How to Get Coconut Oil Out of Clothes

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

No one wants their clothes to be stained with coconut oil, but sometimes, accidents happen. Learn how to get coconut oil out of clothes with these 5 easy steps.

Table of Contents

How to Get Coconut Oil Out of Clothes in 5 Easy Steps

Coconut oil is extraordinary for cleaning, cooking, skincare, and various other uses. It is a versatile product that will make your life easier, except when it stains your clothes. Does coconut oil stain clothing? Oh yes, it does!

— Learn how to use coconut oil with these 20 Uses for Coconut Oil.

Luckily, when accidents happen, there are a few easy methods of stain removal to get that blot of oil out of your clothes. If you want to learn more about coconut oil and how to get it out of clothes and other fabrics, keep on reading.

How do you get coconut oil out of clothes?

Before you follow the steps below, remember that it’s best not to put your stained clothes in the washer before trying to remove the stain as this will allow the coconut oil to seep further through the clothes. You also need to test any stain-removing method on a small, inconspicuous area of your clothing first to make sure it won’t damage the clothing in any way.

To get coconut oil out of clothes, use a towel to remove most of the oil from the clothes, then apply some baking soda to the stain. Next, use an old toothbrush to scrub the stain with dishwashing liquid, then put your clothes in the washing machine.

— Baking soda is another household staple. Here are 75 Uses for Baking Soda that you find helpful.

5 Easy Steps to Get Coconut Oil Out of Clothes

Here are 5 easy steps to follow to remove coconut oil from your clothes. This method for removal is for fresh coconut oil stains. If you have a specific kind of fabric, you may want to check out the additional details below to help you remove your stain. This method of removing coconut oil may also work on a grease stain.

Step 1: Remove Coconut Oil Stain as Soon as Possible

You will need a towel, paper towel, or fabric cloth for the first step. Coconut oil can lift color from materials, so I prefer using a white towel to prevent making the stain even worse.

Using your white towel to scrub the stain gently so the friction will slowly break the oil away. It’s important to keep a slow pace while rubbing off the oil to prevent it from spreading.

Step 2: Use Baking Soda or Cornstarch

You can either use baking soda or cornstarch for this step. You will want to cover the entire stain area, so be generous with the powder you use because you want the coconut oil to absorb it well.

You then need to scrub the powder with an inward motion with your towel to limit the amount of coconut oil and prevent it from spreading onto your clothes.

After scrubbing, let the powder sit on the stain for about an hour. If you have a more significant stain, you could leave it overnight to ensure that the product will be fully absorbed.

Step 3: Remove Baking Soda or Cornstarch

Now that your powder has absorbed the oil, you must wipe it off. If your powder turns into clumps, don’t worry; this is completely normal.

You will need to scrape those clumps with a paper towel or fabric wipes. If the powder is too hardened, you could use a piece of cardboard or an old credit card.

Your powder might also leave a white spot where it sat; this is also completely normal. The white spot will go away when your clothes are washed.

Before you jump into the next step, you want to make sure that the baking soda or cornstarch is fully removed from your clothes.

Step 4: Wash the Stain Off

For this step, I recommend using dishwashing liquid because it is designed to remove oil and stains, but you can also use laundry detergent, baking soda with white vinegar, or toothpaste if dishwashing liquid isn’t available.

If you choose dishwashing liquid, you need to add one teaspoon in addition to four teaspoons of water. You can double or triple each amount, depending on the stain’s size.

You will then need to dip an old toothbrush into this mixture and scrub the stain out gently.

Step 5: Put Your Clothes in the Washing Machine

The final and easiest step is to put your clothes in the washing machine with your usual setting. (Although I would recommend warm water.) You should air dry the clothes after taking them out instead of putting them in the dryer, as the heat might set off the coconut oil.

If the stain is not completely gone after washing your clothes, you can repeat the steps above for better results.

Can You Get Coconut Oil Out of Clothes Without Baking Soda?

While baking soda is the most effective powder you can use to remove coconut oil stains, there are a few other alternatives that you can use that are almost just as effective.

Baby Powder

Baby powder can be used as a gentle abrasive to help remove coconut oil stains from clothing. It is recommended that you test it out in an inconspicuous area first before brushing into fabric, just to make sure there are no adverse effects.

It is made up of talc and cornstarch. Both of these are good at getting rid of oil, which means that baby powder can help you with your coconut oil stain problem.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is another great alternative to baking soda. It’s a cheap, natural product you probably already have in your pantry. A sprinkle of cornstarch can help remove coconut oil stains from clothes, fabrics, and carpets.

Flour

Flour can absorb coconut oil stains from your clothes or surfaces. It’s another good alternative that can save you time and money. Like baking soda, the flour will turn into a hardened clump that you can easily scrape off.

