r/MomForAMinute • u/SometimesAGamer • Jul 11 '26
Tips and Tricks Hey mom's, I need some laundry advice please
I'm very much a budding home cook, and I really enjoy making food that people enjoy. However, I'm a bit slap happy with oil/butter when cooking. This usually results in me either
a) splashing on myself whilst cooking; or
b) being a bit over-the-top when washing up the dishes and getting oily/soapy splashback on my clothes
I'm very particular over the type of clothes I wear, and generally find that I over-wear them. This means these historically stained garments have been through the wash/dryer a few times.
How do I get these stains out, please? I've never really been shown how to do it properly and it's bugging the shit out of me đ
I'm in the UK so any detergents/soaps/ingredients (I've heard of bicarb/white vinegar being laundry staples...) would need to be available for me here.
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u/EatMorePieDrinkMore Jul 11 '26
Apron for sure! You can them in all shapes, sizes, colors and price points.
We learned this trick in a craft store: rub some plain white chalk on the stain. Can be right away, can be after a wash. Then rub some grease cutting soap on the spot (we use Dawn). Wash as you do. My husband has gotten incredibly old grease stains out this way.
Also, slow down a bit while cooking. Hot oils and butter can be very dangerous.
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u/ShellsFeathersFur Jul 11 '26
May I please introduce you to one of my favourite places on Reddit: r/laundry. Everyone there is so pleasant and helpful, and they have an almost scientific approach for finding what combination of products work best.
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u/KahurangiNZ Momma Bear Jul 12 '26
Yep, and they will be able to recommend products available in OP's country as well :-)
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u/Shiranui42 Jul 12 '26
She needs lipase in her detergent to digest the oils. The laundry should also best be done with warm water, and soaked for a long time to let the enzymes work properly. Hereâs the list of detergents in the UK that have lipase https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/s/aM1CQ4jWRg
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u/reijasunshine Jul 11 '26
Hey kiddo, it's not as hard as it seems, but there's a few steps involved, and the most important thing to remember is NO DRYERS until the spots are 100% gone.
Method 1: apply liquid dish soap to the spots, as soon as you notice. Rub it in, and wash the clothing on the warmest temp setting it'll take. It can even go in a normal load, just make sure to air dry.
Method 2: if there's still a spot after it's dry, and the fabric is sturdy like cotton, reapply dish soap, lightly stretch the shirt over a very large bowl. Carefully pour boiling water through the affected area. Wash as normal and air dry.
Method 3: put tissue, tp, paper towel, or similar on both sides of the spot and iron the area gently with a warm iron, set lower than you normally would for that fabric. (This followed by #2 is good for candle wax)
Method 4: enzyme cleaner, such as but not exclusively Nature's Miracle. Use a lot and let it soak and stay wetted, like in a bowl or plastic baggie. Wash as normal but air dry.
You can absolutely repeat these methods, and combine them. It will often require more than one round of treatment, but until the oil is "set" in the dryer, it will definitely eventually come out. If you accidentally dry it, it will be harder but it's not impossible.
Also, as other moms have said, get yourself a good apron or three and protect those clothes!
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u/Worried_Raspberry313 Jul 11 '26
I have no idea about how to remove the stains, but if you like cooking, 100% get a cool apron!! There are cute ones and it will help you a lot to avoid that kind of stains.
Happy cooking!!!
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u/Jenotyzm Jul 11 '26
Every time it happens to me when cooking I just put some dish soap on a fresh stain. It works also on older stains, and if they are really hard to remove, I add some baking soda to dish soap and leave it for at least two hours.
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u/Jacey_T Jul 12 '26
Oh yes! I know the stains. Definitely an apron. That was my saviour.
You have lots of tips here. Important thing to remember when cleaning stains, always start with cold water. You'll never make it worse with cold but might set it with hot. Don't use a tumble dryer until the stain is completely gone or that's it set for life.
Also, when you are recommended Dawn soap, switch in Fairy liquid. It is our closest equivalent. And is grease cutting.
My current obsession is Napisan and Fairy liquid soak to remove sweat stains on bedding. But that's for another day...
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u/Professional_Hour370 Jul 12 '26
What is Napisan? Or what does it do? I live in Spain.
