Mechanic’s overalls detergent: how to remove grease

Workshop workers’ overalls are often soiled with substances that are difficult to remove, such as grease, oil, lubricants, glues, rust or solvents. Removing grease stains from mechanics’ overalls is an arduous task if the most suitable professional detergents are not used, which are suitable for effectively removing even the most stubborn dirt. 

Nettuno’s Lavatute detergent is specially designed to remove all traces of grease and keep the characteristics and integrity of mechanics’ garments intact. Find out how it works and why to use it.

 

Mechanics are used to it: their clothes get stained frequently, as their working environments expose them to contact with oils, hydrocarbons, rusts and, above all, grease, a substance that is often very difficult to remove from fabrics.

Keeping work clothes tidy and clean, however, is a matter of hygiene, decorum and safety, so it is essential to find effective methods to remove stains from what, in mechanics’ workshops, are real PPE. Precisely because of the crucial role of these garments, companies are called upon to wash and care for them, either by delegating it to specialised external partners or by equipping themselves with the best detergents for mechanics’ overalls.

Those who work as freelancers, however, have to go it alone in order to carry out effective home cleaning by understanding what care and specific products are needed to keep work clothes clean and undamaged for a long time. So, how to clean mechanics’ overalls from grease? The secret is to act on the stains quickly and treat them with the most suitable substances to dissolve them and facilitate their removal.

 

Removing grease: how to clean stubborn stains?

Greases and mineral oils used in industry are among the most difficult types of dirt to remove from textiles. Their chemical composition is specially designed to be resistant and difficult to remove to effectively lubricate gears and mechanisms subject to high mechanical stress, extreme temperatures, pressure and wear.

Due to their characteristics, grease molecules are able to penetrate deep into the fibres of fabrics, making them difficult to remove and also risking damaging clothing, undermining the typical characteristics of PPE, such as impermeability, resistance to heat or tearing and so on.

When a mechanic’s suit becomes stained with grease, therefore, it is best to prevent the stain from penetrating the fabric by treating it as quickly as possible. In fact, quick treatment prevents the grease from sticking to the fabric and penetrating deep into the garment. To prevent this from happening, simply press down on the fresh stain with a cloth, a clean cloth, a sponge or a piece of absorbent paper, without wetting it: fats and oils are hydrophobic substances that tend to repel water molecules, and wetting the stain could make it bigger, without facilitating its removal.

 

Heavy metals, oxides, solvents, glues, and many other materials are also deposited on mechanics’ overalls, making it difficult to wash professional garments.

 

Natural remedies to eliminate black fat from clothes: do they work?

The inexpensiveness and easy availability of home remedies to remove stains have made them a huge success. But are such ‘do-it-yourself’ remedies really effective against grease stains from mechanics’ overalls?

While such solutions may work with common kitchen greases, on synthetic greases from machine shops they are decidedly ineffective and on these stains it is imperative to use chemicals specially formulated for the purpose. Popular home remedies include Marseille soap, bicarbonate and percarbonate of soda, dishwashing detergent, degreasers, lemon juice, talcum powder, corn starch or white vinegar.

Their effect, in reality, is by no means sufficient to thoroughly remove industrial dirt stains and, moreover, their action could compromise fabrics, ruining their fibres. The same applies to stronger products, but still falling into the category of do-it-yourself stain removers, such as trichlorethylene, bleach or turpentine: besides being dangerous for fabrics, they are also potentially toxic for those who wash and wear technical garments.

The only solution therefore remains to turn to professional cleaning products, which are able to remove stains while respecting fabrics and the health of workers.

 

How to wash mechanics’ overalls? The importance of the programme

The first step in washing mechanics’ work clothes is to read the washing, drying and ironing instructions on their labels. Following them to the letter helps to avoid accidental damage and compromising the functionality of the garments.
A good idea is always to pre-treat the garments to be washed by soaking them and applying grease-specific stain removers to the stains, which can work by dissolving the stain before it goes into the washing machine. Such products can actually also be added to the machine wash detergent to reinforce the cleaning effect.

It is also a good idea to use high temperatures, but never higher than those indicated on the garment label, and to have the mechanic’s overalls thoroughly machine-washed, preferably using special detergents for work clothes. The use of fabric softeners is not recommended on technical, water-repellent, breathable fabrics or those with other specific technical characteristics essential on the shop floor: its use could alter fabric fibres, make drying difficult and affect performance.

It is good to let mechanics’ work clothes dry in the open air and away from direct sunlight, rather than using a tumble dryer. If a dryer ride is unavoidable, it is always recommended to slavishly follow the instructions written on the label of each individual suit.

 

Detergent for overalls: is it really necessary?

To keep work clothes usable, undamaged and performing for a long time – particularly in the mechanical and metalworking industries – the smartest idea is to wash them with special liquid detergents for work clothes.

There are professionally formulated mechanic’s suit cleaners on the market that perfectly meet the needs of professionals as well as those of RSPPs or employers looking for effective solutions that comply with safety regulations.

These specific detergents for mechanics’ overalls are designed to remove all kinds of dirt from fabrics, especially synthetic grease and mineral oils, substances that are difficult and almost impossible to remove effectively with normal washing machine detergents, even by increasing the dosage.

 

Nettuno mechanic’s overalls detergent: a guarantee for removing grease

Experts in the production of hand-washing products for industry, Nettuno’s engineers have also formulated Lavatute, a liquid detergent specifically designed to thoroughly wash workwear such as mechanics’ overalls (but also aprons and cloth).

Mechanic’s detergent is essentially a powerful professional degreaser whose formula is designed to remove grease stains as well as oil, used lubricants and petroleum. It is the ideal partner whether you choose to wash your work clothes by hand or in the washing machine and you only need to check the instructions on the label to find out how much to use, at what temperature to set the washing machine or how to proceed for a flawless hand wash that will emulsify the stains and remove them completely from the fabrics.

Lavatute is part of Nettuno’s range of cleaning solutions for hand protection, hand washing and hand care in the company. To find out which product is best for you or your company, you can contact our experts, who can provide you with personalised professional advice.