How to Get Gear Oil Smell Out of Clothes

Dealing with gear oil smell out of clothes is a real hurdle. Because the oil penetrated the internal layer of fabric and stuck there. It seems pretty stubborn and so creates a lasting, awful smell around the clothes.

Even if you do manage to get the stain out, the smell can linger for days or even weeks.

But don’t despair! There are a few things you can do to get that gear oil smell out of your clothes once and for all.

10 Ways to Get Gear Oil Smell Out of Clothes

1. Soak your clothes in a mixture of water and baking soda

Baking soda is a natural odor absorber, so soaking your clothes in a baking soda solution can help to get rid of that gear oil smell. Simply mix together equal parts water and baking soda, and then soak your clothes in the mixture for 30 minutes to an hour.

If possible, hang your gear oil-stained clothes outside to air out in the sun and fresh air. The combination of the fresh air and the sunlight will help to dissipate the gear oil smell.

2. Wash your clothes in a strong detergent

Regular laundry detergent might not be up to the task of removing gear oil from your clothes, but a stronger detergent can do the trick. Look for a detergent that is designed for removing oil or grease stains, or for laundry that is particularly dirty or smelly.

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3. Add vinegar to your laundry cycle

Vinegar is another natural odor absorber, and it can also help to break down oil and grease stains. The trick is you will need to add 1/2 cup of vinegar to your washing machine along with your regular detergent.

Here’s how to do it:

Step: 1. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to your washing machine along with your laundry detergent.

Step: 2. Run your clothes through a normal wash cycle.

Step: 3. Hang your clothes up to dry.

Step: 4. Enjoy your oil-free clothes!

4. Use a fabric freshener on your clothes

Fabric fresheners like Febreze can help to mask the gear oil smell on your clothes until it has a chance to fully air out.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use a fabric freshener:

Step: 1. First, identify the areas of your clothing that need freshening up. These could be areas that tend to hold onto smells more, such as the underarms or collar.

Step: 2. Spray the fabric freshener onto these areas, being careful not to oversaturate the fabric.

Step: 3. Allow the freshener to dry completely before wearing the clothing.

Step: 4. Enjoy your freshly-scented clothes!

5. Bleach

If you’ve ever gotten gear oil on your clothes, you know how difficult it can be to get the smell out. But with a little bleach, you can easily remove the gear oil smell from your clothes.

Here’s how:

Step: 1. First, mix together a solution of one part bleach to four parts water.

Step: 2. Soak a clean rag in the solution, then wring it out so it’s damp but not dripping.

Step: 3. Rub the rag over the gear oil stains on your clothing.

Step: 4. Let the bleach solution sit on the stains for a few minutes, then rinse it off with cold water.

Step: 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 if necessary.

Step: 6. Finally, wash your clothes as usual in hot water with laundry detergent.

6. Place your clothes in a garbage bag with dryer sheets

If you can’t hang your clothes outside, placing them in a garbage bag with a few dryer sheets can help to get rid of the gear oil smell. The dryer sheets will absorb the gear oil odor, and the garbage bag will help to keep it contained.

7. Put your clothes in the freezer

Believe it or not, putting your gear oil-stained clothes in the freezer can help to get rid of the smell. The cold temperature will help to break down the oil, making it easier to remove when you wash your clothes.

8. Sprinkle baking soda on your clothes

If you don’t have time to soak your clothes in a baking soda solution, you can also sprinkle baking soda directly on the gear oil stains.

First, it’s important to remove as much of the gear oil from your clothing as possible.

If the gear oil is still wet, you can try blotting it with a paper towel or using a vacuum cleaner with the hose attachment to suck up as much of the oil as possible.

If the gear oil has already dried, you can try using a lint roller or a piece of tape to remove as much of the oil as possible.

Once you’ve removed as much of the gear oil as possible, you can start treating the clothing with baking soda.

First, make a paste out of baking soda and water. Then, apply the paste to the affected areas of the clothing and let it sit for a few minutes.

After a few minutes, you can brush the paste off of the clothing.

9. Apply a pre-treater to your clothes

Pre-treaters are designed to help remove tough stains, and they can be a lifesaver when it comes to removing gear oil from your clothes.

There are a few different ways to go about this, but the most effective is to use a product like Zout. This is a pre-treater that you can apply directly to the clothing before washing.

The second thing you need to do is to make sure that you are using the right detergent. You want to use a detergent that is designed to remove oil and grease. A good option is Tide HE.

Once you have your pre-treater and detergent, you are ready to wash your clothing. Be sure to wash them in the hottest setting that is safe for the clothing. This will help to break down the oil and remove the smell.

After washing, you can dry your clothing as usual. The smell should be gone! If it is not, you may need to repeat the process.

10. Try a commercial oil-removing product

If all else fails, you can always try a commercial oil-removing product. These products are designed specifically for removing oil stains, and they can be very effective at removing gear oil from your clothes.

For natural fibres like cotton or wool clothes, soak the clothing in a solution of one part vinegar to four parts water.

Let the clothing soak for at least 30 minutes, then wash as normal. 

If the clothing is made from synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, then soak the clothing in a solution of one part dish soap to four parts water.

Let the clothing soak for at least 40 minutes, then wash as normal.

If the clothing is made from a mix of natural and synthetic fibers, the best way to remove the gear oil smell is to soak the clothing in a solution of one part vinegar to four parts water.

Let the clothing soak for at least 20 minutes, then wash as normal.

Once you have soaked the clothing, be sure to wash it in the washing machine with hot water and your regular laundry detergent. This will help remove any residual gear oil smell.