If your carpet has been a victim of the greasy footprint from your visit to your garage, then worry not, as there are multiple ways how to remove automotive grease from carpets.
Carpets, especially lighter ones, look nasty with grease marks all over them and ruin the appearance of your living room completely.
Grease marks could not only be caused by automobiles but also by food, different types of oil, and other items. Wish to find out how to fix all of these? Keep on reading!
What Can Remove Grease From a Carpet?
If your carpet has been stained by grease, then there is no need to panic! Plenty of methods and things can remove grease from a carpet, from home ingredients to commercial machines.
Let us see what all things can help in removing grease from your carpet effectively:
Dishwashing Soap
The primary function of dishwashing soap is cleaning dishes, but it is quite versatile in cleaning many kinds of stains.
You can use dishwashing soap to clean small and fresh grease stain that only requires light cleaning.
Dishwashing soap is gentler on the carpet and lathers easily, allowing you to remove any stain marks and bacteria from the carpet.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another great ingredient that is suitable for removing small and fresh grease stains from the carpet.
This ingredient dissolves dirt and removes bacteria with soft abrasion and is readily available in all homes.
Baking soda also helps in removing odor, and when combined with dishwashing soap, it can be used to remove almost any kind of stain, including red wine stains, coffee stains, etc.
White Vinegar
Just like baking soda, white vinegar is also readily available in households and can be used to get rid of grease from carpets.
Since white vinegar contains acid, which is also found in many commercial cleaners, it can be used to get rid of both grease stains and odor from the carpet.
When paired with baking soda or liquids/detergents, it can be used to remove many other kinds of stains, including pet pee stains.
You can also use Pine-Sol. It’s a multipurpose cleaning agent known for removing odors, stains, grease, and dirt from various surfaces.
Extraction Tools
Prolonged dampness on your carpet can lead to mold and mildew, which can worsen the condition of your carpet.
So if you have rinsed your carpet to get rid of carpet grease or any other stain, then you can use an extraction tool to remove all the water from the carpet and to get rid of any dampness.
Carpet Cleaning Machines
If you have a carpet cleaning machine, be it a steam cleaner, rotary carpet cleaner, etc., then you can use it to clean your carpet and to get rid of automotive stains.
How To Remove Automotive Grease From Carpet?
Automotive grease is the worst kind of stain. You can get automotive stains on your clothes and skin while getting in and out of your car or other vehicle.
And when you sit or walk on your carpet unaware of the automotive stain on your body, it can stain and ruin your carpet.
But do not worry; here’s how you can remove automotive grease from the carpet:
What you’ll need:
- Liquid soap
- Ammonia
- Warm water
- Bowl
- Gloves
- Spray bottle
- Absorbent cloth
1. Combine three tablespoons of liquid soap, one tablespoon of ammonia, and three cups of warm water in a bowl. Now mix these ingredients and add this to a spray bottle.
2. Start by blotting the access automotive grease from the carpet. Now spray the ammonia solution on the affected area. Make sure to cover the area completely.
3. Now, leave the solution on the carpet for five to ten minutes.
4. After waiting out, fill your spray bottle with plain cold water and spray it on the area again to rinse it completely without flooding the carpet.
5. Now, take an absorbent cloth and start blotting the area to draw out moisture. You will see that the grease is coming off.
How To Remove Black Grease From Carpet?
Black grease stains can be caused by several things, including automobiles, oil from machinery, charred food, etc.
When on carpet, black grease ruins the look of the carpet and looks unappealing. So here is a great way to get rid of black grease from carpet:
What you’ll need:
- Dishwashing liquid soap
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Bowl
- Clean cloth
- Spray bottle
1. Start by mixing 2 cups of warm water, 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, and 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid soap into a bowl.
2. Do a patch test by applying the entire solution to the affected area.
3. Dip a dry and clean cloth into the solution and apply it to the grease stain by applying little pressure.
4. Keep repeating the process until the solution is sufficiently applied to the stain and the grease starts coming off.
5. Now, fill a spray bottle with plain cold water and spray it on the affected area properly.
6. Now, use a fresh cloth to blot the area to soak up any excess moisture from the carpet. Repeat the process until the area is cleaned off and moisture has been removed.
7. Once you have removed the excess moisture, leave the carpet to dry out overnight.
How To Remove Old Grease Stains From Carpet?
Grease or any other kinds of stains are easier to remove when treated immediately. But you might sometimes forget about the stain or do not notice it until a few days later, causing the stain to dry out.
