Discover this mum’s secret trick to make oily stains vanish from your clothes!

Daily stains are challenging enough, but oil stains are on another level of frustration.

Many of us have thought of parting with a favourite shirt due to a stubborn oil mark. But what if the solution to these pesky stains is right in our homes?


Melbourne-based mum of two, Chantel Mila, has revealed her clever trick for removing stubborn oil stains from clothing.

In a video she shared online, Chantel showed how two common household items—bicarb soda and dishwashing liquid—effectively tackle these stains.


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A mum-of-two shares a trick to remove oil stains using two household items.
Image source: Chantel Mila


‘Oil stains disappear like magic,’ she shared.

‘This method is my go-to for removing both old and fresh oil stains on your favourite clothing.

‘My daughter put her lip balm through the dryer, and it left oil marks on all our clothes. So, this method has been our saviour this week.’


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To remove an oil stain, cover it with dish soap and bicarb soda, scrub, let sit for 10 minutes, then wash as usual. Image source: Chantel Mila


To treat the stain, follow these steps:
  1. Set a plate underneath it and dab on dish soap to dissolve the oil.
  2. Then sprinkle bicarb soda to absorb the oil, scrubbing it in with a brush.
  3. Let it sit for 10 minutes before washing the garment as you normally would.
Chantel, also known as Mama Mila to her followers, showed the end result with the stains completely gone.

The video garnered over 2.2 million views. Many expressed excitement to try out the cleaning advice, while several affirmed the effectiveness of Chantel's method.

‘The algorithm knew I spilled melted butter on my shirt today,’ someone stated.


Meanwhile, others shared their own methods of cleaning oil stains on garments.

'I just use Dawn dish soap and use a toothbrush. And throw it in the washer. Works every time,’ one suggested.

Another replied: ‘Spray WD-40 on the stain. No need to wait. Straight wash afterwards.’

'Dry shampoo! Easiest hack spray on the stain before putting in the wash,' a third chimed in.

The science behind the method

Getting rid of oily stains is all about knowing a little bit of science.

Chantel’s secret ingredient, dish soap, acts as a ‘surfactant’. This might sound technical, but it simply means the soap lessens the water’s surface tension, allowing it to mix better with oil and grease.

The soap then goes to work, surrounding and lifting oily particles from the fabric. This process effectively clears the stain away.


On the other hand, bicarb soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has a special role. It’s highly absorbent, and its tiny pores act like mini sponges.

These pores pull in and trap the loosened oil. Additionally, bicarb soda’s grainy texture helps in scrubbing away stains and working gently on fabrics.

Key Takeaways

  • A Melbourne-based mum-of-two, Chantel Mila, has revealed her method of removing tough oil stains from clothes using bicarb soda and dishwashing liquid.
  • She shared a video of the trick, viewed more than 2.2 million times, showing the successful result.
  • Mila’s method involves applying dish soap to cut through the oil, sprinkling bicarb soda to absorb it, rubbing the mixture in with a brush, leaving for 10 minutes and then washing as usual.
  • Various video viewers shared their methods for removing tough stains, including using dry shampoo before washing.
Members, do you have any other smart tricks for tackling oil stains? Share them in the comments below!
 
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