I want to add an option for oil stain removal. I am an incredibly messy chef, there are always oil stains all up and down my chest. They're usually coconut or olive oil. I use my son's Weleda Chamomile shampoo. I saturate the stain and leave it for a day or two. Then wash it on hot with Seventh Generation laundry soap. Voila!
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I find that baby powder works great on oil stains. I keep a bottle of it in my laundry area and when I notice a spot, I just pour a little on, rub it in and throw it in the wash. In fact, even when I notice the oil stain after the item has been washed and dried, I can often just rub a little powder into the spot and it will vanish (or at least be much diminished so you can get away with wearing it rather than rewashing it right away). I have two messy boys and, believe me, I'd be lost without this method!



COMMENT FROM DEBRA: Those who are sensitive to scents should just be aware that baby powder is scented.

I once had a problem with getting grease stains (black, oily ones) on my sheets when our old washing machine was wearing out; two effective treatments for them were:

Orange TKO, an eco-friendly citrus-based solvent sold in Canada, and

TSP (tri-sodium phosphate), dissolved in a solution of water

Just a couple of additional tips on removing oil from clothing...I use a damp bar of soap and rub it hard into the stain. Usually gets the oil out on the first try. It actually takes out most stains regardless of origin. Also, because I'm a particularly messy cook, I've gone back to basics and I wear a very lightweight smock apron. Saves me trying to get those stains out.

When using a bar soap to get out any stain (or anything to get a stain out), go at it from the back. If you attack it from the front, it sets it deeper into the fibers, going from the back (put an old towel under it) it will move the stain from the garment to the old towel.

I would like to comment on the oil/stain remover from clothes. I dont use this on any really bad grease stains only because I have never had too, but I use it every time on daily food stains on my messy boyfriends clothing and it works every time. I use Orange 100 from Natural Choices Home Safe Products . It also removes sticky stuff like stickers/price stickers from glasses and mirrors.I also dilute it and put it in spray bottle to clean the greasy stove or counter tops. Its a great product to keep around. I also really like the Oxy Boost product from this web site.