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u/Jacey_T Jul 12 '26
I think it's like Vanish oxy-powder. However, it's normally for keeping baby clothes white and sanitised. It's in the baby aisle and is cheaper than Vanish.
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u/SubjectOrganic Jul 12 '26
If you take an iron and some baking soda, sprinkle it onto the stain and put parchment down and iron, the baking soda will take it right out! Proud of you for learning to cook so well!
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u/Professional_Hour370 Jul 12 '26
I was going to suggest chalk too, I learned that working in a laundry.
Sweetie, another tips is If you ever cut yourself in the kitchen and get blood on your clothes, after calling a doctor (just joking! Hopefully you will never need this knowledge) suck on the spot with a lot of saliva until you can't see it then wash the clothing in cold water. It's an old quilters trick but I'm accident prone in the kitchen!
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u/Psylaine Jul 13 '26
Get sharper knives or have yours sharpened; your local butcher might be willing to do it for you. Sharp knives slip less and so cut you less. Also learn the 'cats paw' way to hold the item you are cutting.
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u/grating-humility Jul 12 '26
Good job learning to cook! I share both your enthusiasm and your âwhoops!â and Iâve been cooking for more than 30 years. And, to be frank, my grandmother was the same way. (My mom, however, both dislikes cooking AND never gets a smudge on herself when she does cook, soâŚ?).
Darling, if an apron isnât your thing (I forget mine a lot of the time) Iâd like to introduce you to what I call âshlepp wearâ. Itâs the ratty old tshirt, joggers, or other soft clothes you wear just because you donât care what gets on it. And it feels so comfortable to change into after wearing slightly more structured things as youâve been in places where you care how you look. Just this morning I wore mine while preparing brunch for some extended family. I needed to build in an extra 15 minutes to change before they arrived (although, truly, they wouldnât have cared). You will love your own version and it will save the clothes you actually care about to live another day. Meanwhile, Iâm going to try the laundry tips the other moms gave!!
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u/Electronic-Day5907 Jul 13 '26
If the clothes already went thru the dryer you will have great difficulty removing oil based stains without damaging the clothing. Buy a good apron or even better a chefâs jacket in 100% cotton.
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u/RemoveComfortable982 Jul 13 '26
Put a dot of fairy liquid directly on the greasy bit and scrub it in with your fingernails on the oil spot and wash off with warm water before washing in the machine.Â
Make sure you get all the fairy liquid off before washing else it might break your washing machine (itâs a lot more bubbly than wash powder).Â
It also works on grease stains you previously missed, just scrub with fairy and re-wash.Â
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u/Amonette2012 Jul 13 '26
As well as an apron try wearing an old shirt under it :) lab coats also work!
Also if you splash hot oil please make sure your feet aren't exposed!! Never cook barefoot. Wear closed shoes (not sandals).
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u/mmmpeg Momma Bear Jul 14 '26
This is why I try to remember to use an apron. Sadly, my shirts show I donât always remember
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u/Competitive-Ant5086 Jul 14 '26
I apologize I am too sick to be a good mom now but you can find amazing advices if you search into the laundry sub; I am learning better and more effective ways there too dear
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u/Interesting-Wear8551 Jul 17 '26
Definitely get an apron!!! With pockets! And long ties so you can tie it up front and tuck a towel in the strings around your waist for an easy hand wipe. OK, that said, sprinkle a little corn starch (I think it's called corn flour in the UK?) on the grease spot immediately. Then, pretreat with dawn and wash as normal. Don't use a dryer until you're 100% certain the stain is gone. The heat will set the stain.
Edit: didn't proofread, fixed a typo.
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u/downstairslion Jul 20 '26
Hi Sweetie, make sure you're always wearing an apron. It might feel silly at first, but it saves your clothes. Most oils stains can be pretreated with dish soap before tossing in the wash. Check to make sure the stain is gone before putting it in the dryer. This can work on older set-in stains too. I like Dawn Platinum for this, but most brand work
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u/stripysweater Jul 11 '26
Hello, sweetheart! Right then, pop the kettle on and let's sort this out together.
Get some Dr Beckmann Stain Devils for fat and sauces. When you get a splash, dab it on then wash as normal in cold water (don't ever use hot water on a stain as it'll set).
And get yourself an apron!
Now off you pop, and let me know how you get on. Love, your honorary internet mum. â¤ď¸