How To Treat Flammable Stains (& The One Thing Not To Do)

Stains are always a headache, especially ones that come from an oily substance. Whether it's a coffee spill from a rushed morning or from the lip balm you left in your pocket on a hot day, it's no fun to have to think up some laundry tricks to make set-in stains disappear from clothes. Who has the time?

There's one type of stain that's even more annoying to deal with than the others — flammable stains. This happens when a combustible solution spills onto fabric. These solutions that cause flammable stains are often oil-based, like gasoline, paint thinner, varnish, lighter fluid, or other forms of grease. There are steps you can take to get rid of them, including spot treating the stain with regular detergent or a solvent-based cleaning product.

One thing you absolutely cannot do with a flammable stain? Put it in the dryer. When the combustible doused material reacts with the heat of the dryer, there is a chance of ignition. It could ignite based on the vapors released from the flammable solution, or spontaneously combust as a result of the oil oxidizing until it's so hot it explodes. The resulting burst or fire will give you far bigger problems than one little stain, which is why it's always smart to avoid the dryer after treating a flammable spill.

Flammable stains may be more common than you realize. You might have rags full of paint thinner, a shirt covered in spilled acetone-based nail polish remover, or gasoline on your jeans from pumping gas. Whatever you do, don't toss these clothes in the hamper with other dirty laundry. Instead, take a few steps to safely remove the stain.

First, you'll want to spot treat the stain. Blot it dry with a paper towel or a clean microfiber cloth. Then, you can try a few methods for stain removal. Start by seeing if you can remove it with a cleaning solution such as your regular detergent, or dish soap diluted with a little water. (Liquid dish soaps designed to be tough on grease can be especially helpful in these situations). Work the cleaning solution into the stain and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before rinsing out the cleaning solution. 

If the stain is particularly stubborn, you might want to try a solvent-based cleaner. But since these often have higher levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other harsh chemicals, be sure to follow manufacturer instructions. You should ensure that the cleaner is safe to use on fabric, and that you're adhering to proper ventilation measures. If the stain appears to be gone but you still notice a smell like gasoline, you can try applying baking soda. For embedded stains, create a paste using three parts baking soda to one part water, and then rub this solution into the material and run through a standard wash cycle. Baking soda works great when absorbing stains and minimizing scents. 

Once you have treated your stain, you can continue with the cleaning process. You can put the item in the washing machine for a wash cycle, but it's important to avoid adding any other items so you don't transfer the stain to anything else. Then, air-dry your laundry that had the flammable stain — do this after the first wash and moving forward. While the treatment and washing cycle may have removed the stain, it's difficult to be certain that the grease or oil is totally gone. Hanging the item to dry after every wash is your best bet at avoiding the risk of fire in your dryer. 

And don't forget — since you've now used some materials to blot out the stain, you'll have transferred some of the flammable material to another product, like your rag or paper towel. To prevent ignition or spontaneous combustion from the fumes of your trash, do not put soiled items directly in your garbage. When throwing things away, it's important to keep in mind that there are common household items you should avoid putting in the trash. Instead, set them out to air dry, ensuring they're out of reach of pets or kids, and nowhere near a heat source. When the item is completely dry, the gas fumes will have dissipated. Place it in a sealable metal container (empty paint cans are great for this), and then submerge the rag in water. Seal it, and then put it in your trash or bring it directly to a local waste pickup center.