How to Get CBD Oil Out of Clothes

CBD oil is a great way to relax and unwind…until you notice a few drops of it on your favorite shirt! There’s no need to lose your chill, though—CBD oil won’t permanently damage your clothes, even if it takes a few washes to fully remove the stain. We’ve put together a handy list of ways to get CBD oil out of clothes, including a few unconventional methods for stubborn stains. If you’re ready to throw your clothes in the wash and get back to relaxing, keep scrolling!

Things You Should Know

Use dish soap to remove small stains. You can apply the soap directly to the stain, soak the garment first, or combine dish soap with baking soda.
Alternatively, you can use other household items such as Coca-Cola, club soda, or aloe vera gel to remove stains.
For especially stubborn stains, try applying a small amount of lighter fluid or WD-40.

1

Lift small stains with dish soap.

Apply plain dish soap directly to tiny stains to lift them before washing. Simply add a squirt of liquid dish soap (preferably one with grease-fighting additives) to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then machine wash as normal and air dry.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Check the tag on your clothes before washing. Use the hottest recommended setting you can to help lift the stain.
- Always air dry garments treated for oil stains. Heat from the dryer will set in any remaining oil, which makes it harder to remove later.
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2

Pre-soak the garment in warm water and dish soap.

Warm water and grease-fighting dish soap lift oil out of fabric. Fill a bucket with warm water and add a few drops of a liquid dish soap that’s tough on grease. Add the garment and soak it for 5 minutes. Rub the garment against itself on the spot of the stain to get most of the oil out.
- Wash the garment afterwards in the washing machine like you normally would.
- Warm or hot water is recommended for washing oil stains. The heat liquifies the oil and makes it easier to remove.

3

Pre-treat the stain with baking soda and dish soap.

Make a paste of baking soda and dish soap to absorb the oil. First, blot the stain and cover it in baking soda for 30 minutes. Then, use a toothbrush to rub the baking soda into the stain. Add a few drops of dish soap on top of the baking soda and mix it all together with your finger.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Machine wash your garment immediately with hot water to further loosen and lift the stain.
- Repeat the baking soda covering and rubbing process until the oil is totally absorbed before you add dish soap (you’ll know it’s absorbed when the baking soda stops turning brown).
- Repeat the entire process as necessary until the CBD oil stain is gone.
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4

Lift fresh stains with baking soda and vinegar.

Baking soda absorbs oil while vinegar eliminates odor. Blot away the excess oil with a clean cloth, then sprinkle the stain with baking soda and let it sit for 24 hours. Brush the baking soda away and spray the stain with a 50-50 mixture of water and distilled, white vinegar. Let it soak for 30 to 60 minutes, then scrub with dish soap and a small brush.^{[3]XResearch source}
- When the stain is no longer visible, blot the garment with a dry cloth to remove the cleaning materials.
- Repeat spraying the stain with the vinegar mixture and scrubbing with dish soap until the stain disappears, if necessary.
- For big CBD oil stains, sprinkle baking soda on both sides of the garment until you have a layer that’s a few millimeters thick.
- This method also works for oil stains on carpet or upholstery.

5

Use club soda to bubble the stain away.

The carbonation in club soda lifts the stain so it’s easier to wash. Pour club soda over the stain and gently scrub it with a soft brush or cloth.^{[4]XResearch source} Sprinkle salt generously over the stain to absorb the lifted oil, then pour more club soda.^{[5]XResearch source} Let it sit for 1-2 hours, then brush away the salt and dab the stain clean.
- Afterward, machine wash the garment as normal and air dry. Washing helps get rid of any white streaks the salt might leave.
- This natural method is safe and effective to use on carpet or upholstery.
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6

Wash tough stains with an enzyme-based detergent.

Enzyme detergents break down oil and makes it easier to remove. Blot the stain as much as possible and then soak it in a few drops of anti-grease dish soap for a few seconds. Gently rub the soap into the stain, then wash the garment with an enzyme-based liquid laundry detergent and air dry.^{[6]XResearch source}
- If the garment is white, try adding bleach to your load to improve the appearance of the stain even more.
- When blotting or rubbing soap into the stain, press gently to avoid pushing the stain deeper into the fabric.

7

Remove the CBD oil stain with aloe vera.

First, soak the stained garment in warm water and then rub aloe vera gel into the stain with a soft brush or cloth. Machine wash the garment on the hottest setting for the fabric right away and then let it air dry.^{[7]XResearch source}
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8

Douse the stain with Coca-Cola.

Pour Coca-Cola onto the stain and let it sit for 1 to 2 hours. Then, machine wash the garment according to the instructions on the tag and let it air dry. The stain will be lifted and there’ll be no sign of Coke on your clothes, either.^{[8]XResearch source}

9

Use acetone to lift the stain out of fabric.

Acetone is a solvent that’s great for lifting oil from colorfast fabric. Use a Q-Tip or cloth to apply a small amount of acetone to the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse away the acetone with water and repeat until the stain disappears. Then hand wash the garment with hot water and air dry.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Try adding 1 cup (237 mL) of white vinegar to the washing machine to help fight the stain and remove any lingering odors from the garment.
- Acetone will dissolve fabrics with modacrylic, acetate or triacetate materials in them and may damage fabrics with natural fibers, like wool or silk.
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10

Spray old or stubborn stains with WD-40.

WD-40 is a water displacement lubricant that reactivates old oil stains. Spray WD-40 onto the stain and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Then, rub dish soap onto the stain and let it sit for another 10 minutes. Hand wash the garment with hot water and a small amount of laundry detergent and air dry.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Wring out the excess water and hand wash it again in a fresh batch of hot water and detergent if the stain is still visible.

11

Use lighter fluid on stubborn CBD oil stains.

Lighter fluid dissolves chemical bonds that hold stains into fabric. For stubborn stains that won’t wash out, apply lighter fluid to both sides of the stain and dab it with a clean cloth. Repeat until the stain disappears, then hand wash the garment with hot water and air dry.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Check that the lighter fluid won’t damage your clothes by putting a small dot in a hidden spot on the garment. If the color is unaffected, it's safe to use.
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Tips

Dabs stains are more wax than oil. To remove, iron the garment between 2 sheets of absorbent paper to melt and transfer the wax to the paper. Spot treat with dish soap or detergent and then machine wash and air dry.^{[12]XResearch source}
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Treat and wash your stained garment as soon as possible to make lifting the stain easier.
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Baking soda and vinegar methods are excellent at removing odor while also fighting the stain.
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Warnings

Always air dry a garment you’ve treated for oil stains. Oil is flammable, and the hot, dry conditions inside a dryer make it a potential fire hazard.
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Acetone, WD-40, and lighter fluid are flammable chemicals. Always hand wash and air dry garments treated with these chemicals to avoid fire hazards.
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