A 6oz bottle of olive oil broke in my backpack how should I clean it?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around methods for cleaning an olive oil spill from a backpack, exploring various techniques and products that may be effective in removing oil stains from fabric. Participants share personal experiences and suggestions, focusing on practical cleaning solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using degreasing dish soap like Dawn, emphasizing the importance of rinsing and possibly re-washing afterward.
  • Others recommend soaking the fabric in a solution like Simple Green, detailing a method of soaking and rinsing to remove grease.
  • One participant mentions using mechanic's hand cleaner, suggesting specific brands and a soaking method with laundry detergent.
  • A more unconventional approach involves using a Soxhlet extractor with hexanes, indicating a chemical method for oil removal.
  • Another participant humorously suggests a technique involving fish oil and cats, while questioning the original presence of olive oil in a backpack.
  • Some participants share personal anecdotes about cleaning similar stains, indicating varied experiences with different products and methods.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on the best cleaning methods, with no consensus on a single effective solution. Various techniques and products are proposed, reflecting differing opinions on their efficacy.

Contextual Notes

Some methods rely on specific products that may not be universally available, and the effectiveness of each approach may depend on the type of fabric and the extent of the oil spill. There are also assumptions about the compatibility of certain cleaning agents with the backpack material.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals dealing with oil stains on fabric, particularly those interested in practical cleaning solutions for backpacks or similar items.

pa5tabear
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Is there a good way to remove oil from fabric? My backpack is really oily right now. Luckily nothing inside it was badly soiled, but I'm not sure how to get the oil out of the backpack fibers itself.

Thanks!
 
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I just used Simple Green to clean some denim jeans that were covered in grease from my car's suspension. I put the jeans and about 8 - 10 ounces of Simple Green in a 5 gallon bucket of water. I let them soak for about an hour, agitating by hand a few times. The water was so dirty that I emptied the bucket and repeated the process once more. After rinsing, they looked pretty good, but they smelled a bit funky, so I ran them through a regular machine wash cycle. Came out perfectly clean!
 
On tv, they said to use a degreasing dish soap like Dawn, that they use to remove oil from wildlife. Soak it in Dawn, rinse it out, put it in the washer with just a SMALL amount of Dawn so that you don't get too many suds. Then you might want to re-wash normally before you dry it. It should remove the oil.
 
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There's some organization that's knitting sweaters for oil soaked backpacks.
 
Mechanic's hand cleaner works well on petroleum based oil stains. Auto parts stores all carry it.

"Goop", "Go-Jo", "Fast Orange" are three popular brands. Rub in , let set a while then wash with garden hose.

Then let it soak overnight in a tub of laundry detergent.
 
I have no experience doing this, but here's how I would approach it.

First, remove as much oil as you can. Use something like paper towels to soak up the oil on the surface.

Next, get a bucket large enough to fit the backpack. If you can, turn the backpack inside out. Fill the bucket with hot water and immerse the backpack. Skim or pour off the oil as it rises to the top. I'd let it sit in the hot water for a while, maybe an hour.

Then take the backpack out and scrub it with a stiff brush and a good surfactant. Rinse it well, and hope for the best!
 
Three days in a Soxhlet extractor should do it. I'd use hexanes.
 
Detach the frame and put it in a washing machine, possibly without the spin cycle.
 
  • #10
When I got engine oil in my back pack, I sprayed it down with Gunk engine degreaser and used a scrub brush and hosed it down. I've seen similar products with a bioremediarion work even better and quicker.
 
  • #11
You could use the same technique that I devised for removing clogged fuzz from Velcro: add fish oil and throw it into a room full of cats.
Actually, the larger question here is why the hell you had a bottle of olive oil in a backpack. Have massage table; will travel?
 
  • #12
I hope the bottle of balsamic vinegar survived the trip.
 

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