Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

awildhorsepenis t1_jacgyfk wrote

I worked in the oil fields, like a supplementary geologist.

Long story short, they drill with this stuff called OBM (oil based mud) it’s mud with oil in it. Sometimes as thick as brownie batter.

How did we clean our samples we took?

Dawn dish soap.

Or you could run your pants through the diesel sink, not sure that would help though.

TLDR: Dawn dish soap saved the ducks, why not save you too?

Edit: if dawn dish soap doesn’t work, use more dawn dish soap.

Edit edit: as someone mentioned this is for Blue Dawn dish soap.

577

Sometimes_Stutters t1_jacr0t7 wrote

Goddamit. Read the first part about your experience and qualifications and thought “Oh fuck. I’m gonna learn something new today”. Nope. Just Dawn dish soap.

223

awildhorsepenis t1_jad0688 wrote

The stuff called Oil Eater might be the more LPT you were looking for, it’s amazing for cleaning up any sort of oil based thing

it’s not harsh at all, and it lives up to its name.

33

TheCookie_Momster t1_jadkdm1 wrote

Grandmas Secret Spot Remover

im sure it’s something very basic that they charge an arm and a leg for but it works like magic

bonus points for anyone who knows what it’s made with

22

BowzersMom t1_jacwm2v wrote

I usually rub in a little baking soda with the dawn: mild abrasive and its own stain-lifting power. This is my go-to household stain remover for all surfaces. For odor: vinegar. For blood: peroxide. For everything else dawn+baking soda!

53

fusterclux t1_jaddwbk wrote

cold water will get all the blood out of you do it immediately

10

BowzersMom t1_jadewrj wrote

Ymmv and often the “immediately” that is actually possible isn’t immediately enough to not have a bit of stain. But hydrogen peroxide, even when the stain is set, will denature those blood proteins right out of the fabric

16

fusterclux t1_jadfspx wrote

Yeah hydrogen peroxide is better. Just providing an alternative for people who don’t have any around.

3

tropic420 t1_jadn315 wrote

I use lye bahaha

2

BowzersMom t1_jae5vt0 wrote

I enjoy having skin lol

3

tropic420 t1_jae8rmm wrote

Oh I just throw it in the laundry. It's not the chemical but the concentration so a cup of lye in like a 20 gallon washing machine is fine and the lye saponifies all the oil/grease etc literally turning it into soap

5

BowzersMom t1_jaedw5h wrote

I rub dawn into stain with my bare fingers most of the time, so I was picturing using lye for the same sort of spot treatment 😂😂😂

3

tropic420 t1_jaeelwu wrote

Bad idea unless that scene in Fight Club really turned you on for some reason

4

jesman0 t1_jadu3md wrote

Saliva from the human who’s blood it is works great too.

0

texasgirl216 t1_jacpdym wrote

I was about to say Dawn also. That stuff works in even old oil stains.

19

ChickenCheeks7 OP t1_jacjzww wrote

I’ll try it! Thanks

11

mamoocando t1_jad3xjw wrote

Don't dry your pants until you're sure the stain is gone! The heat will seal the stain. Good luck!

20

azewonder t1_jadjkni wrote

Blue dawn dish soap is the shit. I had a sweatshirt and didn’t realize that it had a grease stain, threw it in the wash. Some blue dawn and a soft scrub brush later, the grease stain was gone.

11

jess3114 t1_jaepfan wrote

Really? My husband gets grease stains on all of his shirts and I'm going to try this with one of the old ones.

1

Specialist_Gate_9081 t1_jacyybp wrote

Blue dawn is my go to for almost everything from scale on plants, grease stains, and I mix it into my homemade general purpose cleaner

5

hdmx539 t1_jadklhz wrote

To add to this.

If anyone has access to talcum powder, or maybe even make up powder (but be careful with this) we'd put the talcum powder over the oil drop on our clothing. The talcum powder helps to soak up some of the oil.

This can only be done on fresh stains, though.

4

theonlybuster t1_jadotn8 wrote

Absolutely this!

I briefly worked in a kitchen that made nothing but fried fried food for about a month. Dawn dish soap is easily the best answer here.

