Cleaning greasy overalls

So I have a set of cold weather overalls I wear in the winter when working in my garage. They haven't been washed. Ever. The inside is clean and there are no rips or tears in it, but it has gotten very, very greasy and dirty. Other than going to a laundromat (I don't want to clean it in my washer), how would I wash this to get at least some of the grease and stains out. I know it won't be perfect or close to new, but I want to be able to climb into my truck and not have to worry about leaving grease stains on the seat.

EDIT: Kind of like these: http://www.constructiongear.com/carhartt-coverall-extremes-quilt-lined.html?utm_source=googlepepla&utm_medium=adwords&id=30752368650&utm_content=pla&gclid=CIyQ0ofU7LsCFa9aMgodlkgAbQ

Thanks!

Spray all over with citrus cleaner, then hand wash, then machine wash.

Or if you are really ambitious...

I had this issue once. My Grandma didn't want them in her laundry (I lived with them at this point) and Gramps threw them outside in a bucket with bleach and water and agitated them for a bit over the course of a few days.

They had new bleach spots, but were still greasy and messy. Not clean at all.

Wash them in the regular wash machine. Use the hottest setting you've got, and cycle them a couple of times. I think you'll be quite surprised at how clean the washing machine is after this procedure. Just in case, you can do the first load after the coveralls with something you don't care too much about, like some old crummy towels or sweats or something to make sure all is well.

I wash all of my shop clothes, rags, etc. in the washing machine and it's never caused a problem...as long as you don't mix shop rags with something that you don't want to change colors! No idea why they use so much dye in those shop rags.

Bryce

Also, if you get into the habit of washing them more regularly, you don't have to worry so much about ruining the machine/other clothes. Just make sure to wash them on their own and do the next load with something crummy just in case.

Bryce

Pressure washer and dish soap.

Dawn dish soup and 5 gallon bucket let soak over night then pour in to washing machine.

You need a wife.

I threw a couple pair of coveralls and some shop rags in our washer a couple weeks back and had some success. I ran it as an "extra large" load, used cold water, and a little extra Tide. I left the lid open and after it did it's first agitation thing, I put it on a spin cycle to get it to drain the nasty water out, then restarted the "heavy wash cycle" with fresh cold water and more Tide and let it run its course. One pair got almost completely clean and the other pair stopped leaving smudges, and the washer was perfectly fine (I forgot to run it empty and my wife unwittingly ran a load of whites right after. I didn't get slapped, so it must have been fine).

I R&D household cleaning chemicals, including laundry detergent. Soak them in degreaser of your choice and scrub any spots that have grease thick enough that the chemicals can't reach the cloth. before they dry out, run through a HOT wash cycle in the machine of your choice. Actual machines will agitate and heat better than the homemade buckets and give you better results in this case.

GameboyRMH wrote: Spray all over with citrus cleaner, then hand wash, then machine wash.

Staying with this idea...
Your favorite choice of these type products (or what you have on hand.)

Work the goop, or similar into the fabric very well. Maybe apply and rinse a few times to get off the heaviest stuff (this step done in something like a utility sink.) Then, apply goop again and put into washing machine (wash alone.)
Do not dry the item until you are happy with the results.

Simple Green works well in the washing machine. I asked my grandmother this question one time and she said talcum powder and a brush. I trust her on that, but never cared enough about the clothes in question to bother with it. Simple Green in the machine with hot water is "good enough."

Nashco wrote: Wash them in the regular wash machine. Use the hottest setting you've got, and cycle them a couple of times. I think you'll be quite surprised at how clean the washing machine is after this procedure. Just in case, you can do the first load after the coveralls with something you don't care too much about, like some old crummy towels or sweats or something to make sure all is well. I wash all of my shop clothes, rags, etc. in the washing machine and it's never caused a problem...as long as you don't mix shop rags with something that you don't want to change colors! No idea why they use so much dye in those shop rags. Bryce

This. I open my dryer all the time to find a load of shop rags in it despite my many requests that the really greasy smelly stuff not go in my laundry machines. I just gather up a load of heavy dark clothes (all Tim's, of course), and run them through the washer and dryer as a follow-up.

To my disappointment, they always come out unscathed.

Margie

The Simple Green works well. Spray with the Simple Green until the clothing is good and damp. Roll up in a ball and let sit overnight. Then run them through the washing machine with a quarter to half cup of the Simple Green. Simple Green works well for a lot of cleaning. I have a Cover Craft car cover and and they recomend SG for washing.

I use Super Clean full strength in a spray bottle and pre-treat grease spots, you can always add some in with the detergent to kick it up a notch. Never had anything "infect" the washer using this method. Get the garment good and wet in the affected areas work it in if you have to.

Take them to a laundromat?

In the old days we washed them in a bucket of gasoline. Let them dry then wash in the machine. With things as they are today, this is no longer practical.

Pretreat the stains with a mix of a teaspoon of dish detergent(Dawn), 3 or 4 tablespoons of Hydrogen Peroxide, and two or three tablespoons of baking soda. Use a brush to scrub it in well, let it sit and work for a bit, then run it through the washer. Do not put them in the dryer, hang to dry. If you're worried about making the washer funky, just run a wash cycle with just a bit of regular detergent through it before doing any wash.

iceracer wrote: In the old days we washed them in a bucket of gasoline. Let them dry then wash in the machine. With things as they are today, this is no longer practical.

Just curious did the gas smell come all the way out after one wash?

Step 1: Buy black work clothes.
Step 2: Wash occasionally with other work clothes.

My Carhartt bibs are going on 10 years, have some rips and are pretty faded, but who cares about some stains, they are for working in.

For those of you using extreme methods like massive amounts of simple green, extended soaking periods, pressure washers, etc...have you ever just tried the method I mentioned above (hottest wash cycle your washing machine has, repeat a second time if necessary)? I grew up with a mechanic for a dad and this has always been the standard operating procedure...I can't think of any non-shop clothes that have ever been ruined by anything EXCEPT the dye from rags.

Now I have a fancy front loading washer with a super mega hot sanitary setting and I never, ever have to wash my shop clothes a second time to get them clean and I've never had grease get into the next load. Sure, a white t-shirt used in the shop still has grease stains...but it's work clothes, so I don't care about "character" stains. The point is, no grease is left so I don't have to worry about ruining upholstery or anything wearing them inside of a car. As long as the rags (those nasty red/blue ones) ALWAYS have a safety-wash cycle after they get washed, no problems are expected. All that said...

Play it safe out there. I have a good washing machine and a pretty understanding wife. Don't come crying to me when you ruin some clothes if you have an ancient top loader, little attention to detail, and a wife who rules with an iron fist.

Bryce

Nashco wrote: No idea why they use so much dye in those shop rags.

Its not really a dye, its a ph indicator, get acid on it, it turns blue.