Oil on my lapel - help!

[Eli Curt]

Through an unnecessarily brainless procession of events on my part, I ended up grabbing a piece of baked cabbage way longer than anticipated and dropped two spots of oil on my lapel the other day.

What do I do!

I tried soap with warm water before realizing that wouldn't work. Then I tried baking powder...still no luck. Two applications left to sit for an hour each.

Do I just send it to the cleaners?

 

[ter1413]

Yes. Take it there ASAP and explain. The longer you don't get the issue resolved, the harder it will be to remove the stain.

 

[breakaway01]

Unless you have an outstanding cleaner that you trust with difficult stains, I’d first try Fuller’s earth. It’s a highly absorbent powdered clay. I’ve had great results with oil stains on wool and cotton.

 

[Eli Curt]

Unless you have an outstanding cleaner that you trust with difficult stains, I’d first try Fuller’s earth. It’s a highly absorbent powdered clay. I’ve had great results with oil stains on wool and cotton.

That's the powdery looking stuff on Amazon? Is 100g enough? Same general application as the baking powder - i.e. apply the powder and let it sit for an hour?

 

[breakaway01]

100 g will last you a long time. Yes, I apply the powder, rub it in gently, and let it sit overnight.

 

[Eli Curt]

100 g will last you a long time. Yes, I apply the powder, rub it in gently, and let it sit overnight.

I put it on dry last night. Rubbed it in gently and let it sit for 8 hours. Rinsed/scrubbed it off today with warm soap and a paper towel.

....I can still make it the stain. Next!

 

[breakaway01]

Sorry to hear it. Did it help at all? If so maybe worth another application.

 

[Eli Curt]

Sorry to hear it. Did it help at all? If so maybe worth another application.

I sat in a TINY spot on the back of my pants too. I wasn't going to treat it but I tried that and that seems to have gone away almost entirely.

I think when the lapel dries I'll try some more. Still too hard to tell. Thanks for the tip!

 

[breakaway01]

I have no idea whether this matters or not, but FWIW I wet the stain with a little water before applying the powder. Not as a solvent but to help the powder to attach to the fabric. I rub it in then let sit overnight. Then I brush it off (no soap or water).

 

[Eli Curt]

I have no idea whether this matters or not, but FWIW I wet the stain with a little water before applying the powder. Not as a solvent but to help the powder to attach to the fabric. I rub it in then let sit overnight. Then I brush it off (no soap or water).

Hmm I like that. I'll try it when it dries.

When I brushed it off just now, mostly white residue remained. That's when I rubbed it off softly with a moist towel.

 

[breakaway01]

I use a clothes brush, works well for me