I'm new to guns and just did a very stupid thing. After cleaning my shotgun, I threw a few rags heavily soiled with Breakfree CLP in the laundry with a some of my favorite shirts. Of course the whole load came out smelling of gun oil. I'm wondering if there are any detergents or other products that can get the smell out? There aren't any stains, but the smell is definitely enough to be noticeable and I wouldn't wear the shirts smelling the way they do right now. I haven't run them through the dryer yet. I was thinking of using Arm and Hammer powder detergent, but not sure if this will work any better than the Cheer detergent I used. Thanks for any tips, I'd hate for those shirts to become my next rags!
Any tips for getting gun oil out of clothes?
- Thread starter jblane
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James T Thomas
Member
grease cutter
Try some laundry liquid ammonia.
It workd well with most oils and greases, providing you wash in hot water.
Try some laundry liquid ammonia.
It workd well with most oils and greases, providing you wash in hot water.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
Wash them a few times, in hot water if it won't damage the shirts. Use some nicely scented detergent (liquid if you've got it) and Chlorox 2 (non-chlorine). Maybe do a second rinse each time.
A bottle of citrus scent liquid Tide might not be a bad investment.
Don't dry them until they've been washed a few times.
Over time, even if they smell a little, the smell should fade as the stuff oxidizes.
A bottle of citrus scent liquid Tide might not be a bad investment.
Don't dry them until they've been washed a few times.
Over time, even if they smell a little, the smell should fade as the stuff oxidizes.
Jorg Nysgerrig
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Try washing them by hand with liquid dish soap in the hottest water than fabric will take. Liquid dish soap is much better at breaking down grease and oil than laundry detergent. You might want to check the color fastness of the shirts before dousing them in the liquid dish soap.
jakemccoy
Member
Using some of the detergents/soaps listed above, I would soak the clothes a few times in hot water (e.g., soak for a few hours, empty water, repeat). Then, I would wash everything again, repeatedly if necessary.
In the future, it would be better to soak a few times before placing oiled clothing in the washer with other clothes.
In the future, it would be better to soak a few times before placing oiled clothing in the washer with other clothes.
rustycrusty
Member
What's wrong with smelling like CLP? It's a lot better than some aftershave I've been assulted with by guys that think cleaning up means MORE foo-foo juice
James T Thomas
Member
forgot GoJo
I never thought of GoJo.
I believe it is a mix of kerosene, grit, and perfume. Kerosene is "miscible," {SP?} with water. I think.
It works well.
I never thought of GoJo.
I believe it is a mix of kerosene, grit, and perfume. Kerosene is "miscible," {SP?} with water. I think.
It works well.
I've had amazing results with Murphy's Oil Soap. I know it's for wooden surfaces, but just a little in a load of laundry with normal laundry detergent has removed any oil that I've gotten on anything.
BTW, we had a nice thread about gun cleaning rags and laundry. A lot of folks recommended a 5 gallon bucket to wash gun rags if you don't want gun oil or cleaning solvents on your tighty whities. Personally, washing them separately and then running an empty load with a little non-sudsing ammonia to clean the machine of all residue is what I do.
BTW, we had a nice thread about gun cleaning rags and laundry. A lot of folks recommended a 5 gallon bucket to wash gun rags if you don't want gun oil or cleaning solvents on your tighty whities. Personally, washing them separately and then running an empty load with a little non-sudsing ammonia to clean the machine of all residue is what I do.
Seminole
Member
Yep, "Dawn" works really well. I'd be careful about the GOJO because the grit in it might damage the fabric (if that's important to you).
Claymore1500
Member
D&L hand cleaner is better than GOJO, No grit.
Rub it on the affected area and then wash as normal, I have removed some NASTY oil "stains" with it, it should work on smell too.
Rub it on the affected area and then wash as normal, I have removed some NASTY oil "stains" with it, it should work on smell too.
Got back from shopping, ran the load again with Tide, OxiClean, Clorox 2 bleach, and Dawn dish soap. Wow, that did the job! After 3 loads using just Cheer powder detergent, the smell was very noticeable. After running it with this mix, I could barely smell the CLP on the clothes. I'm running it one more time with the same cocktail, just to get the last dregs out. But it definitely worked, thanks again for the advice.
shout. in the spray bottle. i get all kinds of nasty stuff out of clothes with it. 80 year old grease, varsol (you know what i mean if you've ever used it), and pretty much whatever kind of oil you can get into. I restore model "A's" part time and as you can imagine, cracking open a transmission or rear end housing or similar isnt the most pleasant.
Digger Odell
Member
I just learned that the wives have been monitoring this dialog & made a complete list, so the next time she wants help to do the wash, WE can't tell her we don't know how!!!
So you see jblane how far the THR community will stick their neck out to help another!!
So you see jblane how far the THR community will stick their neck out to help another!!
oneounceload
member
Dawn in a separate bucket, then in the laundry.
Next time, throw the rags out and get new ones. Old socks, even the 12 pack of washcloths from Sam's Club are cheap enough.
NEVER mess up momma's machine with greasy, oily stuff
Next time, throw the rags out and get new ones. Old socks, even the 12 pack of washcloths from Sam's Club are cheap enough.
NEVER mess up momma's machine with greasy, oily stuff
svtruth
Member
Dry cleaning
would probably do the trick.
Good luck.
would probably do the trick.
Good luck.
Nico Testosteros
Member
I'd try Oxyclean. Soak the clothes in the sink with warm water for a while, even overnight.
Then wash with Oxyclean and detergent.
I know it works on bicycle chain grease. It should work with gun oil.
Good luck!
I think my father in law swears by borax as a good cleaner for his grimy work clothes. You might give that a try.
Then wash with Oxyclean and detergent.
I know it works on bicycle chain grease. It should work with gun oil.
Good luck!
I think my father in law swears by borax as a good cleaner for his grimy work clothes. You might give that a try.
double bogey
Member
I am an A/C mechanic/technician. Before you wash the clothes, use the GoJo without grit. Work it into all of the stains and oil spots. Wash in the machine normally after. Hint about GoJo: don't use any water until all stains are broken up, cloths or hands. for hands, I prefer Fast Orange, same as gojo, don't introduce water until grease is cut. Use the fine tooth brushes to get into skin creases and fingerprints. If you use gojo or the cleaners with lanolin, a couple of times a day, your skin will become too soft, too easy to cut.
doubleh
Member
The queen of the laundry room says all she has ever used is Spray and Wash. Spray it on, let it soak a little while, and wash. I worked in the oilfield and some of the crap I brought in on my clothes was coal black and would make Breakfree smell like Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds perfume compared to it. It smelled so bad she wouldn't let me in the house until I shucked my shirt and pants. Once in a while it would take two times to get the stain but the smell would be gone the first time.
I live in the country so I never bother any neighbors stripping down to my drawers outside.
I live in the country so I never bother any neighbors stripping down to my drawers outside.
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