A blotter will help get rid of fat. Removing grease stains on paper is real! How to remove a grease stain from a sheet

Paper is a very fragile and delicate material, so the appearance of stains on it sometimes seems like something irreparable. And the situation when you accidentally pick up an important document, notebook or wallpaper with greasy hands is quite common. Especially if there are children in the house. We bring to your attention several effective ways to remove grease stains from paper surfaces.

8 ways to remove grease stains from paper at home

Unlike clothes, you cannot take a document or notebook to the dry cleaner or wash it. The surface of cellulose absorbs moisture well and requires a certain amount of care when handling: that is, water and intense friction during cleaning are immediately eliminated. We have grouped practice-tested, not too labor-intensive methods for removing traces of grease from paper into 2 groups. But before we begin to describe them, let us take into account that

  • the fresher the stain, the easier it is to remove (especially since fat tends to penetrate deep into the pores of the cellulose over time and increase in size);
  • before using any product, it must be tested on paper of the same quality (if this is, of course, possible, and we are not talking about, for example, a passport);
  • the use of special stain removers must strictly comply with the instructions indicated on the selected product;
  • Removing stains from paper is almost a jewelry process, so you should be patient and take the time to repeat the procedure for removing greasy marks several times, if the need arises.

Chemistry to help

Options for removing stains from cellulose are arranged according to the degree of their effectiveness, however, it is worth considering the fact that stains come in different sizes, and paper of different quality, as well as with or without text. It is the latter that is the key factor in this distribution of methods for removing grease stains from paper surfaces.

How to quickly remove stains with stain remover

Professional means of removing oil marks have already been mentioned. Yes, this is certainly a very powerful weapon that hits greasy stains. But, firstly, they are not always at hand, and secondly, they are not safe to use on paper that has text on it. And yet the first place goes to stain removers.

How to remove a stain with turpentine

In fact, no other product removes stains from paper better than turpentine.

Instructions:

  1. Heat the turpentine in a water bath to 70–80 degrees.
  2. Apply the product to the stain with a soft brush.
  3. Cover the treated area with a sheet of writing paper.
  4. Iron with an iron heated in the “Synthetic” mode. It is important that the device is already heated upon contact with the paper, otherwise the stain will darken.
  5. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

How to remove fat with gasoline

Only purified gasoline is used. But even under this condition, in order to avoid deformation of the sheet, the product must be mixed with chalk or magnesium.

Instructions:

  1. Spread the chalk in a bowl.
  2. Mix it with gasoline until it reaches a slurry consistency.
  3. Using a match or toothpick, apply the mixture to the stain and let it dry.
  4. Remove the crust.

This is interesting. This “scrub” can be applied to the text area of ​​a document or to wallpaper with a pattern - the image will not be erased. Moreover, even if the inscriptions are made with a simple pencil, they will be preserved.

Traditional methods for removing oil stains from paper surfaces

In this section, the first 3 stain removal methods described have earned their positions because they can be used to remove oil traces even from a passport.

Blotting paper

This is interesting. The blotter, so familiar to our parents, is a real savior. But, unfortunately, it only helps with fresh marks.

Instructions:

  1. Place a piece of blotter on the mark.
  2. We place a heavy object on top to press the surfaces of the paper against each other as much as possible.
  3. After 15–20 minutes, change the blotter.

This is interesting. The described option is used for passport pages. For less “critical” surfaces, you can iron the paper (by the way, toilet paper is an excellent substitute for blotters) with an iron heated in the “Synthetic” mode.

Crumb of white bread

This is interesting. Bread crumb is an ideal solution if the iron is inconvenient to use. In this case, we are also talking about wallpaper.

Instructions:

  1. Place the crumb on the stain and lightly rub it over the surface.
  2. Leave for a couple of hours.
  3. We change the “compress”.
  4. Repeat until the contamination disappears completely.

Chalk

This “school” method allows you to remove grease stains from notebook sheets without damaging what you wrote in ink.

This is interesting. An alternative to chalk for this product is burnt magnesia (you can buy it in hardware stores and car markets) or regular table salt, crushed into powder.

Instructions:

  1. Grind the chalk into powder.
  2. We apply it to the trail.
  3. Cover with a blotter or white paper napkin.
  4. Iron with an iron, setting the “Synthetic” mode.

This is interesting. If there is an image on paper made with a simple pencil, this chalk cannot be used: the text will be erased.

Chalk and bread

Another way to remove greasy stains from passport pages and thin paper.

