How To Get Anti Seize Out Of Clothes (Tips for EVERY Fabric!)

There’s an unwritten rule of working on your car or bike. What works great on machinery acts like hell on your clothes! And anti seize is no exception.

If it gets into your clothes, it will cause a huge mess! 

But don’t toss away the stained clothes just yet.

You stand a good chance to get anti-seize out of clothing with heavy-duty laundry detergent, baby powder, and pre-treatment methods, however, it will depend on the fabric you are dealing with.

Here’s a guide on what to do with just about ANY type of fabric.

Removing Anti-Seize from Canvas, Linen, and Cotton

No de-anti-seizing is easy, but this one will be least difficult.

Start by finding a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent – and that’s where the green in me has difficulties! 

There are great sustainable brands of laundry detergents out there. And as you know I’m all for green products, which makes it that much harder to tell you NOT to use them in this case, but I also hate waste and tossing clothes is a big one.

In this case, let’s be honest: you need to fight chemicals with – chemicals. So, the first step is to find a heavy-duty detergent and pour a generous amount of it!

Next, gently use your finger or a clean cloth to work the detergent into the clothing. Once you’ve fully worked it into the fabric, let the detergent sit on the clothes for a few minutes. 

Then, wash the clothing in the warmest water you can stand. You can go wild with the water temperature as these are natural materials and the heat won’t damage them.  

Finally, allow the garment to air dry. Anti-seize stains sometimes stop showing when the garment is wet, so you’ll need to make sure you air dry it to see if the stain is completely gone. 

Keep in mind that using a dryer can set the stain. Make sure to air dry until you’re sure the stain is gone. If it’s not, repeat the entire process. 

Getting Rid of  Anti-Seize from More Delicate Fabrics

If you’re washing velvet, silk, chenille, corduroy, or wool, your process will be a little bit different. If you got anti-seize on any of these materials, you’ll need to immediately apply an absorbent powder to the stain. 

But what’s an absorbent powder, I hear you asking. Think cornstarch, baby powder, cornmeal, and baking powder – any powder that’s fine enough to soak up the extra liquid and moist. Let the powder work its magic for 15-20 minutes,  then scrape it away. 

If the stain is larger, you might find that this isn’t enough to lift the stain. In that case, add a pretreatment product or lemon juice to the stain. Just make sure to follow any manufacturer’s instructions on the pretreatment to ensure you don’t damage the fabric. 

After the pretreatment has set into the fabric, it’s time to wash the garment. Follow the instructions on the label.

Next, remove the garment from the washer and allow it to air dry completely. If the stain is gone once the garment is fully dried, your work is done! 

What About Leather?

Leather – a popular material for motorcycle enthusiasts – is a delicate fabric that requires special treatment. If you got anti-seize on leather, the first step is to try and soak up the excess product using a ball of cotton wool. 

Then, get some saddle soap to deal with the rest of anti-seize. 

But what if it hasn’t disappeared even then? Enter baby powder. But this time, it will need  

Removing Grease from Plastic Based Fabrics

For fabrics such as polyester or nylon, you’ll also need a pretreatment. Rub it in, let it be, rinse and repeat (if needed)!

Keep in mind that with these materials, the faster you catch the stain, the easier it will be to remove. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Get Dried Grease Stains Out of Clothes?

First, rub some dish soap (if the stain is light) or heavy-duty laundry detergent onto the stain to act as pre-treatment. Leave it for at least 10-15 minutes, ideally more, and wash the garment in water as warm as the fabric can withstand. If the stain shows up again when the garment dries out, repeat the process.

How Do You Get Black Grease Out of Clothes?

Every type of grease, black included, will need something to break it down. A generous amount of dish soap should do the trick – but only if you use it as a pre-treatment. Pour it onto the stain and work it into the fibers with your fingers. Leave it overnight and then wash as normal.