How To Get Bike Chain Grease Out Of Clothes?

Bike grease stains are one of the most stubborn stains you can ever get. If you are a bike commuter, bike grease stains are unavoidable. It takes a blink of an eye to getting a bike stain on your clothes. A bike grease stain can appear during a ride, during chain maintenance, tire change, or regular cleaning of the bike.

Since there is hardly any day of bike commuting when you don’t get a mark of bike grime and grease on your clothes, finding a way to get rid of these stubborn stains is critical. To help you out there, I’ve shared some of the most effective methods that you can use to get bike grease out of clothes.

9 Tested Methods To Get Bike Chair Grease Out Of Clothes

You can get bike grease out of clothes by using certain methods. these methods either use natural or chemical products to get rid of tough spots. Also depending upon the fabric quality and nature of skin, you can use a combination of natural products and chemicals. So here are some of the best methods to get the bike grease out of clothes.

Method 1. Using Dishwashing Liquid

Dishwashing liquid is a mild chemical liquid that is easily available in every household. Dishwashing liquid contains detergent instead of soap to avoid the formation of scum. A dishwashing liquid is not harmful to the texture and color of fabrics and gently removes the stubborn grease stains. Remember, a dishwashing liquid is effective against fresh grease stains and might not work against mature stains.

• Apply dishwashing liquid on the spot. Since it is a gentle detergent, it is advised not to dilute the liquid.
• Initially, rub the stain with your fingers. Then rub the stain with a toothbrush in gentle circular motions.
• Keep on rubbing until the stain starts fading away.
• Add more dishwashing liquid if needed and then wash the cloth with warm water.

Method 2. Using Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural product that is highly effective against stubborn stains like grease, paint, and varnishes. It is one of the oldest cleansing techniques used around the world to get rid of difficult spots from clothes, utensils, floors, sinks, and walls. Vinegar contains 5% acetic acid and it gently acts on the fabric to remove the stain.

• Moisten the spot using a damp cloth or spray bottle.
• Add 5-10 drops of vinegar depending upon the size of the stain.
• Wait for three to four minutes, and gently rub the spot with your fingers.
• Now wash the cloth in the washing machine in a warm cycle.
• If the stain is not completely removed, you can combine vinegar with a dishwashing liquid or bar soap for improved action.

You may also be interested to read about washing and maintaining a bike rack

Method 3. Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is another natural product that you can find in every household. Baking soda is also used in kitchen and bathroom cleaning applications and it can easily cut through stubborn grease in the clothes. Baking soda easily gets absorbed in the fabric and is ideal for tough and old grease stains.

• Since baking soda comes in powdered form, you can make a gentle solution by combining it with shampoo.
• Moisten the stain and add three to four drops of shampoo.
• Rub the spot with a toothbrush for three to four minutes.
• Now, sprinkle 4 to 5 pinches of baking soda on the stains and wait until it gets fully absorbed.
• Put the cloth in the washing machine and wash in a warm cycle.

Method 4. Using Chalk

Chalk is a chemical product that helps you get rid of old and stubborn bike grease stains out of clothes. Chalk is used on tough and old grease stains on thick clothes like pants. Remember chalks have discoloration properties and therefore it is advised not to use them on delicate colored fabrics.

• Moisten the stain and apply chalk to the affected areas. Fully cover that stain with chalk and leave it for ten to fifteen minutes.
• Then wash the cloth with cold water. Avoid using warm water since it encourages the discoloration of the fabric.
• The fabric is ready to be washed in a machine.

You may also be interested to read about how to clean a bike helmet

Method 5. Using Biological Laundry Soap

Biological soaps are the laundry secrets and they are capable of removing the toughest grease stains from all types of fabrics. However, this method is best for synthetic fabrics and it is advised not to use the biological laundry soaps on delicate fabrics like silk and wool.

• Moisten the affected area on the cloth and apply the biological detergent in small quantities.
• Gently scrub the spot with a toothbrush or sponge.
• Keep on rubbing until the stain starts fading away.
• Then add a few more drops of detergent and leave it for fifteen minutes.
• Rinse the affected area with cold water and your fabric is ready for machine wash.