Instructions:

  1. Grind the chalk to a powdery state.
  2. Sprinkle it on the dirt and put it away for 3-4 days in a place without drafts.
  3. Use bread crumb to clean off the chalky crust.

This is interesting. A good fat absorbent is oatmeal, which can be used instead of chalk.

How to get rid of marks using starch

This is interesting. This way you can only remove stains from paper that has no text on it. At the same time, quality, in particular its density, does not matter.

Instructions:

  1. Mix 1 tbsp. l. starch with ½ tbsp. cold water.
  2. Apply to dirt.
  3. Place on a clean table until completely dry.
  4. We clean off the remaining mixture with a brush.

This is interesting. Instead of starch, you can use white clay.

Video: How can you remove a greasy stain from wallpaper?

Removing grease stains from various paper surfaces is actually not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Moreover, there are plenty of methods for removing such contaminants. But when choosing one method or another, it is important to consider two fundamental factors: the freshness of the contamination and the presence or absence of text. Also, do not forget that, if possible, you should test the product on paper of the same quality.

What is paper used for? To record important thoughts, upcoming tasks and upcoming events. It is necessary to keep it intact and not lose what is drawn or written on it. Grease stains affect not only the aesthetic appearance of paper surfaces, but also their direct functional purpose - under the influence of grease or oils, the ink on paper blurs, becomes not as clear as it was before, and sometimes it is very difficult to read what is written, so you can try to remove unsightly streaks .

How do greasy marks appear?

Paper is a material that easily absorbs moisture, grease and literally attracts all possible dirt. This is its undoubted disadvantage, but for notes and sketches there is nothing better than paper, and we need to know all the secrets and tricks that will help get rid of existing stains.

Blank sheets of office paper, children's school notebooks, printed documents, even a passport or wallpaper get dirty - not a single paper surface is insured against such “accidents”.

The scourge is dealt with either by solvents (gasoline or others), which destroy it, or by absorbents (chalk, oatmeal), which absorb it.

How to remove an oil stain from a clean, untouched sheet of paper

Blotter, chalk, chalk paste, starch, tooth powder

Fat on paper is afraid of dryness and ironing, so many methods are based on “ironing” the paper sheet:

Method 1, with blotting paper:

  1. Take blotting paper (it absorbs liquids very well and absorbs excess fat) or a table napkin;
  2. Cover the greasy stain;
  3. Iron;
  4. If the blotting paper or napkin is already saturated with grease, but our paper still has it, you should simply replace the napkin and iron it a few more times.

The method with blotting paper only works on a fresh oil stain; if it has been bothering you for quite some time, it is more effective to use methods with gasoline or bread crumbs.

Method 2, using white school chalk:

  1. Grind white chalk into powder;
  2. Cover the contamination evenly with a good layer of crushed chalk;
  3. Place a sheet of paper on the stain (you can use a blotter again);
  4. Iron the entire “structure” with an iron;
  5. In this method, as necessary, we change the crushed chalk for a new portion.

Method 3, chalk paste with water, used after using dry chalk, if method 2 did not help:

  1. Mix 1 teaspoon of crushed chalk with 1/2 teaspoon of water;
  2. Apply the resulting paste to our stain;
  3. Place a sheet of paper on top;
  4. Iron it with an iron.

The chalk paste should not be too liquid, otherwise there is a risk of soaking the paper, and then the sheet will be unusable.

How to get rid of using solvents

Solvents are rarely used in their pure form; they are often made into mixtures, for example, with crushed chalk or tooth powder. They are not suitable for removing stains from thin paper or for important documents.

For thick paper: gasoline, alcohol and starch

Thick paper can withstand more aggressive cleaning agents; it is suitable for both absorbents and solvents, for example:

  • Mixture with added gasoline - mix crushed chalk or tooth powder, white clay and gasoline in a 1:1:1 ratio; Spread the paste on the stain, let it dry, and wipe off. You can leave this mixture on the contaminated area for 3 days, and then remove it using bread crumb;
  • Potato starch - sprinkle it on paper and wipe off the fat with a damp piece of flannel, rub with medium force, being careful not to damage it.

There is also a more labor-intensive way, for example, using turpentine: heat it without bringing it to a boil, apply it with a brush to the stain in a thin layer, cover with a blotter folded 3-4 times and iron.

