Please help--Grease removing laundry detergent?

[nickuk]

Grease

Sarah, I have three boys and had this exact problem with powder detergent. No brand of powder detergent would remove grease stains - especially on dark items of clothing.

All I did was switch to a high end liquid detergent and I don't have the problem anymore. 1 step! In the states, try a high quality liquid detergent (Tide?) use enough of it (v important) and always use a good warm water. Tepid is not good enough.

Throw in a powdered oxy wash booster at the start of the wash too, and this will deal with bleachable stains and odours.

However, this advice might be `baloney' because, to be fair, the last time I did laundry in the states was in 1988 when I was 12 years old.

Nick

 

[jamiel]

If you've got any clothing that are particularly valuable or sentimental, go to the drycleaner. I had a black New Zealand Allblacks rugby shirt that I dearly loved that had a big splotch of oil on the front. I struggled and struggled to get the spot out and finally in desperation took it to the dry cleaner. Best $6 I ever spent!

 

[washdaddy]

I know you are looking for the one step cure all for a laundry detergent but I have found this pre-treater that I totally stand behind. Of all things it's Oxi-Clean MAX FORCE. I was getting tired of pulling shirts out of the dryer that had grease stain spots from foods that hit my shirt while eating which is a never ending problem for me unfortunately hard as I try on preventing that.

Anyhow, I gathered all my shirts that had spots, pre-treated them all with the Oxi, let them sit for about half an hour, threw them into the washer and washed them with hot water (dumbed down to tepid warm thanks to the built in ATC), stopped it to let them soak overnight, woke the next morning and turned the machine back on to complete the cycle. Took everything out of the dryer, (fingers crossed), SPOTS ALL GONE! WOOHOO & HOORAY!!!!! I did the soak routine overnight since the stains had been thru the washer and dryer numerous times with no luck. First time overnight with this stuff...SPOTS ALL GONE!!

Since then, just pre-treat with the OCMF, let them sit for about 30 min., then throw them into the washer, still on the dumb down HOT but no soaking....without fail SPOTS ALL GONE.

A pre-treater that actually works. YIPPEE!!!!!

 

[angus]

If you live in Connecticut and are looking for Biz - I have seen it in ShopRite

 

[norgeway]

Well...

My good friend Steve Solomon taught me a good trick for removing grease...Plain old AMMONIA....just dont stick your head in the washer unless you want your sinuses cleared out! It really does work wonders...If I have a question about anything laundry, Steve is my encyclopedia of knowledge.

 

[norgeway]

Oh Yeah

He said use HOT water and a cup of tide granular!!

 

[launderess]

Inexpensive and still streets ahead of any other

For pre-treating stains requiring solvent action; vintage Fels Naptha soap.

I have said all I intend to on the subject.

Launderess

 

[brib68]

Biz

Thanks for the tip, Angus! a Biz stock-up would be a good way to make the minimum purchase next time they have super cheap coupons in their ad!

I've tried the Tide Oxy booster, and I just find it so-so. Those Biz enzymes are a must--especially for white loads.

 

[launderess]

Well not quite all

Problem with any laundry with heavy oil/grease stains is as we all know from that 1970's television commercial; oil and vinegar don't mix. Well in this case substitute water (which vinegar is mainly composed of), and you have the same situation.

Historically you have two chemical options for dealing with oil soils if one wishes to use water for laundering. The first is to raise the pH level to high base levels where the alkaline will combine with oil to make a type of soap that can be flushed away, and or use surfactants in high enough ratios to water that oil will be removed. Both processes *can* work but are rather hit and miss. Often a stain will appear removed when the laundry is wet, only to reappear once item is dried and or ironed (exposed to heat).

Commercially things with more oil stains than anyone wants to be bothered pre-spotting are run through a dry cleaning process. The solvent nature of such laundering should and often does remove most if not all oil stains. Items are then either laundered in water or simply finished and returned. This is usually how laundries deal with table linens with numerous grease/fat/candle wax stains.

If you remember another famous television commercial for ring around the collar you'll recall liquid detergents are better for shifting oily type soils. However even Wisk recommended pre-treating stained areas with product before laundering.

Anyone whom has bathed with soap knows it too loves oil, man made surfactants are based upon the same properties just without the drawbacks of soap. Fels took things to the next level by adding petroleum distillates (naptha) which increased the oil removing power.

 

[stan]

Laundress is "SPOT" on again!

I worked in dry cleaning (years back) and we had accounts with some of the local hotels, including their in house restaurants.
Aprons, Polo shirts (part of the uniforms) as well as black slacks and white shirts, black ties ect all came in with food and grease, you name it we saw it!
Since certain stains are water soluble, AKA..the food, blood, perspiration, and general dirt, they were fist washed and dried. The reason was because it was too hard to see what was what to even try to pre-treat.
Once washed and dried, the oil stains could be clearly seen. Usually that point, all stains were gone, except the oil! They then were run through the dry cleaning machine (solvent) which would pull out all remaining oil. Then sent down the line to the pressers and finishers. (Except the shirts, handled a little different)

Laundress:
Dear, I was waiting for someone to mention vintage Fel Naptha LOL

 

[sarahperdue]

Biz?

Sandy,

Are you saying that I can add detergent plus Biz at the beginning of a load and avoid checking and pre-treating each shirt for stains???

In my book, this is a one-step solution. I don't mind soaking either although I have got to say that the thing I miss most about my Whirlpool washer is that it would run the wash cycle with the lid open and begin the drain, rinse and spin cycles after the lid was closed. Not a huge deal to fire up the SQ, let it fill and begin washing then stop it for soaking...

For the most part, I'm not talking about major grease--mostly olive oil and butter--I get splattered when I cook; my boys have issues getting food from their plate to their mouths.

Brib68, will you come train my messy eaters to pre-treat their own spots? That would take more time than sorting and pre-treating them myself especially since they generally don't acknowledge that their shirts have stains--especially if they want to wear them immediately.

Thanks all,
Sarah

 

[danemodsandy]

Sarah:

Yes, that's what I mean. Pour in detergent and BIZ, add clothes, let fill, let soak, then allow the wash cycle to finish.

BIZ only works in warm or hot water; I recommend the hottest the fabric can accept. A one-hour soak is good, but I've been known to soak for four hours on stubborn stuff.

BIZ has another great quality: With regular use, you'll never have to look at skidmarks and other underwear stains again.