Method 6. Using Bar Soap And Shampoo

Bar soaps are laundry soaps that are hard detergents used in the laundry for the removal of stubborn stains. This soap when combined with shampoo offers a gentle impact on the delicate fabrics and gets the grease out while maintaining the shine of the cloth.

• Apply the shampoo to the stain and gently rub it with your fingers. Leave the fabric and let the shampoo get fully absorbed.
• Add three to four drops of ammonia to moisten the surface and rub the laundry bar soap against the stains.
• Once you notice the foam formation, gently scrub the stain with a sponge or toothbrush.
• Keep on scrubbing and you will notice the stain is becoming lighter and lighter.
• Wash the affected area with cold water and then put it in a washer to wash in a warm gentle cycle.

Are you a professional bike repairman OR like to repair your bike yourself at home? If yes, I highly recommend you to use budget-friendly bike repair stand to repair bikes comfortably.

Method 7. Using Baby Powder, Talcum Powder OR Cornstarch

These three products are surprisingly very effective to get fresh bike grease stains out of clothes. These products can be used in combination with a dishwashing liquid, shampoo, or detergent.

• Apply liquid detergent or dishwashing soap on the stain and gently scrub with a toothbrush.
• Then add talcum powder, baby powder, or cornstarch. Fully cover the stains with powder and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse with warm water and then wash the clothes in the washer in a cold cycle.

Also Read: Can you use WD40 on a bike chain?

Method 8. Using Hot Water And Spot Remover

A spot remover is a concentrated cleaning fluid that is mainly used in carpet and blanket cleaning applications. You can use this fluid in small quantities to get the stubborn bike grease out of clothes. Ideally, you should use the fluid in diluted concentration to avoid discoloration of delicate fabrics.

• Apply three to four drops of high-quality spot remover on the spot. Scrape off the stain with a toothbrush or sponge.
• Keep on rubbing for four to five minutes and then leave the fabric for five minutes.
• Wash the fabric with hot water.
• The stain remover and hot water combination should not be used on delicate fabrics.
• This method is ideal to get rid of old and stubborn grease spots from synthetic fabrics.

Method 9. Using Borax And Lemon Juice

Borax has the same cleaning properties as baking soda but it is stronger than baking soda. The best part is that it is gentle and does not encourage discoloration. You can combine borax and lemon juice to get rid of old grease stains from cycling pants and t-shirts.

• Form a paste using one spoon of borax powder and four to five tablespoons of lemon juice.
• Moisten the affected areas using a spray bottle or damp cloth.
• Apply the borax and lemon juice paste and scrape off the stain with a toothbrush.
• Since borax is more corrosive than baking soda it has a fast action. Scrub the stain for four to five minutes and then put the cloth in the washer to wash in a gentle warm cycle.

Watch a Video Guide to Remove Bike Grease Stains from Clothes

How To Avoid Bike Grease Stains On Clothes?

Invest In A Chain Guard

The chain is the part of the bike from where you get most of the grease stains on your pants. Therefore it is advised to use a chain guard to avoid grease spots on your clothes.

Keep The Bike Chain Clean

Before you leave for a ride, check for any greasy or oily substance on the chain guard, chain, or tires. Carefully clean all the excess grease using a degreasing agent from the chain to keep your pants spotless during the ride.

Important Note: Clean Carefully

You cannot avoid grease stains while changing the chain or tires on your bike. So it is best to wear old or rough clothes during bike maintenance.

FAQs about Grease Removal from Clothes

Will vinegar remove grease from clothes?

Yes, vinegar will remove the fresh grease stains from the clothes. You can combine vinegar and baking soda or vinegar and borax powder to remove the tough grease stains from clothes.

Does baking soda remove oil stains?

Baking soda is one of the best natural products you can use to remove oily and greasy stains from clothes. Baking soda is a basic agent that can absorb the oils from clothes and help you get rid of stubborn oily and greasy stains on the clothes.

Wrapping Up about Removing Bike Grease from Clothes

I’m hopeful that this guide will help you get rid of headstrong and awkward greasy stains from your clothes. If you are trying to remove an old stain I would recommend using a chemical product like laundry soap, biological soap, or borax powder. However, for fresh stains on delicate fabrics, natural products like lemon juice and vinegar work best and also maintain the fabric’s texture and shine.