You can clean the sheets with alcohol, you need to take colorless alcohol or vodka:

  1. Place blotting paper on the stain and leave it for 10–15 minutes so that the maximum amount of fat is absorbed into it;
  2. Wipe the residue with a dry soft cloth;
  3. Pour a little alcohol onto a clean sponge and carefully treat the oily area;
  4. Place the piece of paper with the stain between two sheets of clean paper and iron it.

Video: how to clean paper using solvent

In the student notebook: oatmeal, starch, clay and flour

Children are not always neat, and therefore stains on notebooks are a common nuisance. Our goal is to remove them without damaging the homework already done. To do this, you can use oatmeal, finely ground in a coffee grinder (flour, potato starch, white clay are also suitable):

  1. Grind oatmeal;
  2. Apply a mound onto the fat;
  3. Leave for 15–20 minutes so that the oatmeal absorbs the dirt;
  4. Brush oatmeal off the sheet with a soft brush or dry cloth;
  5. If necessary, repeat all steps with a new portion of oatmeal.

There are commercially available products for removing grease stains from fabric. But fabric and paper are not the same thing. Such products should not be used for other purposes.

How to remove a stain from a printed document

Bread and salt

  • You need to take a crumb of rye bread and rub it into the oil stain, do this until it disappears;
  • You can also use salt - sprinkle on the contaminated area, cover with a clean sheet and iron with an iron (it is better to use finely ground salt, or grind coarse salt in a coffee grinder or crush it in a mortar). In this case, it is important to remember that the iron should not be used very hot, otherwise there is a risk that the text from the printed document will “run away” onto the clean sheet of paper with which you covered the salt and stain.

If a printed document is very valuable and exists only in a single copy, remove stains from it very carefully, otherwise you may completely ruin it. If the speck is small in size and does not attract much attention when reading and does not interfere, you can simply leave it in place.

How to withdraw from a passport at home

Clay and flour

Our passport is thick paper plus a stamp, the most important document for a citizen, and a stain can simply destroy its value. What should we do if we stain such a document?

If there is not one stain, but several, and they are all serious, it is better to give your passport for a replacement. But before that, you can try to sprinkle them with wheat flour or white clay and leave it like that for a while - 5-6 hours, so that the fat dries and the clay or flour absorbs it. There is no need to press your passport. This method only works with fresh stains.

How to remove wallpaper

Bread and turpentine

Stains on wallpaper need to be handled carefully - you cannot use overly wet or aggressive methods, otherwise the wallpaper may get wet, come off the wall, sag, or pick up new stains... A crumb of fresh white bread will help here - use it as an eraser, rub the grease stain until until it is absorbed into the bread and disappears. If necessary, replace the bread as it absorbs fat.

To clean wallpaper from stains, you can also use heated turpentine - apply it to the stain with a brush, cover with a blotter, and change it as the grease is absorbed.

There are special detergents for wallpaper that will help remove oil stains; they are applied to the stain with a clean piece of soft cloth, it disappears, and then the wallpaper is wiped with a damp cloth again.

Video: how to clean grease stains from wallpaper

Before trying the detergent on already pasted wallpaper, you should test it on a separate piece of it that was left over from the repair. Otherwise, you can spoil them, which we don’t want at all.

How to remove from a cardboard box

Detergents, gasoline

Here you can use detergents, water and a vacuum cleaner. Cardboard is much denser than paper and will withstand similar methods.

  1. Pour water mixed with detergent into a spray bottle;
  2. Lightly spray the contaminated area;
  3. Use a vacuum cleaner to “pull out” the moisture, do not lean the vacuum cleaner nozzle against the surface itself, keep it at some distance, but close enough;
  4. Repeat if necessary.

Another way is using gasoline:

  1. Apply pure gasoline (just a little) to a clean sponge;
  2. Erase the stain - move from its edges to the center;
  3. Remove any remaining moisture with a blotter or dry paper towel.

Table: which methods are suitable for which materials.

Method/materialBlank sheetThick paperNotebook sheetWallpaperCardboard boxPrinted documentPassport
Blotting paper
Dry chalk
Chalk paste
A mixture of gasoline with clay and chalk
Oatmeal
White clay
Bread crumb
Detergents
Turpentine
Alcohol
Petrol
Fine salt
Wheat flour

The article offers many methods that will help remove unpleasant greasy stains from paper and paper surfaces without causing them additional harm. Some methods are more effective than others. You need to try them all, and the result will definitely be achieved!

Surely many of you have at least once ruined an important document by spilling tea, juice, coffee on it, or by smearing, say, butter from a sandwich. Tragedy! But don’t rush to despair: after reading this article, you will learn how to remove a greasy stain from paper.

