The owner and designer of a clothing company has offered advice on how to correctly and efficiently remove an oil stain from your clothing.
Cleaning clothes is a relatively simple process on paper, but in reality, it’s a chaotic mess of specific washing instructions, shrinking fabric, and messed-up colors. Though your iPhone can tell you laundry instructions using just the camera, it’s always best to turn to an expert when grappling with stains.
How to remove an oil stain
This newest top tip comes straight from Lauren Hackett, a fashion designer who launched her own label in 2021 following a “dehumanizing and uncomfortable” experience at a psychiatric unit. Her business aims to provide fashionable, comfortable, and unique clothing options to replace paper scrubs usually worn in psychiatric facilities.
Taking to TikTok to stitch a video of two men complaining about oil stains, Lauren addressed their concerns in a video that has since garnered nearly 1 million views and 45k likes.
“There is actually a really easy way to get oil stains out of your hoodies, t-shirts, whatever, but it’s not washing them. It will never work,” she said. “What you need to do is get cornstarch and put a generous amount on the stain.”
Lauren continued to explain that you need to let the cornstarch sit on the stain for at least 20 minutes, or even longer if dealing with a particularly big stain. Afterward, simply vacuum the mixture off the clothing.
Though it might sound a little too simple, Lauren said that her business uses this method constantly and it “works great.”
Lauren’s followers had even more tips
If you’ve tried Lauren’s method and you’re still having issues with the pesky oil stain, then don’t fear, as her followers continued to offer suggestions in the comment section.
One person said: “Or u can use parchment paper over it then an iron over it on low heat.”
“Dawn dish soap works for me every single time! I rub some on the oil stain before putting it in the wash,” someone else said, to which Lauren replied, “Be careful with certain fabrics, sometimes using soaps/stain removers leaves a lightened splotch! this works great for heavier fabrics :).”
Another person desperately pleaded: “If this doesn’t work I’m gonna cry. I got ranch on my brand new $70 Nike hoodie & my Uggs too. Ranch is a problem apparently.”
