How do I clean grease and oil stains from my onepiece swimsuit?

Try a cold detergent mixture, liquid dish soap, or a mixture of vinegar and cold water. Let the suit soak, then rinse it with cold water and fabric softener.

What should I avoid when trying to remove grease and oil stains?

Avoid using hot water as it may set the stains into the fabric. Also, machine drying may set the stains, so hang dry the swimsuit instead.

WikiLaundry > Stains > Grease and oil > Onepiece swimsuit

Eliminating Grease and Oil Stains From Your Swimsuit

Swimsuits are great for water activities, but they can quickly become discolored and stained by grease, oil, and sunscreen. Learn how to get rid of these kinds of stains and keep your onepiece swimsuit looking new.

Updated 20 Feb 2023

By Blaž Stančič

Water activities are a great way to beat the heat in the summertime, but oily and greasy products can cause unsightly stains on your swimwear. Getting rid of those stains can seem like a huge task, but with some simple cleaning solutions and tips, you can easily remove grease and oil from your onepiece swimsuit.

Basic Cleaning Solution

The simplest solution for cleaning grease and oil from your swimsuit is to use a cold detergent mixture. Start by filling a sink or large bowl with cold water, then add a capful of gentle detergent. Soak your suit in mixture for approximately half an hour, then rinse it in clean cold water.

Stain Removal With Dish Soap

If the basic cleaning solution didn’t do the trick, try again with liquid dish soap. Fill a sink or bucket with cold water, then mix in a few drops of dish soap. Leave the suit to soak for an hour or so before rinsing it in cold water. The dish soap should help to break down any oily deposits on the fabric.

Using Vinegar

Vinegar is another effective tool in removing grease and oil from fabrics. To use it, create a mixture that's 1 part vinegar to 2 parts cold water. Let the suit soak in the mixture for at least 20 minutes, then rinse it with cold water. If necessary, repeat this process until the stain has been removed.

Other Optional Steps

Once the stain has been removed, use a little fabric softener in the rinse cycle to help restore the fabric. Heat can set grease and oil into the fabric, so make sure to avoid using hot water during the cleaning process. Always give the suit a good hang drying after washing as machine drying may also set stains.

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