Tips for cleaning oil stains on car interiors
Oil stains on car interiors can be caused by engine oil or food brought into the car, here are some tips to help you clean them.
Use anti-rust spray
Before you can remove oil stains, you need to understand what type of material your car is made of. Typically, there are three main types of materials used for car seats: cloth, leather, or vinyl.
WD-40 (anti-rust spray) can clean both upholstery and carpet in the car. If there is an oil stain on the upholstery, you should use some paper towels or old cloth to remove it, then use a small amount of WD-40 on the oil stain.
Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then blot with a washcloth or paper towel and repeat the process until the stain is gone.
If the oil stain is fresh and not yet dry, sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder on it, let it sit for 8-10 hours and vacuum it with a wet or dry vacuum. If you don’t have either of those, use a household vacuum to suck out all the water. You can repeat this process several times until it is clean.
Use baking soda
- Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the oil stain.
- Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes.
- Use a soft brush or paper towel to gently brush away oil stains.
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Use dishwashing liquid
- Mix dishwashing liquid with warm water in a 1:1 ratio.
- Use a clean cloth or soft brush dipped in the solution.
- Brush lightly on oil stains.
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth and dry.
Use dishwashing liquid combined with vinegar
- Mix 1/4 cup dishwashing liquid with 3/4 cup white vinegar.
- Use a clean cloth dipped in the mixture.
- Gently wipe the oil stain.
- Wipe clean with water and dry.
Use cooking oil
- Pour a little cooking oil on the oil stain.
- Wait about 15-20 minutes for the cooking oil to absorb the base oil.
- Wipe clean with water and dry.
Use Coca-Cola
- Use Coca-Cola to moisten the oil stained area.
- Wait about 15-20 minutes.
- Use a soft brush or paper towel to brush gently.
- Wipe clean with water and dry.
Note:
Before applying any cleaning method, test it on a small area of the interior to ensure it does not harm the material.
The sooner you clean up an oil stain, the easier it will be to remove. Don't let the stain sink into the furniture.
When cleaning oil stains, clean the entire surface to avoid smudging or uneven color.