I wore the same pants and shirt every day of work, so it would collect about a week's worth of grease and oil. I'd start with handwashing it with Dawn soap. Depending on the amount of soap and grease, I'd generally have to go through the washing and rinsing process about 3x before enough of the grease was removed.
After the third washing and rinsing, I'd use clean water and a bit of fabric softener to finish things up before allowing the clothes to dry.

The fabric softener was largely to give the clothes a clean smell as well as to take advantage of the thin layer that fabric softener adds to clothing.

But yes, Blue Dawn dish soap. And opt to hand wash it. It's easy to add too much soap to a washer resulting in suds foaming out of the lid.

4

Batracho t1_jadixip wrote

Yeah, I use Dawn for greasy stains all the time. I just put some on as soon as I can and leave it be. I’ll throw it into washing machine after.

2

chalisa0 t1_jacfdcc wrote

Here's what I found always works. Even after clothes have been washed and dried. Put some "goo gone" on the spot. Let sit for 15 min. Put "Spray & Wash" on goo gone and rub in, leave for 5 min (Goo gone will leave stain if you don't spray & wash it.) Wash. Grease will be gone. I have never not had this work. If you fail to let sit, it might not work so repeat.

73

ChickenCheeks7 OP t1_jacftno wrote

And the Wash and Spray, is that at Home Depot. I know goo gone is

16

Jaded-Moose983 t1_jach2vh wrote

I wouldn't expect Spray & Wash to be at Home Depot, though if they carry laundry detergents, I guess maybe. If you are not familiar with the product, it's in a spray bottle found with the laundry detergents, softeners and the like.

16

candoitmyself t1_jad33m7 wrote

I am sure you can find spray & wash at HD. They have a whole aisle of cleaners, laundry detergent etc etc.

13

chalisa0 t1_jacmjtn wrote

Maybe. It is for sure at Walmart, Target and most grocery stores.

4

Tara_69 t1_jaeiard wrote

And if possible, don’t dry the item till your sure the spot is gone. The dryer will set the stain making it difficult to get out.

1

Cat-Soap-Bar t1_jacebzb wrote

Dish soap/washing up liquid. As you’ve already washed them get it well scrubbed in and let them soak for a good while.

27

ChickenCheeks7 OP t1_jacewsk wrote

I’ll try that out thank you

2

raptorphile t1_jad2hts wrote

Best answer here. Get the dish soap worked into the fabric so it soaks all the way through. Dawn soap is great but any liquid dish soap should work

3

northerngurl333 t1_jada9wm wrote

Yup- Handyman wife and mechanic mom- dishsoap always works, even if it got missed the first time around

0

ARC2060 t1_jachred wrote

I use dish soap and it almost always works. But it has to be a good quality dish soap like Dawn, rather than a dollar store version that tends to be more watery. Check that the label says 'grease-cutting' action. If the stain is set, use an old toothbrush to scrub with the dish soap before putting it in the washing machine.

18

thumpngroove t1_jactc9l wrote

Dawn Platinum has alcohol in it, works very well, also. I’ve added OxyClean powder and worked it in to a stubborn stain or two. Works even on old, washed in spots.

11

Exotic-Flight3452 t1_jacl4ab wrote

Cover the spot with baby powder or cornstarch and leave it sitting for a few days. It will draw out the oils

12

Rkins_UK_xf t1_jad2xlm wrote

Especially if you put the powder on both the inside and the outside of the fabric.

If you pop on the grease-busting dish soap afterwards, and leave it for another 15 minutes before you wash you should get it out.

I would be wary about scrubbing the stain in case you ruin the surface of the fabric. If you have to scrub, try scrubbing on the back first.

7

castiglione_99 t1_jacxdj9 wrote

Get some liquid dish soap and work it into the stain.

Then toss it back into your regular wash.

I had the same thing happen to me with a shirt and grease stains and this got rid of them.

5

newwriter365 t1_jackxk3 wrote

I’ve used Dawn to remove oil spots.

4

TikiTikiGirl t1_jacs06t wrote

Me too, and I would recommend the clear one although I don’t think the blue one would be a problem.

1

tell_her_a_story t1_jad0ga0 wrote

Fels Naptha soap. I've had luck using it to remove old stains after having run an item through the washer and dryer a couple times before noticing the stain. It's cheap, it works, and one bar will last years.

