How to Get Oil Stains Out of Your Lingerie!
It’s 8:30pm and you’re eating pizza on the couch, chilling in your favorite lingerie. You’re totally zoned in to a new episode of your favorite guilty pleasure reality show, but as you’re reaching for the pizza on the coffee table, you stop.
Wait a second. Your own chest has caught your eye, but not because you look so cute in your loungewear.
Is that…a tiny oil spot? Yep. Ugh.
OK, is this chain of events taken from my own experience? Maybe. But oil on lingerie? That’s happened to the best of us.
Here’s how to get oil out of the material , without ruining the fabric.
Once you learn this technique, you'll never be afraid to use your favorite items for everyday wear.
Step 1: Examine Your Item
You know that not all material need to be dry cleaned. However, some do.
If you’ve spilled oil on an item that is:
White or very pale, with bold pops of color that might bleed
Dark or boldly-colored, with white lace trim that may discolor
A corset
Take that baby to a trusted dry cleaner and explain the nature of the stain. They’ll take care of it for you.
If your item is a solid color, a low-contrast print, or if you’ve washed it by hand before with no problems, head to step 2.
Step 2: Dab the Oil Away
Set up an ironing board, or find another flat surface that can be left undisturbed overnight. Place a clean cloth on the board and lay your item out flat, so the stain sits on top with nothing beneath it.
If you catch your oil spill fast enough to see that it’s still wet, remove the excess oil first. Using a second clean cloth or paper towel, press the stain to get as much of the oil out as possible.
If it’s been a few days and the oil wouldn’t deign to come out with a cloth, no worries! Skip straight to step 3.
Use cornstarch to remove oil stains from lingerie.
Step 3: Add Powder
Look through your cabinets for the white powder of your choice. I prefer corn starch, but you can use baby powder, baking soda, or even white flour, in a pinch. This will soak up your oil stain.
Sprinkle on enough to cover the stain and gently massage it into the fabric. If the powder gets greasy immediately, top it off with a bit more. Then leave it to soak up the oil. I like to let my powdered material sit overnight.
In the morning, dust off your lingerie as much as possible. You’ll probably be left with an odd powdery spot in the shape of the stain.
Step 4: Launder Your Item
Follow our tips on how to care for lingerie and give your piece a wash in cool water with an appropriately gentle detergent. I like to add a bit of extra detergent on the stained spot to help things along.
Once it’s dry, there’s a good chance your stain will be gone like magic! If it’s not, I recommend trying the process over again. If it’s still there after two tries, a dry cleaner will be able to help out. Just be sure to let them know how you’ve treated the stain so far.
I know, I know: It sounds too easy. But this really works, and it won’t damage your lingerie at all. So next time you drip pizza grease on your fave robe? No worries. You’ll be ready.