Biking is a fun activity that most people enjoy. But it sucks when your favorite clothes have been stained by bike grease. Fortunately, there are household items that you can use to remove the stain. Read more and know how to get bike grease out of clothes with household items.
Method #1: Using a Biological Laundry Detergent
A biological laundry detergent contains enzymes. These enzymes help break down the fatty and greasy compounds on the stains. It effectively removes some of the toughest stains. Examples of these are pasta sauce, ice cream, and bike grease. Aside from a biological laundry detergent, you need a soft cloth, hot water, and a brush.
Step 1: Apply a small amount of biological laundry detergent to the stain
First, you need to lay down the clothes on a flat surface. Once done, apply a small amount of biological laundry detergent to the stained area. Use a brush to spread the detergent. Rub the area gently with a soft cloth to saturate the grease stains. Leave the clothes for five minutes. If it is a stubborn grease, let the detergent sit for more minutes.
Step 2: Wash the clothes in hot water and dry them.
After five minutes, you can now wash the clothes in hot water and detergent. It is not a problem whether you are washing with your bare hands or with the help of a washing machine. Rinse the clothes and dry them.
If the grease has not disappeared, repeat the process but soak the clothes for more minutes.
Method #2: Using Dishwashing Liquid
If it is a fresh stain, using a dishwashing liquid is effective. Dishwashing liquid has no strong chemicals. It cannot destroy the fabric of your clothes while you are trying to wash away the stain. Aside from a dishwashing liquid, you also need to prepare a toothbrush and warm water.
Step 1: Apply a dishwashing liquid on the fresh stain
Look for the fresh stain on the clothes. Once you find it, apply a dishwashing liquid to it. Rub the bike grease using an old toothbrush. You must move the toothbrush in a circular motion. Do this procedure until you notice that the stain is starting to fade away.
Step 2: Leave the clothes for one and a half hours
After you have rubbed the stain away, leave the clothes for a while. After letting them rest for one and a half hours, run the clothes in your washing machine. Make sure that you wash it in a warm cycle. If you want to see how to remove bike grease on your clothes using a dishwashing liquid, you can watch this video:
Method #3: Using Baking Soda
Baking soda is another household item that you can use to remove bike grease from your clothes. Since it is an alkali, it has the property to dissolve grease. There are different methods of using baking soda. It depends on the kind of fabric you are dealing with.
Step 1: Damp the clothing with water and pour baking soda on the stain.
You need to dampen the clothing with water. If the clothing is wool or silk, pour the baking soda directly on the stain. However, if it is denim, you need to prepare a thick and concentrated mixture of baking soda. Once you have the mixture, rub it into the stain using an old toothbrush.
Step 2: Leave the clothing for 6 to 8 hours
Leave the clothing for about 6 to 8 hours. After letting the clothing rest, you can now wipe off the baking soda from the stain. Wash the clothing with your hands, or you can also use your washing machine. After washing, dry the clothing.
Method #4: Using White Vinegar
If you are dealing with a stubborn stain like bike grease, white vinegar can surely help you. Its acidic properties are not only practical to use for deep cleaning. But it is also a reliable stain remover. You can combine it with a liquid detergent to remove extra stubborn stains.
Step 1: Combine the liquid detergent with the white vinegar
Combine 2 tbsp of liquid detergent and 1 tbsp of white vinegar for the best result. After you have made the mixture, pour it on the stained area. Scrub the stained part using a nylon brush.
Step 2: Soak and wash the clothes
In a bucket with warm water, pour 1 cup of white vinegar. Soak the clothes for 40 to 50 minutes. After you have finished soaking the clothes, wash them with your hands. You can also put them on the washing machine.
Method #5: Using Chalk
Chalk can remove fresh bike grease from a delicate fabric. Surprisingly, it helps in absorbing grease material. It has the same properties as baking soda and baby powder. If you want to try using it, follow the procedure below.
Step 1: Rub the chalk on the stained area
Rub the chalk all over the freshly stained area. You can also draw on the grease. After doing it, wait for a while until the chalk absorbs the grease. Check if the stain lightens or disappears. If not, apply and rub more chalk on the stained spot.
Step 2: Wash the clothes and dry them
After the stain lightens or disappears, wash the clothes with your hands. You can also wash them with the help of a washing machine. Rinse them and let them dry by hanging them outside of your house.
Method #6: Using WD-40
If the bike grease cannot still be removed after trying all the methods above, use a WD-40. It is a lubricant, but it also acts as a good degreaser. It can remove even stubborn stains like dry grease. Aside from WD-40, you also need a liquid detergent to have the best result.
Step 1: Apply WD-40 on the stain and wash the garment with hot water.
Look for the bike grease stain. Once you find it, apply a small amount of WD-40 to the stain. Leave the garment for 30 minutes. After allowing the degreaser to sit on the garment for a while, wash the area with hot water.
Step 2: Put a liquid detergent on the stained area and wash with hot water.
Now, put a liquid detergent on the area. Gently massage it with your hands. After that, leave the garment for about 30 minutes. Next, wash the clothes with hot water. Check if the stain has been removed. If not, repeat the procedure but increase the amount of WD-40 to apply.
3 Tips to Prevent Bike Grease on your Clothes
Instead of getting rid of bike grease, there are some ways to prevent having them on your clothes. Here are some tips to help you out.
TIP #1 Keep your bike chain clean all the time
The best way to prevent your clothes from having bike grease is to clean your bike chain regularly. Make sure that you degrease it using a toothbrush. Also, apply lube to the chain. If you regularly ride your bike on muddy tracks, use a wet lube. If it is only on a concrete road, apply a dry lube.
Clean your bike at least once a month. But if you always ride your bike on off-road tracks, do the cleaning at least once a week.
TIP #2 Purchase a chain guard to protect your pants from bike grease
If you don’t have time to clean your bike chain, you can purchase a chain guard. It will protect your pants from bike grease. It can also save you from being trapped on the chainrings of your bike.
To prevent bike grease on your clothes, you should get a closed chain guard. It can also protect your chain from acquiring moisture and dirt. Aside from that, it is very low maintenance. Its only downside is that it is slightly heavier than a semi-open chain guard.
TIP #3 Wear cheap pants or black cycling shorts when biking
You never want to ruin your new and expensive pants because of bike grease. You can wear cheap pants whenever you ride your bike to avoid this. If you are going on a date or attending a formal event, don’t forget to bring some extra pants. You may put the pants inside your bag.
Aside from cheap pants, you can also wear black cycling shorts. Since it is black, you won’t mind if the bike grease-stained it. There are also some surprising benefits of wearing cycling shorts.
Summary
Bike grease is a problem faced by most bikers. It is a stubborn stain that cannot be removed by regular washing. Luckily, there are easy ways on how to get bike grease out of clothes. Also, take note of the tips above to prevent staining your clothes with bike grease.
Jessica Oliver is a fashion enthusiast with more than ten years of experience in the industry. She previously managed her own clothing store in New York before becoming a mother of three. With a passion for sustainability and a desire to share clothing care and recycling tips.