4

Smallios t1_jacsp9v wrote

Blue dawn dish soap, thee kind they use to clean up oil spills

3

Mr_Lazylolo t1_jad7cyc wrote

I use brake cleaning spray

3

dobrodude t1_jae721s wrote

Me too. Spray that grease right outta there!

1

Zebrahead69 t1_jadfays wrote

SHOUT works for me. Just let it sit for 24hrs.

3

hilarioushippo t1_jacn5v8 wrote

i make my own solution: 1pt hydrogen peroxide, 1 pt blue soap, 1 pt laundry detergent.

mix it together and then use a toothbrush on the stain then wash it

2

suaaru t1_jacnqfa wrote

Linseed oil will remove them.

2

weedboobz t1_jacpxf0 wrote

I’ve had really good luck with oxy clean extra strength. Leave it on for several days and wash

2

puppysilly_ t1_jacqetg wrote

Grease police can get out most stains like that + other stuff as well. I'd recommend it if you get stains often

2

IndigenousYinzer t1_jacwhhi wrote

That new power spray dawn detergent works awesome. Spray it on and let it sit for a while. Might scrub right out.

2

rvlcf t1_jacycl6 wrote

Put lighter fluid on the spot and wash on hot. Works everytime.

2

dbx999 t1_jad61cb wrote

Brake cleaner. Comes in a spray can. Blasts grease out. It’s a solvent that won’t harm clothing

2

neophanweb t1_jad7k11 wrote

I use dawn dish washing liquid soap. Put a small drop on a sponge, wet it, then rub it in before a wash. All the oil comes right out and it looks good as new.

2

keepthetips t1_jacdhm3 wrote

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!

Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.

If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.

1

makethispass t1_jacze56 wrote

"Fels naptha" is what I used as an oil painter. It's a specialty oil soap.

1

Yangervis t1_jad0wao wrote

LPT: Eat over the table

1

nash668 t1_jad2e70 wrote

I work on their equipment.. I wash my work clothes seperate and in hot

1

BeardedSnowLizard t1_jadab34 wrote

I have had success with Dawn Platinum Erasing Dish Foam. It may take a few washes but tends to work. This stuff even seems to work after it's been through the dryer. Use as little as possible and add a couple rinse cycles as it may leave some foam.

1

Penge1028 t1_jadalkl wrote

OxyClean Max Force gel stick. This gets literally every stain, including grease, out of clothes for me.

1

slash-5 t1_jaddw2i wrote

Wash them like the romans. They were experts at getting grease stains out.

1

wnsdaniel t1_jadet58 wrote

You know what they call a quarter pounder with cheese in Paris?

1

Lexafaye t1_jadh9hn wrote

Depends: if you put the clothes in the dryer then no. If you have a stain (or smell) on clothes that has not come out in the washer, the dryer will set the stain (or bake in the smell)

Moisten then treat with dish soap specifically (which is formulated for grease) you may have to repeat this process several times but if you didn’t put the jeans in the dryer then the stain should eventually come out

1

blonde-momma t1_jadiouf wrote

Dawn dish soap. Directly in spot let sit few minutes Sprinkle Oxyclean onto the soap. Make a paste with toothbrush. Let sit 15 minutes then wash. Don’t dry. Check stain. Repeat if still there

1

archaeologistbarbie t1_jadjde7 wrote

Blue dawn and if that doesn’t work, try a fels naptha bar. Wet stain and rub bar directly into the fabric.

1

matt314159 t1_jadjegj wrote

I've heard Dawn PowerWash is good for this. It's dawn platinum dish soap with a hint of alcohol. I'd pre-treat it with taht and then watch as normal and see what happens.

1

hits-and-misses t1_jadogzr wrote

This is going to sound weird, but chalk. Just regular white chalk from a chalkboard. Use it to colour over the grease stain, let it sit. If it's a big stain, apply a few times. Then kind of brush off the excess with your hand and chuck it in the wash as usual. The chalk draws out the grease, and I've done this successfully before with clothes that have been through the wash as well. Just keep applying until the stain is gone.

You'll see it too. The chalk around the stain will stay white but the chalk on the stain will change colour because it's absorbing the grease.