Difficult as it may be, here’s how you can remove old grease stains from your carpet:
#Method 1: Baking Soda & Detergent
Things you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Vacuum cleaner
- One utility brush or an old toothbrush
- Detergent
- Clean sponge or cloth
- Warm water
- Dull knife
- Start by scraping the dried grease from the carpet by using a dull knife.
- Now sprinkle baking soda generously onto the stain and start scrubbing the baking soda on the old grease stain.
- Now let the baking soda sit on the stain for 5-10 minutes, and follow this up by vacuuming the area.
- Once the vacuum soaks up the excess baking soda, apply a few drops of liquid washing detergent on the affected area and scrub it again gently using a toothbrush.
- Once the old grease stain is removed from the carpet, rinse the area with a wet cloth and follow it up by absorbing the excess liquid with a dry cloth.
#Method 2: Dry-Cleaning Solvent
Things you’ll need:
- Dry cleaning solvent or carpet cleaning product
- Damp clean cloth or sponge
- Fan or dehumidifier (optional)
- Start by doing a patch test on a small portion of the carpet to see if the dry-cleaning solvent is not causing discoloration.
- Now apply the dry-cleaning solvent on a damp sponge or clean cloth and apply it on the grease stain. Let it sit for five minutes to absorb the oil.
- Once the grease stain comes off, dip a clean cloth in warm water and blot the extra dry-cleaning solvent from the carpet.
- Repeat the steps if the stain is still visible, and then dry out the area using a fan or dehumidifier.
#Method 3: Rubbing alcohol
You can use this method as a last resort if all other methods fail:
Things you’ll need:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Clean cloth or paper towels
- Clean water
- Start by applying a little amount of rubbing alcohol directly onto the stain and press it gently onto the surface.
- You will start noticing that the rubbing alcohol will start dissolving the grease. Repeat the steps till the entire grease stain comes off the carpet.
- Once the stain has come off, take a clean damp cloth and clean the spot by dabbing the area. Open the windows to let the air circulate and let the carpet dry out over night.
#Method 4: dishsoap & Vinegar
Due to Vinegar’s disinfecting and bleaching properties, it is a great ingredient to get rid of various kinds of stains from the carpet, including dry grease stains.
Things you’ll need:
- Dish soap
- White Vinegar
- Paper towels or clean cloth
- Warm water
- Spray bottle (optional)
- Dull knife
- Start by gently scraping the old grease stain using a dull knife.
- Now mix one tablespoon of both white Vinegar and dish soap into two cups of warm water and transfer it to a spray bottle.
- Now spray the mixture onto the stain and dab it with a clean, dry cloth. Repeat this step till the grease comes off completely.
- Lastly, dip a clean cloth in warm water and wipe it on the area to remove excess soap or vinegar residue.
How To Get Rid of Cooking Grease From Carpet?
Food spills on carpets are common in households with kids but do not worry, as cooking grease can be removed from the carpet using a baking soda & detergent mixture.
Baking soda is a great ingredient that not only helps in removing bacteria but also helps in removing odor.
Things you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Detergent
- Spray bottle
- Clean cloth
- Vinegar
So here’s a step-by-step guide on removing cooking grease from the carpet:
1. Start by removing the excess grease from the carpet using a spoon. Try to remove it carefully without spreading the grease further.
2. Now sprinkle a very thick layer of baking soda on the stain to cover it completely and leave it as it is for 10-15 minutes.
3. Combine one teaspoon of detergent, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and one cup of warm water into a spray bottle.
4. Now spray the area completely with this solution and start scrubbing the area gently using a soft-bristled brush.
5. Once the stain has come off, rinse the area completely using clean cold water and clean away the residue using a soft and dry cloth.
How To Remove Automotive Grease From Carpet? Wrap Up
Automotive grease is nasty, and its dark color can ruin the appearance of your carpet completely, especially if you let the stain dry out completely.
Thankfully there are ways to get rid of both wet and dry grease stains from carpets that we have shared in the guide above.
We hope you liked this guide on how to remove automotive grease from carpet useful.
FAQs
Are grease stains permanent?
No, grease stains can be removed using home remedies or commercial cleaners, especially if treated when the stain is still fresh.
How to remove grease from clothes?
You can take an absorbent cloth to dab and absorb the excess grease from clothes and then sprinkle salt on it to let it sit on the grease stain for 5-10 minutes. The salt will soak up the grease.
What are addtional tips for removing automotive grease from carpets?
- Acting on the stain when it is still fresh, removing and drying out automotive grease from carpets is much more difficult.
- While using a brush, scrub the area gently always to avoid damaging the carpet fibers.
- Each time you rinse the carpet with water, make sure to allow it to dry out completely before walking on it.
- Always do a patch test before going all in with any of the above-mentioned DIY methods.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!