What do you use to clean clothes?

ONV70XC · Post by **ONV70XC** » 01 Oct 2012, 17:25

Hi all,
I've broke-up recently and hit the problem of washing oil greased clothes. Before that it was all taken care by my lady and now I'm puzzled. Can I use regular detergent such as ALL in the heavy wash cycle be enough or what would you do besides renewing or finding new relationship?

Forgive for dumb question

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 01 Oct 2012, 18:01

It isn't a dumb question at all. I use whatever laundry detergent is available - Tide, All, etc., Warm Wash, and I use the pre-soak 15 minute cycle on the washer. I use Tide but that is because that is what is next to the washer. Obviously you don't want to mix "work on the car clothes" with anything else. No amount of washing or pre-washing will return your clothes to like new condition. I have several pairs of pant and shirts that are specifically dedicated to working on messy things.

I have a plastic tub on my washer I have noticed, after my engine swap, that it has grown a light grease ring. I have not tried it yet but I plan on using a degreaser solution like Purple Power on the tub and the agitator to clean them up. Fortunately, the grease ring has not posed a problem yet by transferring to other nice clothes. You can get Purple Power at most auto parts stores by the gallon.

...Lee

Post by **Matty Moo** » 01 Oct 2012, 19:24

I have a small dresser in the garage that is just for garage clothes. Those only get washed at the laundromat with extra detergent in hot water.

I'd get my ass kicked if I even thought about washing them at home.

Post by **JDS60R** » 01 Oct 2012, 20:17

I spent many of my younger years covered in grease. Back then it was "Lestoil". That actually got the grease and oil out.

I do keep clothes separate by use (garage vs other) but will have to get some lestoil and see if it gets them as clean as they used to be.

Post by **jblackburn** » 01 Oct 2012, 20:49

Oxi clean works great on grease.

Post by **jimmy57** » 01 Oct 2012, 22:18

Ok, it's like this: for the really BAD spots with wheel bearing or CV grease or undercoat you circle the spot with dishwasher soap (Joy, Ivory, Dawn, etc.) and then use WD-40 or Avon Skin So Soft or charcoal lighter fluid and put libreally on the actual offending substance. Now put some dishwashing liquid on that. Now scrub that area. The soap and petroleum distillate will form a gel but the solvent action of the petroleum product will dissolve the grease. The soap will emulsify it and it washes out when you wash the clothes in the washer WITHOUT any other whites or clothing that would offend if it smelled a bit like chemicals. I wore khakis and other dressy pants and rubbed up against lift pads covered with Volvo undercoat or got dirty car part grease and oil on my clothes daily. The laundry wouldn't get mean enough with the stains and the store bought products you spray (Spray-N-Wash) were not aggressive enough either. I even did a little pre-treatment on wool suit pants that had been undercoat soiled before taking them in. This trick never failed me.
Charcoal lighter fluid/mineral spirits was the most effective. If you don't circle the area with dishwashing liquid first you will often gets circles where it wicks the stain outwward.