Stains can ruin various items of clothing, but you won’t need a commercial cleaning product to do the job. For anyone who prefers a natural alternative remedy, one cleaning fan has shared her tip – and there’s no baking soda involved.
Cleaning fan Georgia, more commonly known as Clean with Georgia on TikTok, explained that instead of using the likes of baking soda or vinegar to clean stains, she opts for something else entirely. In a recent video, Georgia suggested using chalk to get rid of those pesky oils stains. This is what you’ll need to do.
How to clean grease stains
Before you even think about applying the chalk to the fabric, it’s important to blot any excess liquid that may be on the clothes. Don’t be tempted to rub the oil as it will just embed it further into the fibres.
Once the excess liquid has been dealt with, then you can apply the chalk to the stains. Georgia instructed to rub the chalk into the stain.
Chalk can help remove grease stains as it works as an absorbent, drawing out the oil from the fabrics and into itself. It’s best to let the chalk sit for a while to allow all the liquid to be soaked up.
Bosch recommended reapplying chalk to stains if you see it clumping together. Repeat this until the chalk stops clumping, as it means there’s no more oil to absorb.
Once you’re happy that all of the liquid is absorbed, remove any excess chalk and wash in the washing machine on your regular cycle. This method is best used on smaller stains.
Kathy Cohoon, from Two Maids & a Mop, told Homes & Gardens: “The chemical makeup of chalk and its open-cell structure makes it incredibly absorbent. Chalk is able to zap up moisture and liquids easily.”
She’s not alone in her thinking, Jill Koch of Jill Comes Clean agrees. Jill explained: “Chalk is typically made from a form of limestone called calcium carbonate. As you apply the chalk to the oil stain, it will absorb the oil and essentially hold onto it.
“Then you can brush the chalk away and the oil along with it. Chalk today [usually] includes other ingredients, too, but calcium carbonate is often still the main ingredient.”