SHARE
Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp

How to Remove Motor Oil From Rags

Written By
Kaye Morris
Kaye Morris
Published: Apr 1, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

  1. Spray the rags with a pre-wash stain removing liquid. Make sure all oily areas are completely dampened by the pre-wash liquid. Allow the pre-wash liquid to remain on the rags for an hour.

  2. Wash the rags in the washing machine with regular laundry detergent. Use the "Heavy Wash" setting and hot water. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

  3. Dry the rags in the dryer on a setting suitable for the type of fabric the rags are made from.

References

Tips

Wash rags immediately after use before the oil has a chance to dry and set on the fabric.

Washing may not remove all discoloration from the rags. Keep discolored, clean rags for use with future projects involving motor oil.

Warnings

If the rags are dripping with motor oil, do not place them in your washing machine. Instead, lay the rags out flat and sprinkle baking soda on them to help absorb the oil before washing.
Kaye Morris

Kaye Morris has over four years of technical writing experience as a curriculum design specialist and is a published fiction author. She has over 20 years of real estate development experience and received her Bachelor of Science in…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

x

Company

About us Contact us Advertise with us

Categories

Cleaning DIY Electrical Exterior HVAC Interior Laundry Maintenance Paint

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

Terms of Service Privacy Policy California - Do Not Sell My Information