How to get rid of fresh marks?

This can be done in several different ways. Of course, you should first “arm yourself”: before removing a greasy stain from paper, stock up on ordinary napkins or blotters, school chalk, white clay, starch, bread crumb, table salt or an iron.

Having placed the soiled sheet on a flat surface, cover it with a napkin and iron it with a hot iron. As the fat is absorbed, it is necessary to change the blotting pads.

There is another simple method. Those who don’t know how to remove grease stains from paper will be interested to know that this is done using pre-crushed school chalk. Having laid out the document on a flat surface, pour a powdered product onto the problem area and cover with a napkin. After this, the page is ironed with a hot iron. Periodically you need to replace the oiled chalk with clean powder.

Regular table salt will also help cope with this problem. How to remove grease stains from paper? Yes, very simple! Sprinkle the soiled document with this substance and cover it with a clean sheet, the surface of which should be ironed with a not too hot iron. Otherwise, the text existing there will be completely reprinted on the top part.

How to get rid of old marks?

Before embarking on a practical solution to the question of “how to remove a grease stain from paper,” you need to think about how this can be done. Because in this case, none of the above methods are suitable. You can remove stale oily marks with regular tooth powder, white clay and gasoline.

So, how to remove a grease stain from a sheet of paper? It is necessary to mix the first two substances. If tooth powder is unavailable, it can be replaced with crushed chalk. Gasoline is added to the resulting mixture. The result should be a thick, homogeneous mass. The document is placed on a smooth surface and the prepared composition is evenly distributed over the stain. After a day, a crust forms on the surface of the leaf. It should be carefully removed using a flannel cloth or a soft brush.

Cleansing with turpentine

This is a fairly effective, proven product that allows you to remove oil stains. Before removing a greasy stain from paper, you must first heat the turpentine in a water bath. After waiting for small bubbles, steam and a strong characteristic odor to appear, you need to remove the composition from the stove and cool slightly. After 10-15 seconds, the product can be applied to the contaminated area. This is convenient to do with a brush made of natural wool.

Without waiting for the turpentine to dry completely, you need to cover the document with white paper and iron it with a heated iron. Do not apply a cold substance to the stain as it may enlarge and darken.

Removing greasy marks with white bread

This is the simplest and at the same time quite effective method of getting rid of oily stains. To get rid of the stain, you will need a small amount of freshly baked white bread. A pre-made circle of crumb is rolled over the surface of the damaged document, periodically changing a piece of bread. In most cases, the greasy stain disappears a few minutes after the start of the above-described manipulations.

Oat flour

It is an excellent absorbent, so it can be used not only to remove oily marks, but also as a dry shampoo. In addition to finely ground, you need to stock up on a soft brush and brown paper bags.

How to remove grease stains from paper? A layer of absorbent is applied to the contaminated surface. After half an hour, the remaining oatmeal is swept into a pre-prepared bag. If necessary, it is recommended to repeat this procedure several times until the streaks disappear completely.

Having figured out how to remove a greasy stain from paper, do not forget about caution. The sheet can tear easily, so do not soak it heavily in gasoline or rub it too hard. To avoid damage to the document, it is advisable to minimize mechanical impact. In such cases, it is advisable to use chemical and physical methods. And one moment. When working with paper, you cannot rely on products designed to clean fabric.

If stains appear on an important document, you need to use the most gentle methods. In cases where the stain does not impede the reading process, it is better not to touch it at all.

Before using one or another technique, it is advisable to test it on another sheet of similar density. To remove oil stains from wallpaper, you can try various detergents and water. In most cases, using a soap mixture can clean the stained area.

For many, it will be useful to know how to remove grease stains from paper. After all, there are few people who have not encountered this problem at least once in their lives. Valuable documents or paper wallpaper may be damaged. If such a nuisance occurs, you should not immediately panic. There are several options for correcting damaged paper material.

For many, it will be useful to know how to remove grease stains from paper.

Old stains are more difficult to remove than fresh ones. Therefore, cleaning should not be delayed unless the paper cannot be replaced with another copy. Before proceeding with the removal procedure, it is recommended to test the selected method on a trial copy. This way there is a chance to practice and prevent damage to valuable documentation.

