How to Remove Lithium Grease from Your Clothing
If you do your own maintenance or oil changes on your bike, at some point you will get lithium grease on your clothes. Getting lithium grease off of your clothes immediately is important, or else your clothes will quickly stain and become ruined.
What is Lithium Grease?
Lithium grease is a type of grease where lithium is used as a thickener, which helps to hold the oil in place. You will find lithium grease in the toolbox of most engineers and technicians as it has a variety of uses.There are many different ways to treat lithium that has gotten onto clothing, with the best methods being listed below.
Ways of Removing Lithium Grease
Using Stain Remover
- Spray any grease spots with spot remover until they have become saturated
- Use an old toothbrush to spread the stain remover over the stained spot
- Boil water while the stain remover soaks into the grease stain
- Place your clothes in a sink and pour hot water directly onto the stain from a safe but high distance
- Repeat this process until the stain goes away
The hot water will break down the stain, while pouring it from a high enough height will apply an extra force in the breakdown.
Using Shampoo, Detergent, or Bar Soap
- Pre-soak the grease stain using ammonia, water or liquid soap
- Rub the stain with detergent, bar soap, or shampoo until it gets foamy
- Use an old toothbrush to spread the foam on the stain until it dissolves
- Repeat these steps until the stain disappears
- After the stain is no longer visible, rinse your clothes with warm water and then with vinegar
For tougher grease stains use laundry bar soap. On the other hand, for lighter stains you can use regular bar soap with no extra additives.
Below is a video showing soap being used to treat bike grease stains on clothes so that you can see it in action before trying it yourself (credit to Minnesota Cold):
Using Baby Powder
For this method, you will need baby powder, paper towels, an old toothbrush, and dishwashing detergent.
- Start by blotting up the grease with paper towels
- Cover the stain with baby powder, making sure that the entire surface has a thick coating
- Remove the powder from the stain with a spoon or a paper towel (be sure that the powder does not get into contact with other parts of the clothes)
- Pour a small amount of dishwashing soap onto the stain
- Add a small amount of water onto the stain and rub gently with your thumb until the soap begins to foam
- Using an old toothbrush, rub the stain in a circular manner
- Wash the stain away with cold water and air-dry your clothes until you no longer see the stain
If the stain seems like it will be particularly stubborn, wash it with laundry soap and cold water before you start the above process.
Using water-displacing spray WD-40
- Spray the stained part of the clothes directly with WD-40
- Allow the solution to sit for about 30 minutes
- Use one of the methods listed above to finish removing the stain
This process is especially useful for older and tougher stains that refuse to go away.
Now that you know all of the best ways to remove lithium grease from your clothing, you can feel free to keep working on your bike without any stress! Alternatively, you could put on coveralls every time you do work on your bike.