Yes, you can use engine degreaser on clothes, but it must be a water-based or citrus-based formula, and used strictly as a localized pre-treatment for heavy grease or motor oil stains. Avoid harsh petroleum-based aerosol degreasers, as they can ruin fabrics and leave strong odors.
Brands like Zep, Lestoil or other industrial laundry soaps are formulated as intense laundry degreaser solutions. For example, some folks swear by a small dose of Lestoil in the wash to break down heavy oil stains (just be sure to rinse thoroughly as it has a strong odor).
Yes, engine grease can usually be removed from clothes if treated correctly and promptly. The most important rule is never put greasy clothes in the dryer, as the heat will permanently set the stain.
You can use degreaser on fabric, but it depends heavily on the type of degreaser and the garment. Heavy-duty industrial or automotive degreasers can permanently discolor, weaken, or damage delicate clothing, while diluted all-purpose cleaners and dish soaps are perfectly safe for treating grease stains.
Here's what to do:
Many Amish households use standard, commercially available detergents like Tide or Gain, as they often shop at the same local supermarkets and bulk stores as non-Amish communities. However, many others prefer to live sustainably and avoid harsh chemicals by using simple, natural, and highly effective DIY detergents.
If you are out of laundry detergent, you can use common household alternatives like baking soda combined with white vinegar, or a tiny amount of liquid dish soap.
Best Homemade Degreaser
Use a mixture of hot water, a squirt of dish detergent, a small pour of white vinegar, and a teaspoon of baking soda. Double up on the ingredients you add to your water for really tough grease.
Additionally, hot washes using hot water or steam can effectively remove dirt and grease from car parts. In cases where specialized car parts cleaner is not available, alternative options like rubbing alcohol or water-based degreasers can be used.
Mechanics' clothes require heavy-duty formulas to break down petroleum-based stains and eliminate lingering fuel or exhaust odors. The most effective degreasers and laundry solutions include:
If you're dealing with a heavily set-in grease stain, then spray the affected area with a water displacement lubricant like WD-40. This will reactivate the stain, liquefying it, and hopefully making it easier to clean.
Baking soda's alkaline properties should help soak up the grease and oil. White vinegar. If baking soda doesn't work, soak the stain in a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Let sit for a few hours.
Dawn is a highly effective, versatile degreaser, but it is not "just" a degreaser. It is technically a dish detergent formulated with a blend of surfactants. Because of its mild pH (around 9) and skin-safe composition, it safely breaks down fats and oils without the harsh chemicals found in heavy-duty industrial degreasers.
If you are working with a motor oil stain or a particularly stubborn oil stain, apply a solvent or degreaser as a pre-treatment before loading it in the washing machine. Apply dish soap or laundry detergent with a surfactant in it to the stain and rub it in.
The best natural laundry alternatives include baking soda (for odor removal), white vinegar (for fabric softening), soap nuts (all-natural saponin berries), or castile soap. These items effectively lift dirt and neutralise smells without the use of synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, or plastic packaging.
Vinegar does not fully disinfect laundry. While the acetic acid has mild antimicrobial properties that can reduce certain odor-causing bacteria, it is not strong enough to kill 99.9% of germs, viruses, or fungi, and does not qualify as a true disinfectant.
You can use baking soda for lightly soiled everyday loads, but it is not a complete substitute for laundry detergent. Because it lacks the active surfactants and enzymes found in detergents, it won't effectively break down heavy grease, oil, or stubborn stains.
Can the Amish Use Condoms? Condoms are considered a modern and artificial form of birth control. The Amish reject modern and artificial things by nature. Therefore, the use of condoms by Amish men is strictly forbidden and condemned in most, if not all, Amish communities.
Mexican households and Hispanic communities typically rely on iconic, highly fragrant detergent powders and versatile cleaning bars. These brands are famous for their deep cleaning power, affordability, and the deeply nostalgic, fresh scent they leave on fabrics.
No, Borax and baking soda are not the same thing. While they both look like white powders and are used for household cleaning, they are chemically distinct and cannot always be used interchangeably.
House cleaners create that coveted "fresh, clean" aroma not just by masking odors with artificial fragrances, but by deeply sanitizing, eliminating odor sources at the molecular level, and incorporating targeted natural or botanical scents.
Be careful around painted surfaces
Degreasers aren't necessarily unsafe for the paint on your car, but they will strip the wax from its finish, leaving the clear coat and paint unprotected from harsh, environmental elements.
Professional cleaners know that a timesaving secret is to vacuum every floor in the house, including bathrooms and the kitchen. It's the fastest and most efficient way to pick up dust, hair, and all the little bits of debris that like to hide in corners.