1

volcanicashley t1_jaej0of wrote

THIS! I scrolled through a lot of 'dish soap' comments to see if anyone said chalk. It works! Baby powder does, too. Plain white chalk works well, though!

1

Irrelephant____ t1_jadoxin wrote

I just went through this literally last week, same situation but on a hoodie. After the wash,dry, spread of it, I caked the stain in cornstarch (it's like $1). I rubbed it in and let it sit like a day. Just brushed it off by hand and threw it in the dryer a sec and voila, all 3 stains gone.

1

OkManner5017 t1_jadq8d8 wrote

Don't wash it yet. Get white chalk and draw on it til you stop seeing it soaking it up. Then wash like normal. If you've already washed thr pants, it's too late.

1

gogomom t1_jadqop3 wrote

I use dish soap - usually Dawn - to remove grease, oils, makeup or anything made from grease or oils from my clothing.

In your case I would use a little on the actual spot, let it soak in, then just toss it in the wash with the rest of the load.

1

Biggpants t1_jadrk64 wrote

Self raising flour

1

jesman0 t1_jadtxu2 wrote

Here’s what I do and it works great. Use a surfactant, baking soda and a toothbrush. I use Folex cleaner, spray the stain and work baking into the cloth as a paste, scrubbing with the toothbrush a bit. Let it sit overnight at least but a day is about how long I leave it. Wash it with warm water in your machine. Almost always gets out grease on the first go. May take two times. Also works if your garment has previously been washed. Stain remover sprays work better than dish soap but a general surfactant is needed.

1

TitsanGiggles t1_jadyewt wrote

Carbona Stain Devils #5 for Fat and Cooking Oils.

1

Low_Copy4023 t1_jadzlsd wrote

I would have said Dawn.

I wash my clothes in Oxiclean, more than is recommended. And I put the washer on delay for one to eight hours depending on how nasty they are. They are my work clothes and sometimes get stains including food oil and grease.

Not sure this helps, but I had a six year old splotch of dried fingernail polish on a shirt. I got it out by soaking the area around it in 90% rubbing alcohol. I soaked for probably several hours putting more alcohol on it. Then I was able to rub it out. It had been washed probably a couple of times with no results. It's fine now.

I know Clorox and probably others make to go pens you can carry with you in case this happens again. Hit it on the spot and it might keep it from staining.

1

BonnieMSM t1_jadzslk wrote

Put cardboard inside the pants so the following steps won’t just move the stain to the back side of the pants. Spray the spot with WD-40 to release the oil. Then form a paste of blue Dawn dishwashing liquid and baking powder. Scrub the spot with that paste using a toothbrush. Scrub it really well, occasionally blotting the area with a clean towel. Then toss the pants in the wash. If some of the stain remains, repeat the process. This really does work. This works even on set in stains.

1

happy-cig t1_jadzx12 wrote

I mixed baking soda with vinegar, it makes a lil fuzzy paste. Apply on directly, let it soak for 15 minutes then throw it in the wash. Usually works.

1

Mistwraith_ t1_jae0jnj wrote

Fels Naptha is an excellent product for all kinds of stain removal, particularly grease stains! I wet the bar/fabric and scrub it over the stain, then rinse it out.

1

thirstybitch_ t1_jae2n35 wrote

Soak the spot in hot water with dish soap for 15 minutes, then cover the spot in salt and scrub with a toothbrush. Throw in washer after.

1

iamthefyre t1_jae3tlg wrote

Dawn dish soap. Just apply a little, let it sit and into the washer regular.

1

Shakooza t1_jae42zi wrote

I use goof off. I dont think its meant for washing but it works REALLY well...

1

Any-Spite-7303 t1_jae61r3 wrote

Dawn. Rub it in the stain and let sit in your dirty clothes a day, then wash.

1

jordan31483 t1_jae6qyh wrote

OxyClean Maxforce 5-in-1 gel stain stick. My laundry room is never without it.

1

Violingirl58 t1_jae7rmy wrote

Spray and wash, do not put in dryer. May take 2 applications

1

HumpieDouglas t1_jae85tp wrote

Dawn dish soap is amazing. I've gotten grease stains out that have been washed and dried multiple times.

1

FrankRizzo65 t1_jae8v6s wrote

I worked in a furniture store and sometimes we would get oily spots on the skirt of a sofa. We used a little WD-40. It worked very well. I would test it on an un noticeable area. But that's my 2 cents.

