How To Get Oil Out Of Sheets

Home · Homekeeping · The One Disgusting (But Satisfying) Laundry Hack You Need To Try

We all know that appearances can be deceiving, but many people don't realize just how true that can be when it comes to our laundry. Anything from your bed sheets to your sports bras may look clean enough, but they may actually be harboring an invisible layer of oily buildup that is keeping them far from truly clean.

And that hidden grime in your laundry can have unfortunate consequences if left unchecked! Those stubborn residues can act like magnets for dirt and oils, making them dirtier and even causing unpleasant musty smells over time.

But the good news is that in today's post, I'll be sharing a simple method you can use to "strip" that unseen oily residue out of clothing, household linens, and more! But first, let's briefly explore what makes these residues so dang stubborn in the first place.

Related: The 7 Most Likely Things That Will Ruin Your Bed Sheets

Why Are Some Residues So Hard To Wash Out?

Our bodies produce sweat and natural oils at all hours of the day, which gets absorbed by the clothes we wear and the sheets we sleep on. When sweat and oils combine with detergent residue and fabric softener residue that's present in our laundry, they can create a stubborn layer of buildup that a standard wash alone may not be able to remove.

Related: How To Get The Smell Out Of Musty Bed Sheets

But luckily for us, the process of "stripping" that buildup out of your laundry is actually quite simple! The main factors in the method I'll be sharing with you are a few basic laundry products, hot water, and time.

What Sorts Of Fabrics Can I Strip?

This process for "stripping" laundry works best on white, light-colored, and colorfast fabrics. It's also best reserved for thick or sturdy fabrics like towels and sheets. Avoid stripping delicate item just to be safe. (They likely don't even need stripping to begin with, because thin fabrics don't suffer from stubborn buildup in the same way that thicker fabrics and fibers can.)

In addition to household linens like towels and sheets, many people report having great success using this method to clean their athletic and workout clothing. Those synthetic materials can be tricky to get entirely clean in a standard wash cycle, and stripping them can help dissolve sweat and oil residues that have settled deep within the fabric.

How To Strip Your Laundry

You'll need:

Powdered laundry detergent*
Borax
Washing soda

*Note: For best results, look for a powdered detergent that contains enzymes such as Tide, Defunkify, or Rockin' Green. A detergent with enzymes will help break down those organic residues like sweat and body oil more effectively.

Directions:

Step 1 – Wash As Usual

This method works best when the items are as clean as possible to begin with, so toss them in your machine and wash them how you would normally.

Step 2 – Soak

The next step is to soak the items in a solution of laundry products for several hours, which you can do in either a deep sink, a large bucket, or your bathtub. Whichever one you choose, start by filling it up with very hot water.

Add the detergent, borax, and washing soda in a 2:1:1 ratio. For a bathtub, use 1/2 cup of powdered laundry detergent, 1/4 cup of borax, and 1/4 cup of washing soda. (You can easily scale down the amounts for a sink or bucket—just be sure to use twice as much detergent as borax and washing soda.)

Add the items you want to strip to the soaking solution, and allow them to soak until the water cools, or for at least four hours. Stir the items around occasionally as they soak to help release the loosened buildup.

Step 3 – Drain & Rinse

After soaking, drain out the murky water. Squeeze the items you've soaked to help get rid of some of the excess water, then move them to your washing machine and start a rinse-only cycle.

Step 4 – Dry

When the rinse cycle is done, dry your freshly stripped and cleaned items without dryer sheets or fabric softeners, and you're done! In the future, make sure you're using only as much detergent as you need when you wash your laundry, as detergent residue can attract dirt and sweat and contribute to further buildup.

When Should I Use This Method?

Use this method every few months (or as needed) to remove oily residue, sweat buildup, and musty smells from your laundry. Avoid using it too frequently, as repeated exposure to super hot water isn't great for fabrics.

If your sheets, towels, or clothing are suffering from oily buildup or residues, give this method a try for yourself!

What's your best laundry tip?