Having dirty cleaning with tough stains can be a nightmare to tackle, but one cleaning fan proves it doesn’t have to be.
It can also be made more difficult when the stain has been made by an oil-based mess.
Oil stains can be difficult to remove from clothing as they don’t mix with water, meaning traditional methods of cleaning may not do the job effectively.
Methods that rely on water alone may not be able to break down the oil’s molecules, and as a result, the oil tends to seep into the fabric’s fibres and make it hard to lift out.
However, to help combat your stain woes, one cleaning blogger has shared her two-ingredient hack which she claims can remove unwanted oil stains in no time.
Sophie Webb from Sydney, Australia, who goes by @what.sophie.does on social media, shared five cleaning tips for her followers on TikTok back in October 2024, including how to combat oil stains.
All you need is a generous amount of washing up liquid and baking soda.
In her TikTok video, Sophie demonstrated how she managed the hack.
She wrote: “Get rid of oil stains by brushing with dish soap and baking soda.”
Simply drizzle over some washing up liquid to the stain, followed by a sprinkling of baking soda.
Then take a small, bristled brush – like a toothbrush – and scrub the solution into the stain.
Once you’ve worked the solution into the stain enough, place the item of clothing into the washing machine and wash on a full cycle.
Cleaning product company Tide explained that washing up liquid works to break down tough oil stains, loosening it before washing.
The experts also reminded people that they should act quickly should oil stain their clothes, and if there’s any excess oil, it should be dabbed with a piece of kitchen roll before attempting to clean.
Tide noted: “There are many common household items that work great when dealing with oil stains on clothing. Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent, clear dish soaps, white vinegar, and warm water can all work well at breaking down and lifting even the most stubborn oil stains.”
The Spruce also explained that removing oil stains may be different from clothes made from synthetic materials, as they are tougher to remove than those from clothes made from natural materials like cotton.