1

monkeyinpodship t1_jae9msz wrote

Cover the rest of the pants in grease to hide the original spot

1

goddamelectrik t1_jae9tth wrote

I use oxyclean max force foam laundry and Palmolive soap. I cover the area in the foam and add a very small amount of soap, then use a toothbrush to scrub the area aggressively. If it's a big stain or older stain, I'll repeat the process 2 or 3 times before washing it. Gets the grease stains out all the time.

1

mommadragon72 t1_jaeaf1l wrote

As long as you didn't dry them you can probably save them. Scrub with blue dawn dish soap, rewash and don't put them in the dryer.

1

halfghan24 t1_jaeazx8 wrote

Dawn dish soap is Plan A

Plan B is Fels Naptha laundry bar

1

notyouraverage5ft6 t1_jaebhd5 wrote

lighter fluid works like a charm. your clothes might smell tho, so put em thru the wash a couple times after. but it works every time.

1

Genny415 t1_jaecm9h wrote

If Dawn dish soap doesn't work (and it's pretty darn good) then get a bottle of Lestoil. It's a cleaner like PineSol, but pinesol won't work for this, only Lestoil. Just put some Lestoil on the grease spot then throw it in the wash like normal.

It may smell a bit like Lestoil when it comes out of the washer but after it dries there is no smell left. It is sold at Home Depot and sometimes Walmart, in the cleaning products section. It has gotten out set-in oily stains on clothes that I thought were ruined forever!

1

JanSahar t1_jaecxz5 wrote

Rub some dish soap into the grease spot and leave to soak for a few minutes then wash as normal.

1

gsbboston t1_jaedjwz wrote

put some dawn dish soap on it . rub it in wash as normal. Dawn gets oil out of anything

1

Alternative-Ad4008 t1_jaee7gu wrote

Baking soda completely removes it, if you apply it fast enough. It's amazing.

1

Rdtodushanbe t1_jaeew2i wrote

Lestoil is amazing and gets so much out of your laundry that is usually a permanent stain. It’s the only reason I’m allowed nice things again.

1

godtering t1_jaef1pw wrote

ox gall soap.

But after washing machine you're pretty much fucked.

Next time use ox gall soap, scrub by hand, until gone, then washing machine.

1

adorkablysporktastic t1_jaeg850 wrote

If they've been through the dryer, you need to reactivate the oil. I've successfully used WD40, then make a paste of the blue dawn dishsoap and baking soda.

Let it sit for a few hours. Then wash. Do not dry, chrck for oil. Apply dawn dishsoap aline if oil spot is still present.

1

aliskinny t1_jaegyqi wrote

I've had success with pouring boiling water over the oil spot

1

Sylvec01 t1_jaehzg0 wrote

White chalk and stain stick. I’ve saved a couple items with this magic duo. Rub a liberal amount of chalk over the stained area, the chalk helps to pull the grease out of the fibers of the clothing. Apply stain stick or spray n wash when ready to throw in the washing machine.

If you’ve already washed them and ran them through the dryer, the stain is set.

1

Phil0sophic t1_jaei4vh wrote

A scissor always works for me.

1

Efficient_Stretch_92 t1_jaejge2 wrote

Sprinkle with baby powder and let sit overnight. The baby powder brings the oil to the surface. Wash and dry as normal. If it’s still there, repeat the process. It still works even if the oil spot has gone through the dryer.

1

the_hervature t1_jaejtd0 wrote

Simple baby powder and just let it sit for a week and then wash

1

Speedking2281 t1_jael5bl wrote

THESE THINGS: https://www.amazon.com/Carbona-Stain-Devil-Pack-Cooking/dp/B00FGWGMW2/ref=pd_lpo_2?pd_rd_w=byyQ1&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=CKVEWE06K5ZAYCRZGVSY&pd_rd_wg=rhTjc&pd_rd_r=9ed85372-4a9f-43bd-98db-9d969dfc2df3&pd_rd_i=B00FGWGMW2&psc=1

They sell them at our grocery store locally, and we bought some not long ago. Not long after, at a baseball game, our daughter was eating a slice of folded pizza, and the grease dripped from the crease in the pizza and onto a gigantic grease spot on her shirt. With two washes (following the directions), the grease spot was gone.

