My husband is working in the oilfield. What can I use to get crude oil etc. out of his work clothes?
Question:I know that they have to be washed in special laundromat machines called "greasers", but need to know what I need to add to the laundry detergent to get his work clothes cleaner. Thanks!
Answers:
simple green is a great degreaser- you can get concentrated amounts of it. Most laundry detergents have a grease fighting formula- Use the simple green to spot clean, and add a small amount to the wash.
I used to do this when working on oil furnaces and boilers.
Many companies are switching to using a uniform company for safety reasons- its better to have the uniform company handle the oily clothes.
i think i remember my aunt using Borax on my uncles greasers.
Try adding some vinegar or baking soda to the wash.
Try some dishwashing liquid. It is made to remove grease from pots and pans. I use it whenever I get greasy.
Dawn dish washing detergent. If it works on the water fowl in oil spills...
Borax is wonderful. However, since oil companies make tons of money they should provide free cleansing service for employees...after all legally the dirt on their clothes and the problems related to it are part of the job.
It is not the safest, but it will break the crude oil up. I have used starting fluid, from the automotive center, to beak up heavy grease. It is extremely flammable and must be used in an open area for fresh air. After scraping away any heavy deposits, spray the stains and blot. After the starting fluid has evaporated the clothes are dry they can be washed in the machine. Again this is a highly flammable spray and shouldonly be used with extreme caution. You can also buy Energine in some stores, which is similar to a dry cleaning fluid.. it is also flammable.
A few things:
CLEAR windex. This stuff is awesome and it's designed to cut oil (a mild degreaser). Get yourself a big jug (the generic stuff is pretty much just as good as the regular brand stuff), spray or pour some onto the spots, rub together and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then, put some laundry detergent right onto the spot, rub it and put it all into the washer. (make sure that if the windex has ammonia in it, you don't use a detergent with bleach or bleach alternative cause it will make poisonous gas if you mix them!) Pour your normal amount of detergent in. Do a wash in HOT water, pull the clothes out and check the spots. If they're still there, repeat. Whatever you do, don't run the clothes through the dryer until you're happy with how cleaned up the spots are, or else they'll bake in for all of eternity.
My wonderful hubby does his own greasers at the Laundromat. He uses a can of coke in every load. He has been doing his own thing for over 30 years.
You'll think I've lost it,but..Fill the tub of the washer with cold water...(Or better yet,use an old wash tub to "pre-soak" the clothes in,before you wash them)But add 1 cup of "powdered" dishwasher detergent.Let the washer run through a cycle of "wash" and drain.then refill the washer with warm water and regular detergent,and run entire cycle.I always used this on my son's clothing for when he worked as a fry cook...and came home with grease everyday,and needed clean clothes each day,and only two uniforms.Worked great,and everyone he worked with would call me to ask how I did it.I also use it on my husband's clothes,and he is a diesel mechanic.
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