Doing your own bike maintenance can get you dirty all over. Whether it’s replacing bike parts or doing other related maintenance activities, it’s normal for your hands or clothing to have different forms of dirt, particularly bike grease. The issue with bike grease is that it’s difficult to remove, especially on your clothing, but it is not entirely impossible. In fact, through the years, bikers have developed different ways to clean different types of clothing from bike grease.
But how to get bike grease out of clothing? There are many techniques and methods in cleaning different types of clothes that are full of bike grease. And these methods use simple cleaning agents that are readily available in our households. With that said, this article will feature different ways to clean your clothes full of bike grease.
Different Methods to Getting Bike Grease Out of Clothes
Before we proceed with the methods of cleaning the bike grease off your shirt, I will share with you some information that will make it easy for you to remove the dirt. And that is to do the cleaning as soon as you can. It will be easier for the grease to remove from your clothes if it is still fresh. Delaying the cleaning will make the grease dry and can be very difficult to remove. But it can be done using the different methods below:
Method #1: By Using the Baking Soda
Baking Soda is probably one of the most straightforward cleaning agents you can find inside your home. It can tackle different types of stains, including bike grease in your clothing. The upside of using baking soda is its mildness which can cause the bike grease to dissolve quickly in the water to show its cleaning effectivity. Since this cleaning agent is known for being mild and pure, I suggest using this cleaning method to remove bike grease on more delicate clothes such as wool or silk. Please check on the washing process below:
- What you will do is pour the baking soda directly on the stain and let it stay for a few hours. I suggest leaving the clothes for 6 to 8 hours for the cleaning agent to draw out the grease and other dirt in the clothes.
- The next step is to wipe off the baking soda from your clothes. By this time, it is expected that the grease has softened and should be absorbed by the clothes. You may now proceed to wash the clothing using the standard way of washing. If your clothes are more delicate, you can do hand washing. If not, using your washing machine can also do the trick.
- After washing, the next step is to let the clothes dry. It is expected that all the grease and other stains are removed from your clothes by this time.
Method #2: By Using Dishwashing Liquid
Believe it or not, dishwashing liquid can also be used in removing grease on your clothing. This cleaning agent is composed of tiny molecules that help in quickly eliminating different types of dirt, including bike grease from your clothing. In fact, this cleaning agent should be suited in treating bike grease stains from clothes made with synthetic fiber and cotton.
- The first step is to apply the dishwashing liquid directly to the surface of the cloths. Leave it for a few hours to maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning agent.
- After that, you can rinse the part where the bike grease is located, allowing the fabric to sit for about two minutes with the fabric’s surface facing down. Doing this action will ensure that the water is running to the back of the greased patch towards the front.
- Wait for a few minutes before washing your clothes regularly. You can do a hand wash or use your washing machine to complete the cleaning process. After washing, let the clothes dry, and it is expected that the grease is already removed during this time.
Now, if you are dealing with stubborn and dried bike grease in your clothes, I suggest combining the baking soda and the dishwashing liquid with cleaning the stain in your cloth. You can do a mixture composed of a dishwashing liquid and baking soda to form a thick paste that can be used to clean the stain. You can use an old toothbrush to clean the dirt, slowly rubbing it until the stubborn stain will be removed from your shirt.
Method #3: By Using a Regular Laundry Detergent
If your clothes are composed of synthetic fabrics, using a regular laundry detergent is an excellent alternative in dealing with bike grease on your clothes. For the cleaning process, please check below:
- The first step is to apply the detergent to the stain by rubbing it to the stain’s area. You can also use it to the underside of the shirt to maximize its effectiveness. Doing this action will soften the bike grease and will enhance its chances of being removed from the shirt.
- Then, you can rinse the stain with running water by putting it in a basin while allowing the water to run through the surface where the stain is located. Doing this action will help in eliminating the grease away from the clothing.
- The final step is to do the regular washing where you can do the traditional laundry method using your washing machine or a simple hand wash, depending on your preference. After washing, allow the shirt to dry, but it is expected that the grease is already removed during this time.
Conclusion
Learning how to get bike grease out of clothing is essential knowledge you need to know as a biker. Sometimes, there will be moments that you need to do some bike maintenance that can make you dirty, especially your clothes having grease stains. But, you must be aware that this type of stain is not permanent and can be removed. There are many methods to do it, and three of them are in this article. We have made an effort to present techniques that uses accessible materials inside our home to make it easy for you to remove bike grease out of your clothes.