or so.

I had a white shirt with a nasty chocolate stain. I tried everything to get it out with no luck. Whatever that stuff is worked.

 

[xlr8ngn]

Grease Lightning works pretty good. Dawn detergent works well also. Ammonia works well to get out stains. Good luck.

 

[turbojimmy]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'm screwed but I'll try anything. The washer didn't seem like a good idea at first, but now I'm thinking it might be a good option. Set on a gentle cycle maybe.

When I started to clean them the oil that the foam had asorbed on the back side of the seat bled through to the front of the seat. So you can see the oil line on the gray part of the seat. This is the top half of the seat, and the oil line runs the whole way across the top about 6". I think that top part is done.

The bottom half isn't stained, but the black part of the bottom of the seat (down by the floor) is soaked. You can't tell because it's black. But, I don't want the inside of the car smelling like used motor oil.

I used Simple Green, Tide, a mini Hoover steam vac and a hose. Once they dry I'll try some of the other suggestions.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[wlaukaitis]

Well for clothes you can try this

re-constitute!!!

I was watching Oprah one day and there was the cleaning lady. She could get a stain out of anything.

Rememeber "Protein gets out Protein" it was a laundry detergent commercial

If you have oil, re-constitute it with oil, like WD-40. I have never tried this but it makes sense.

I use Goop, the white stuff, rub the crap into the fabric (jeans), let it soak for a little while and wash normally

I would try this with the seat covers then hose them out (with a nozzle, without going nuts with pressure) and let them dry in the sun. I don't think it will stain, at least I never had a problem with jeans.


try this:

http://www.ehow.com/eHow/eHow/0,1053,13515,00.html

 

[John Larkin]

Starting fluid. The best degreaser ever. If that doesn't get it out, nothing will.

 

[Warp6]

Naptha. Rub with a rag and blow with compressed air.
Or, you can sprinkle corn starch on a clear oil stain. Let it sit for a while then blow with compressed air. Repeat a few times.

 

[turbojimmy]

I smeared hand cleaner on the tough spots. Then I soaked it in a bucket of diluted Simple Green overnight - the same way it sat in and absorbed the oil. Hosed it down in the morning and let it dry. I gotta say it looks good. Still smells a little like oil, but no stains.

I might soak it again to see if I can get the smell out. Simple Green doesn't seem to affect the color.

Thanks for the tips.

Jim

 

[87buick3825]

Originally posted by John Larkin
Starting fluid. The best degreaser ever. If that doesn't get it out, nothing will.

I am a brake clean user myself works awesome !!

 

[Mike Licht]

Try an interior cleaner called Tuff Stuff always works for me
Mike