Coconut oil has emerged as one of the best ingredients you can use daily and weekly for skincare. Not only can it moisturize your skin, but it can also supply you with hair and health benefits. That being stated, it's easy to get coconut oil on your bedsheets during application. But will it stain your bedsheets? We've done a bit of digging into this inquiry, and in this post, we will answer this question for you?
Yes, like almost any other type of oil, if you spill coconut oil on your bedsheets, it can cause a stain. The good news is that this stain is usually removable--especially if you go to work on it immediately. Here's a brief overview of how to remove coconut stains from your bedsheets:
- Pre-treat the stain
- Place the sheets in the washer
- Inspect the sheets
- Dry the sheets as normal
One of the worst types of things to get on your bedsheets is an oil stain. They can be a pain to remove, and coconut oil is no different. However, you can do a few things to lift coconut oil stains from your sheets effectively. Continue reading to learn about the steps to get coconut oil out of your bedsheets.
![Unfolded bed sheets and coconut oil collaged photo, Does Coconut Oil Stain Sheets? [And How To Remove It]](https://homedecorbliss.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Does-Coconut-Oil-Stain-Sheets-And-How-To-Remove-It-683x1024.jpg)
Steps to remove coconut oil stains from your bed sheets
Things you'll need:
- Mild laundry detergent
- Dishwashing liquid
- Spot cleaner pre-treatment
Now let's look closer at the steps for how to remove coconut oil stains from your bed sheets.
1. Pre-treat the stain
Before throwing the sheets in the washer, it's best to try to spot clean the stain as much as possible by treat pre-treating it with a commercial cleaner such as Spray and Wash, Shout, or dishwashing liquid. Carefully inspect the sheets and use a microfiber cloth or clean towel to work the pre-treatment into the stain. You can also use a disposable toothbrush if the stain is heavy. If the stain is too big for a spot pretreatment, you can always pre-soak the sheets in warm or hot water for about 15 to 20 minutes.
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2. Place the sheets in the washer
After you have soaked or pre-treated the stain, toss the sheets in the washer with a mild detergent or laundry detergent formulated explicitly for degreasing. Wash the bedsheets for a full wash cycle, and use the hottest water setting possible. Be sure to check the care tag on the sheets before setting the water temperature to hot, as some sheets can be damaged with this setting. In which case, warm water will have to do.
Also, if you use strong detergents, resist the urge to set the washer on hot water, as it can break down the fibers of your bedsheets. This can make them more susceptible to tears and holes--especially if you wash them frequently. If your washing machine has a "bedding" setting, select this setting for the washing cycle.
3. Inspect the sheets
Once the bedsheets have completed the washing cycle, pull them out of the washing machine and inspect them for any evidence of coconut oil. It may be hard to notice since coconut oil is clear and the sheets will still be wet, so it's okay if you can't determine this. However, if you do detect that there are remaining stains, re-wash the bedsheets. If the stain remains after the second wash, go back in pre-treat (Oxiclean works great on oil stains) the sheets again or let them sit in the washer to pre-soak again.
4. Dry the sheets as normal
Once you are confident that the coconut oil has been removed from the bedsheets, toss the sheets in the dryer as you normally would. Be sure also to add one or two sheets of fabric softener to reduce static electricity. If you prefer to hang the sheets outside to dry, smooth them out as much as possible so that they will dry thoroughly.
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Quick tips for deep cleaning bedsheets
- To save yourself the headache of dealing with coconut oil stains on your sheets, here are a few tips to keep in mind for prevention:
- If possible, apply coconut oil an hour or two before going to bed to prevent the oil from staining your bedsheets.
- If you apply a lot of skincare or hair products before going to bed, be sure to wash your sheets frequently to prevent oil build-up and to keep stains from setting in too long (if you don't notice them right away).
- It helps to have at least three to four different sets of bedsheets, so you can rotate them and reduce the number of times they are washed during a month. This can help the sheets to stand up better to spot and stain removal.