Flour might not be as quick at removing stains as baking soda is, but it’s still an alternative if you have none of the other ingredients.

Can You Get Old Coconut Oil Stains Out of Clothes?

Seeing old or dry coconut oil residue on your clothes can be intimidating. But, while they do require some extra work, your clothes can definitely be saved with the right ingredients.

Instead of giving up on your stained clothes, I have two methods that might help you remove dried-up coconut oil stains.

Method 1 for Old Stains

Use Oxygen Bleach

Oxygen bleach is a bleaching agent that breaks down the coconut oil in your clothes to give them a fresh, clean look. It also works great for all types and colors of fabrics, not just white ones, although this method does work very well on plain white towels.

It’s important to read the instructions on the label on how to use oxygen bleach to get the best results. In addition, I recommend that you do not leave it in contact with your clothes for longer than specified.

Dip the clothes in the solution.
After pouring your oxygen bleach mixture into a separate container, dip your clothes in the solution for as long as the label tells you. This will help remove the stain.
Wash the clothes in the washing machine.
After letting your clothes soak in oxygen bleach, wash them in the washing machine and let them air dry for the best results.

I use the Ecos Oxo Brite as a bleach alternative.

Method 2 for Old Stains

If you’re having trouble finding oxygen bleach, don’t fret. You can use baking soda and WD-40 to remove old, dried-up coconut oil stains. The reason WD-40 works great is that it is designed to lubricate and dry out moisture.

For this method, you will also need a Q-tip, an old toothbrush, a cardboard box, and liquid laundry detergent.

Here’s what you need to do:

Put the piece of cardboard underneath the stained area to avoid spraying other areas of your clothes.
Pour a small amount of WD-40 into a container and use the Q-tip to rub the WD-40 over the stain.
Put a generous amount of baking soda on the stain and brush it with the toothbrush in an inward motion.
After scrubbing, wipe away the baking soda.
Put enough liquid laundry detergent to cover the whole stain, and rub it again with your old toothbrush.
Wash your clothes as normal.

How to Remove Coconut Oil from Different Fabrics?

Let’s break down how to remove coconut oil from different kinds of fabric! You may need these extra tips to deal with your stains depending on what kind of fabric you are trying to get the excess oil stain out of and whether or not the first basic 5 step method worked.

How to Remove Coconut Oil From Soft, Cotton Fabric

Cotton absorbs materials faster than anything else. This can be dangerous when trying to get coconut stains from cotton clothes with regular ingredients.

To remove coconut oil stains from cotton fabric, you need to
Use a cotton washcloth to gently wipe and scrub the oil out.
Mix a tablespoon of dishwasher detergent with hot water.
Soak your cotton fabric in the mixture.
Rinse your cotton fabric.
Let it air dry.

How to Remove Coconut Oil From Polyester Fabric

Coconut oil usually clings more to polyester than most fabrics. You can use baking soda on polyester, but you might have to use a little more than usual. You should also never use hot water because it can ruin polyester.

To remove coconut oil stains from polyester, gently massage the stained area with a generous amount of baking soda.
Wash it off with cold water, then allow it to air dry.

This can be a good method for removing coconut oil stains from upholstery.

How to Remove Coconut Oil From Delicate Fabric

You will need to use baby powder to remove coconut oil stains from delicate fabric, such as silk. You will first need to apply some baby powder to the area and then scrub it with a moist cloth.

This will lift the oil away, giving your garment a fresh appearance. After removing the oil stain, wash your delicate fabric with cold water.

How to Remove Coconut Oil From Dark-Colored Fabric

When it comes to removing coconut oil from dark-colored clothes, you want to be more careful. You can add laundry detergent, or dishwasher soap, with hot water and let your dark-colored clothes soak in this mixture for 30 minutes.

Make sure you don’t add too much detergent to this mixture because some ingredients can make dark-colored clothes go lighter.

The good thing about dark-colored clothes is that you can get away with not fully removing the stain, especially if it’s small enough not to be visible.

Does Coconut Oil Wash Off Easily?

Coconut oil can usually wash off easily with the right ingredients. However, each type of fabric will require a different technique to remove coconut oil. The most commonly used items to wash off coconut oil are baking soda, laundry detergent, and dishwasher soap.

Does Coconut Oil Leave Stains on Sheets?

Coconut oil can stain your bed sheets. These stains can be removed easily, especially if you remove them as soon as possible. You need to apply some baking soda to the stain, scrub it with dishwashing liquid, then put the sheets in the washing machine.

Found this post helpful? Be sure to share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and through Email using the sharing buttons below!

Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple life since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to the 100-acre farm and ministry on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.

This post on How to Get Coconut Oil Out Of Clothes was originally posted on Little House Living in February 2023.

How to Get Coconut Oil Out of Clothes – 5 Easy Steps