Removing Olive Oil Spills

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Olive oil is a popular cooking ingredient that has a variety of uses. The oil that is produced from olives is also a common ingredient in cosmetics, soaps and fuels for oil lamps. When using olive oil it is not uncommon to accidentally spill, splatter and drip the oil onto carpets, upholstery and clothing. Olive oil should be removed as soon as possible to prevent stains. Olive oil stains are unsightly and can be difficult to remove, once set.

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic spoon
• Garbage bag
• Baking soda
• Vacuum
• White cloths
• Drycleaning solvent
• Liquid dish soap
• White vinegar
• Bucket
• Wooden spoon
• Towel
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• Carpet and Upholstery
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• Scrape the excess olive oil off the carpet or upholstery using a plastic spoon. Discard the excess oil and the spoon in a garbage bag.
• Sprinkle baking soda directly on the olive oil. Allow the baking soda to sit on the carpet or upholstery for 15 minutes. Use a vacuum to remove the baking soda.

1. Dampen a white cloth with drycleaning solvent. Blot the carpet and upholstery with the damp cloth to remove the olive oil stain. Begin at the outer edge of the stain and work toward the center. If the olive oil stain is still visible, continue with the remaining steps.
2. Mix 1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap, 1 tbsp. of white vinegar and 2 cups of water in a bucket. Dampen a clean cloth in the mixture. Blot the olive oil stain with the dampened cloth until the stain is no longer visible.
3. Rinse the carpet or upholstery by blotting with a clean cloth dampened in cool water. Pat dry with a towel.

Clothing

4. Lay the garment on a flat surface with the olive oil facing upward. Sprinkle baking soda over the olive oil. Allow the baking soda to sit on the garment for several minutes.
5. Hold the clothing under running water to rinse the baking soda off the garment. Add a drop or two of liquid dish soap to the stain. Rub the dish soap into the fabric with your fingers for a few minutes.
6. Fill a bucket with warm water and add ¼ cup of liquid dish soap. Mix the contents together with a wooden spoon. Submerge the clothing into the mixture. Allow the clothing to soak for at least a few hours, but preferably overnight.
7. Launder as you normally would. If the stain is still present, repeat the process.