Old stains are more difficult to remove than fresh ones

Paper is a fairly fragile material that can be easily damaged. Therefore, when cleaning oil stains, it is not recommended to apply strong mechanical force. The use of chemical cleaning products designed to remove stains from fabric is not recommended. All cleaning products, along with a greasy residue, can also remove important information contained in a valuable document. If removal is carried out, for example, on wallpaper, then the chemicals can destroy the design or spoil its original color. Using a soap solution and a soft sponge is only suitable for cleaning stains on wallpaper, and not always.

Removing stains on paper with hydrogen peroxide (video)

Fresh greasy stains

When an unpleasant incident occurs and a greasy stain forms on the paper surface, the following can act as assistants:

  • napkins;
  • blotters;
  • salt;
  • iron.

How to clean suede shoes at home

Paper absorbs fat well, which is why you can take advantage of this advantage and perform the reverse process. That is, you will need to take the damaged sheet, place it on a flat surface and cover it with a napkin on top. Iron the blotter with a heated iron, and it will absorb excess fat. During cleaning, you will need to change the cloth several times to allow the grease to soak into the cellulose.

Paper absorbs fat well, which is why you can take advantage of this advantage and perform the reverse process. That is, you will need to take the damaged sheet, place it on a flat surface and cover it with a napkin on top.

Another equally effective method is to remove it with crushed chalk. The powder is poured over the entire contaminated surface, covered with a napkin or other sheet of paper, and then ironed. Oiled chalk will need to be changed during the cleaning process until the trace of the greasy stain disappears. Table salt is used in the same way.

Particular attention should be paid to the heating temperature of the iron. If it is too hot, the letters from the security paper will be reprinted onto the napkin placed on top. Another danger of too much heat is that the sheet may completely burn. Therefore, it is best to set the iron to the “synthetic” mode.

Old oil marks

The above methods will not work if there are old stains. To remove oil traces you will need gasoline, white clay and tooth powder. If the last ingredient is not available, it can be replaced with crushed chalk.

How to remove a grease stain

The bulk substances are mixed and gasoline is added to them to obtain a homogeneous mass. It is applied to the problem area in an even layer and left until completely hardened. After a few hours (it’s better to wait a day), the previously applied mixture will turn into a crust. It is removed with a flannel cloth or a regular old toothbrush.

In almost every home there is starch, which is also capable of absorbing fat.

A fairly effective option for cleaning paper from oil traces is to use turpentine. When performing all work, you must be attentive to your own safety. Before removing dirt, you need to heat the turpentine in a water bath. When small bubbles and steam with the characteristic odor of this substance appear on the surface, the fire must be turned off. After this, you should wait until the turpentine cools down a little and apply it to the oil stain. To avoid burning your hands, it is recommended to use a brush whose fibers are made of natural wool.

Immediately after applying hot turpentine, the document is covered with a clean sheet of paper and ironed. Remove stains only with hot turpentine. Otherwise, you can make the situation even worse. Using a cold substance will cause the oil stain to grow larger and may darken the stain.

There is a certain type of people who, in an effort to save their time, do several things at once. For example, in order not to be interrupted by meals, such people prefer to have a snack while working with documents. The time-saving effect is obvious - a busy person never has an extra 10-15 minutes of time. But everything has its price. Trying to get everything done on time, you concentrate on your work and may accidentally leave a greasy stain from a sandwich on a sheet of paper. It’s good if it’s a draft, but what if it’s an important document? What to do then? Don't worry, there is a solution. Of course, you won’t be able to quickly remove a greasy stain from paper, but you can still remove it. Follow the steps below to completely remove grease stains from paper.

You will need:

  • Paper napkins
  • Heavy book
  • Baking soda

How to remove grease stains from paper

  1. Take two paper napkins.
  2. Fold each napkin in half.
  3. Place one folded napkin under the grease stain and one on top.
  4. Place a heavy book or other flat, heavy object on top of the napkins.
  5. Leave a sheet of paper with a greasy stain between the napkins for 2-3 days.
  6. If a greasy stain remains, sprinkle a light layer of baking soda over it.
  7. Leave the baking soda on a piece of paper overnight.
  8. Brush the baking soda off the paper.
  9. If there is still a greasy stain on the paper, repeat steps 6-8 with fresh baking soda until it is completely removed.
  • You can use a melamine sponge, available at hardware stores, to remove stubborn grease stains from paper. There is no need to wet the sponge; by gently pressing and wiping the stain, the fat from the deepest pores of the sheet of paper is drawn into the open pores of the sponge and remains there. It will be especially useful if the greasy stain is located in the place of the colored design.
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