Removing Vegetable Oil Stains from Felt

Written by Lecia DeBrine (last updated June 22, 2020)

Felt is an extremely versatile fabric that can be found in clothing, accessories, and tables. Often times accidents happen and you can get a stain that you have no ides of the origin. Vegetable oil is used in many foods and can transfer to other surfaces easily and without you even knowing. Maybe your felt hat was set on a table that had some lingering oil you used to dip your bread in at lunch, or perhaps during your poker night last week one of the snacks spilled onto the table leaving a little oil spot, both of these stains can be removed by a few different methods.

  1. Dish Soap or Shampoo. Both products are specifically made to cut through oils and clean them from almost any surface. Get the area wet and apply a small amount of your chosen cleaner. With a toothbrush, nailbrush, or just your fingers gently scrub the area working the soap into the fabric. Blot out excess moisture and then rinse. A spray bottle filled with clean water on the "jet" or stream setting will get water into the fibers to rinse out the soap. Blot as you rinse to avoid unnecessary soaking of other areas. When the spot has been rinsed thoroughly blot one more time to extract as much water as will come out, then let the area dry.
  2. Baby Powder. The absorbent qualities of this powder make it perfect for cleaning oil spots. Using a generous amount, cover the stain with the baby powder and let it sit, after a while dust off the powder using a soft brush. The leftover powder stuck in the fibers can be washed out using soap or shampoo in the same manner as before.
  3. Absorbent Powders. These should be used when there is no way for you to actually wash the fabric or wet the area. For felts lighter in color you want to pour some cornmeal on the stain and for darker colors fuller's earth will work, let it set on the spot for a few minutes before brushing it off with a soft brush following the nap of the fabric. This may not remove the entire stain with just one application, repeat as many times as needed to completely absorb the oil.

All of these techniques can be used on either apparel of furniture containing felt, including your pool tables, card table or clothing. For the tables you may want to try the dry method first to protect the wood underneath the felt top, but if this does not work, do not be afraid to try the water methods. Done correctly these will not hurt your table, and will save you from costly repairs.

Author Bio

Lecia DeBrine

MORE FROM LECIA

Dressing for Your Body Type

The human body is beautiful in all its shapes and sizes. Once you determine your body type you can find clothes that will ...

Discover More

Maintaining Long and Healthy Hair

Caring for long hair can be fairly easy if you develop good habits when dealing with it. This includes having a gentle ...

Discover More

Cleaning Watchbands

Watchbands should be washed occasionally to remove any gunk buildup. Cloth bands can be washed in warm soapy water and ...

Discover More

The Power of Microfiber! Zwipes Microfiber Cleaning Cloths will become your favorite tool for every cleaning task. This 36-cloth package is perfect for hundreds of uses in the garage, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and all around the house. Each cloth is tough, streak-free, lint-free, reusable, and washable. Check out Microfiber Cleaning Cloths today!

More Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Makeup Stains from Wool

Many people think that cleaning makeup stains from wool is going to be next to impossible. After all, while cleaning wool ...

Discover More

Removing Stains from Nylon

To clean a fresh spill off nylon, wipe all you can off, and then blot the residue with a paper towel or a damp cloth. If ...

Discover More

Restoring White Clothes

White clothes can eventually become dull or stained as you wear and wash them over time. Although it may seem like a ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five more than 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.