A Question for the Laundry Experts :

[toploader55]

My Friends/Landlords who allow me to have 8 Dishwashers, 4 Washers and 2 Dryers, bought some New White Terry Cloth Towels. George is the Captain of the Whale Watch Boat in my town and was in the Engine Room and managed to get some grease on his clothes. Some how the solied clothes got mixed in with the New White Towels and they are now stained with Grease.
What do you suggest to remove this stain ? I tried Cascade solution with Tide (with Bleach), soaked them for about 3 hours and finished the cycle. I did not use Hot Water yet as I've heard it will set the stain in.
I'm all ears !!! Thanks Everyone

 

[dogboy44]

How did your presoak work? You didn't put them thru the dryer if they were still stained did you? That can set a stain just as bad as hot water. Ammonia and TSP is worth a shot, hair shampoos is good for grease, but sounds like you need to go beyond that. There is a spot remover - Spot Shot sold at most stores for carpet and upholstery might be worth a try, also I have had good luck with peroxide, only on colorfast items.

 

[turquoisedude]

Eddie! Good to hear from you!! Hope all is well!!
I don't know if they have in the US, but I have used a product called Oxy-Clean and it worked wonders on grease stains.

 

[gyrafoam]

Tons of CLEAR Ammonia and a dash of TSP along with your regular detergent and HOT wash AND Rinse!
Once the grease is out, then you can run them through with some Clorox to get the white color back.

If you have a solid-tub machine with an over-flow rinse it will be helpful. Next best is a perf-tub with a spin and drain system (Maytag, GE FF, etc.) as opposed to neutral-drain. (Oh, I know, I know, I can hear John going on already!)
Anyway, I've used this technique for years and it works.
Hot rinses are great anyway. I have one Unimatic hooked-up for HOT water only!

 

[frigilux]

I keep getting black grease marks on the side of my shorts this summer---getting in and out of the car, I think---and have had great success using De Solv It. Spray it on, let it work for 30-60 minutes, then wash. I've had to wash the shorts in warm water, and the grease marks still come out.

There is also something in an identical little spray bottle called Goo Gone, and it looks and works like De Solv It. You can usually find these in the cleaning products aisle, or by the stain removal products in the detergent aisle.

I've also used Lestoil---rub some full-strength into the grease stains--- but it has a strong Pine-Sol-type scent.

Good luck with it!

 

[yogitunes]

Simplest degreaser.....DAWN dish soap, rub in to the stain...let set a while and wash in Warm or Hot water, then maybe a bleach rinse if needed....

 

[strongenough78]

I agree with Yogitunes, Dawn is a great grease cutter. Also, try some Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. Add about a half a cup WITH your regular detergent. And I also agree, hot water is best to loosen up stains. Drying soiled clothes in a dryer will set them, not hot water. It'll melt the grease, not solidify it.

 

[steve1-18]

BIZ

Bob (Appnut) turned me on to Biz a few years ago. The stuff is amazing.
I wash my friend's white chef smocks in an AEG washer with a built in water heater. It starts out with cold water and washes until the water temperature is about 140 degrees. I refer to this machine as the 'stain remover.' You get the full spectrum of water temperatures to get but yet not set the stains in. Of course, I add about a 1/4 cup of Biz and a 1/4 cup of what ever detergent I have around. You are not supposed to use chlorine bleach in this machine, and I really have no reason to.

He has the whitest, brightest smocks in the restaurant!

 

[toploader55]

Thank-you All

I will try most of these suggestions. Unfortunately, the towels made it to the dryer before I was notified.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Don't fret

Frigilux put you on the right path.
Pour Lestoil directly on the stains (Even Dried In Stains) and wait 2 or more hours.
Then use the hottest water allowed for garment. Add a cup of Lestoil and double dose of detergent.
Wash on the longest wash cycle, DO NOT DRAIN but reset wash to the beginning again, let rinse and spin.

Rewash towels with regular detergent and rinse twice.
The first rinse, use one cup of baking soda and 1/2 to 3/4 cup of vinegar.
The second rinse use fabric softener.
This will eliminate the scent of Lestoil.

I know this works, for I have gotten industrial grease P15 I think on my uniforms.

 

[circlew]

Degreaser

P&G also makes Dawn Heavy-Duty Degreaser. I've never used it on fabric; but it may be worth a try. I buy it at GFS, an institutional foods distributor.