How to Remove Grease and Oil From a Car's Interior

Ick. Someone stepped on one of those greasy spots in those oil-slick minefields known as parking lots. Now it's in your car. Get it out!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Absorbent Cloth Or Rag
• Brown Paper Bags
• Carpet Shampoos
• Irons
• Sponges
• Stain Removers
• Towels
• Towels
• Petroleum Jelly
• Petroleum Jelly
• Towels
• Sponges
• clean, soft dry cloth

Carpet

1. Remove excess oil or grease by blotting or scraping.

2. Place a sheet of butcher paper or a portion of a brown paper bag on the stain, glossy side up.

3. Gently press the tip of a warm iron over the affected area.

4. Lift the paper from the carpet after the paper has absorbed the grease.

5. Apply carpet shampoo with a moist sponge if any residual stains remain.

6. Wipe away the carpet shampoo foam with a clean, dry towel.

Fabrics

7. Blot or scrape away excess oil or grease.

8. Apply an absorbent cloth or rag to the stain and leave it for a few hours.

9. Apply a laundry pre-treatment product, such as a stain remover, to the stain.

10. Sponge with warm water.

Tips & Warnings

• If the stain is an old one, lather a small amount of petroleum jelly onto the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes instead of several hours.
• Leather interiors should be cleaned professionally.

[eabrennan]

on 4/2/2009 These comments are really good.

on 8/21/2006 Use Head & Shoulders hair shampoo. Apply the shampoo directly to the grease stain, and take a small brush, preferably a toothbrush, and rub in small circles. Take lukewarm water to remove any excess shampoo and wait till dry and vacuum. Stain is gone. Head & Shoulders is what I used to clean my father's automotive shop, and the entry way to an apartment complex I was working at. It works wonders.

on 8/8/2006 I stepped on a glob of grease and tracked it on our carpet in about a dozen places before catching my indiscretion. I tested the WD40 and it worked to a point, but left a black shadow. I then tried engine degreaser and it worked pretty well. Finally, I had a can of Motsenbocker's Lift Off that I tested. Marvelous! Spray on, let it absorb for 10-12 seconds, and dab or rub off with a paper towel. Impressive! My carpet was synthetic, and different materials (cotton, wool, etc) react differently with different chemicals. So, be sure to test what you try.

on 6/30/2006 Rule 1: Don't wear boots inside your house.
Rule 2: If you do, have Capture available.
I tracked the charred grease, oil and fat from a charcoal grill onto brand new Berber carpet. I really thought the spots would never come out (close examination of the carpet showed the fiber dyed black). I used Capture, and it has worked.

Here are some pointers -
1. Spot vacuum carefully so as not to spread the grease.
2. Use the aerosol spray can (formulated for oil and grease).
3. Let the solution sit on the spot for 20 minutes or so.
4. Spread Capture powder over the spot. Don't use a whole lot, just cover the spot to (at most) a 1/4 of an inch.
5. Use a stiff brush to work the powder in - go left/right and up/down. Don't press too hard or you will fray the carpet fibers.
6. Spot vacuum the spot. I used a soft bristle attachment and went over the spot many times.
7. Let dry completely - you may see some white residue over the spot (this is because the spot wasn't completely dry the first time you vacuumed). Go over the spot with the vacuum again and the white residue should go away.

Of the 12 spots that I had to work on, I have only one left (the worst of course). But as for the other 11, you can't even tell where they were.

Finally, don't plan on this being a quick job. It may take a long time (an hour or more) and several applications/vacuuming sessions to get the spot out. Be patient, be gentle and make sure you check to make sure the carpet is colorfast with the use of the aerosol spray.

on 1/18/2006 I came across a product by chance while browsing around in a plumbing warehouse. I came across this great penetrating and lubricating oil that not only worked much better than WD40, but it was also non flammable! Anyone who uses WD40 knows how flammable it is. This is one of the best lubricating oils that I have used in a long time. The name is A-1 Penetrating and Lubricating Oil.
It is made by a company in Phoenix Arizona by the name of Wintec International. The only way to get it is by contacting them via e-mail, like I did.
Do a Google search for more information.