It has also gotten bacon grease out of my own shirt.

I don't know what they put in that stuff, and as a 40 year old man, I've gotten grease stains on my shirts here and there for many years, without anything (even all sorts of things from the internet) actually helping. Until these things. Carbona grease getter-outer is one of those products that I will tell everyone about, because it's just that great of a product.

1

YDanSan t1_jaelway wrote

Pine-sol can also be used in your laundry to remove stains. You can use it for spot-treatment also. But back when I worked in a kitchen, I'd do a wash load of greasy-spotted clothes once in a while. You can add 1/2 of cup of pinesol to your greasy clothes in the washing machine, along with your regular detergent. Don't do this with super delicate fabrics, but for some work clothes it should be totally fine. Maybe do a spot test on some pants in an innocuous area just to be sure.

1

yoonssoo t1_jaemom0 wrote

Spray of Shout before washing

1

CharloChaplin t1_jaeng2y wrote

Agree with the Dawn suggestions. I would also add a pre-treater like Oxy Clean spray. I had a similar stain that wouldn’t come out and used the pre-treat at my parents’ place. It came out right away after that.

1

OMG202020 t1_jaenvrn wrote

Are those your “dress” sweatpants or just your everyday knock around sweat pants??JFC

1

WhiskeyAbuse t1_jaenzfj wrote

Idk how no one has said oxiclean spray. Leave it in for an hour, wash your clothes like normal. Always works for me

1

redrabbitromp t1_jaeocim wrote

If dish soap doesn’t work there is a thing called goo gone that will work but it’s nasty stuff.

1

Adonis0 t1_jaeoost wrote

Enzyme based clothes detergents work well on anything organic based.

1

jess3114 t1_jaep3bu wrote

Sometimes if you can get to it fast enough applying baby powder can soak up some of the oil. Not helpful now I realize, but maybe for next time!

1

Sassydemure t1_jaepjwc wrote

Three parts hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of liquid soap.

1

LifeProTips-ModTeam t1_jaeppdh wrote

Hello, ChickenCheeks7. Thank you for your submission! Unfortunately, it has been removed for the following reason(s):

  • Posts must begin with "LPT" or "LPT Request” and be flaired. Titles should be descriptive.

If you would like to appeal this decision, please feel free to contact the moderators here. Do not repost without explicit permission from the moderators. Make sure you read the rules before submitting. Thank you!

1

ChronoMonkeyX t1_jad669m wrote

Wisk detergent specializes in grease. Though now that I think about it, I can't remember the last time I saw Wisk.

​

I just looked, it seems they discontinued it and replaced with Persil, I don't know if Persil is the same.

0

[deleted] t1_jacdwvi wrote

[deleted]

−2

hipsiguy t1_jace3jv wrote

In my experience the grease can still be removed by washing it again after rubbing the area with dish soap.

9

ChickenCheeks7 OP t1_jaceuwz wrote

So try and rub dish soap again? Even after I wash and dried?

1

hipsiguy t1_jacez2s wrote

Yes.

I have pulled shirts and pants out of the dryer with grease stains that I missed dozens of times and I always manage to get them out.

Dab the grease with dawn (or similar dish soap), rub it in well and let it sit.

Wash again with hot water.

6

ChickenCheeks7 OP t1_jacfcao wrote

Okay I’ll try that thank you! If not you think some kind of stain remover will work?

1

hipsiguy t1_jacfin3 wrote

Dish soap should do the trick.

Just make sure to use it liberally and rub it in well.

Stain removers are good but in my experience don't get grease out quite as well.

3

ChickenCheeks7 OP t1_jacg0aa wrote

Wow I’m surprised. So dish soap and rub in. Should I wash the pants alone in hot after?

1

BowzersMom t1_jacx8n0 wrote

Add a little baking soda to make a paste. This will help you rub it into the fibers well, but baking soda is also a mild alkali that helps dirt and grease dissolve in water.

2

BowzersMom t1_jacxf7o wrote

Add a little baking soda to make a paste. This will help you rub it into the fibers well, but baking soda is also a mild alkali that helps dirt and grease dissolve in water.

2