- If you have a coconut oil stain combined with a dark-colored spot, you can use baking soda and vinegar to spot treat the area before throwing it in the washer.
- If you happen to run out of fabric softener while washing your stained sheets, you can also add 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar to the washing machine as an alternate fabric softener. The vinegar will also help to brighten and deodorize the sheets.
- Another excellent oil remover that you can use for your bedsheets is Nellie’s Oxygen Brightener. This solution works as a great pre-treatment and can lift coconut oil stains before they have a chance to set in. You can add it to the wash or use it as a spot treatment.
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How Often Should Bed Sheets Be Washed?
Most experts recommend washing bed sheets every one to two weeks. However, it depends on several factors. For example, if you are someone who sweats excessively during the night, you may want to wash your sheets at least once a week to keep them fresh.
If you have pets that you allow to sleep in your bed, washing the sheets every 3 to 4 days is recommended by many sleep experts. Also, if you have seasonal allergies in the summer or spring, washing your sheets every few days can relieve some of your symptoms, as it can get rid of dust mites, pet dander, and other things that may cause your allergies to flare up.
Does Baking Soda Take Out Oil Stains?
Yes. Baking soda is an all-natural solution that you can use to help soak up oil stains from upholstery, bedsheets, apparel, and other porous surfaces. Here's a general method to use baking soda to take oil stains out of your garments.
- Play the garment on a flat surface, such as a kitchen countertop.
- Place a piece of cardboard or an old bath towel beneath the stained area of the garment.
- Grab a box of baking soda and sprinkle it on top of the item on and around the affected area.
- Be sure to sprinkle the baking soda liberally and check for other stains.
- Allow the baking soda to sit on the garment for about 5 to 10 minutes to soak up the oil. You can also mix the baking soda with water and two to three drops of mild dish soap for adamant stains.
- Use a toothbrush to scrub the baking soda or solution into the oil stain. Be sure to do this delicately, as you don't want to damage the fabric in the process. If you are worried about damage, use a microfiber cloth or other soft cloth to perform this step.
- Next, place the garment in the washing machine and set the temperature to hot or warm, per the garments care tag instructions. Add laundry detergent to the wash, and you can also add a tablespoon of baking soda as well.
- Finally, dry the garment on a clothes hanger or toss it in the dryer with a sheet or two of fabric softener. If the stain is still on the item, apply the baking soda, pre-treat the stain again, and rewash it.
How Do You Remove Set-In Oil Stains?
Sometimes oil stains can be tough to eliminate, especially when they've had time to set into the fabric. It can also be pretty challenging to see if the oil is clear. Sometimes, just when you think you've gotten rid of an oil stain on your clothes or your bedsheets, it reappears once you remove the garment from the dryer. So how do you remove oil stains that have already set in? Here is a method to do it.
Soak the stained item and in the washing machine or the saint before tossing it in the washer. Rub a combination of liquid dish soap and liquid laundry detergent onto the stained fabric. Next, take a tablespoon of baking soda and use a toothbrush to work it into the affected area.
Allow the baking soda and detergent to sit on the saying for about 15 to 30 minutes. Next, rinse the solution from the garment and toss it in the washer on a hot setting (or a warm setting). Finally, dry the item as usual and check the stain to see if it's gone. If it's not, repeat the steps as necessary and consider using a professional stain remover such as OxiClean or Pull It Out.
Wrapping Things Up
The best way to increase your chance of getting rid of a coconut oil stain is to block staying up and apply a degreaser immediately. Follow up this pretreatment by washing the bedsheets with mild detergent on a warmer hot water setting. It may take a couple of tries to lift the stain from the sheets completely, but it's worth it, especially if the sheets are expensive.
We hope that this post has provided you with the information you were looking for regarding removing coconut oil stains from your bedsheets.
Before you go, be sure to check out some of our other posts: