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

  • Thread starter pa5tabear
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In summary, if you have a backpack that's oily and you can't get the oil out, you can try removing the oil with things like paper towels and hot water, or using a degreaser like Gunk. If that doesn't work, you can try washing the backpack with a machine and without the spin cycle, or using a bioremediation product.
  • #1
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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  • #3
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!
 
  • #4
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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  • #5
There's some organization that's knitting sweaters for oil soaked backpacks.
 
  • #6
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.
 
  • #7
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!
 
  • #8
Three days in a Soxhlet extractor should do it. I'd use hexanes.
 
  • #9
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.
 

1. How do I prevent the olive oil from staining my backpack?

The best way to prevent staining is to act quickly and remove excess oil as soon as possible. You can also pre-treat the area with a stain remover before washing.

2. Can I use hot water to clean the oil spill?

No, it is not recommended to use hot water as it can cause the oil to spread and further saturate the fabric. Use cold water instead.

3. What household items can I use to clean the oil?

You can use dish soap, baking soda, or white vinegar to help remove the oil. Apply a small amount and gently scrub the affected area.

4. How can I get rid of the smell of olive oil in my backpack?

After cleaning the oil spill, you can sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming it off. This can help absorb the smell. You can also use a fabric freshener or odor eliminator.

5. Is it safe to use my backpack after cleaning the oil spill?

Yes, as long as you have thoroughly cleaned and dried the affected area, it should be safe to use your backpack again. However, it is recommended to check the manufacturer's instructions for specific cleaning recommendations for your backpack.

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