Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Best way to remove chain grease from white socks?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Best way to remove chain grease from white socks?

Old 05-25-19, 02:59 PM
  #1  
Brad Bike
That guy
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: The heart of Ohio
Posts: 47

Bikes: 2012 Felt FC build

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Best way to remove chain grease from white socks?

I'm pretty new to cycling and I've only been using short black socks up to this point. Well, I finally got a pair of white Giro socks without considering that grease is going to get on them. For those of you who ride with white (or other non-black/dark) socks, what recommendations do you have for removing grease stains? Thx!
Brad Bike is offline  
Old 05-25-19, 03:03 PM
  #2  
Wileyrat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tucson Az
Posts: 1,655

Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 332 Post(s)
Liked 205 Times in 128 Posts
Squirt a little Dawn dishwashing soap on the stain and rub it in, and then presoak with Shout for good measure.

Cross your fingers.
Wileyrat is offline  
Old 05-25-19, 03:24 PM
  #3  
caloso
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
spray n wash
caloso is offline  
Old 05-25-19, 04:20 PM
  #4  
spinnaker
Every day a winding road
 
spinnaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 6,538

Bikes: 2005 Cannondale SR500, 2008 Trek 7.3 FX, Jamis Aurora

Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3394 Post(s)
Liked 63 Times in 46 Posts
1. Throw socks in garbage.

2. Buy new socks. This time move back to black or don'[t worry about the stains. No one is looking a your feet.


I have seen my share of first world problems. This one takes the cake.
spinnaker is offline  
Likes For spinnaker:
Old 05-25-19, 04:46 PM
  #5  
Tusk
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 111

Bikes: 1986 Scwinn Prelude 20?? Motobecane Ti 'Le Champion"

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 64 Times in 40 Posts
Goop hand cleaner. Rub in, toss in the wash, and hope for the best.
Tusk is offline  
Likes For Tusk:
Old 05-25-19, 05:42 PM
  #6  
308jerry
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 330
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 186 Post(s)
Liked 129 Times in 88 Posts
Spray with ether, then GoJo hand cleaner, rub it in then rinse. If you have already washed and dryed them the stain is set, more than likely. Good luck. I use ether on grease stains on vehicle interiors with great results.
308jerry is offline  
Old 05-25-19, 07:40 PM
  #7  
TimothyH
- Soli Deo Gloria -
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,782

Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix

Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times in 469 Posts
No white socks. Doesn't look good.

Blue, black, red, yellow, etc., all look good.

How about fiesta?





-Tim-
TimothyH is offline  
Old 05-25-19, 07:42 PM
  #8  
Myosmith
Lover of Old Chrome Moly
 
Myosmith's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NW Minnesota
Posts: 2,949
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 23 Times in 17 Posts
What is the best chain lube to use to prevent staining of white socks
Myosmith is offline  
Likes For Myosmith:
Old 05-25-19, 08:37 PM
  #9  
MikeyMK
Cycleway town
 
MikeyMK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Milton Keynes, England
Posts: 1,402

Bikes: 2.6kw GT LTS e-tandem, 250w Voodoo, 250w solar recumbent trike, 3-speed shopper, Merlin ol/skl mtb, 80cc Ellswick

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 569 Post(s)
Liked 169 Times in 117 Posts
Just leave them stained, they can't look any worse.
MikeyMK is offline  
Likes For MikeyMK:
Old 05-25-19, 09:06 PM
  #10  
Kedosto
Callipygian Connoisseur
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,373
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 564 Post(s)
Liked 350 Times in 190 Posts
Depends on the fabric. I’m no fabric expert, but if there’s any cotton (even a low percentage blend) it will be tough to get grease out. I’ve had good luck with both Dawn dishwashing detergent and Simple Green on cotton t-shirts, but neither were white and a slight darkening remained. Not all that helpful, but I avoid white.


-Kedosto
Kedosto is offline  
Old 05-25-19, 10:27 PM
  #11  
drlogik 
Senior Member
 
drlogik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,763

Bikes: '87-ish Pinarello Montello; '89 Nishiki Ariel; '85 Raleigh Wyoming, '16 Wabi Special, '16 Wabi Classic, '14 Kona Cinder Cone

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 698 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times in 251 Posts
Straight Dawn dish washing liquid directly on stain as has been suggested. Wash in cold water and do not dry. If stain is not gone then spray with orange degreaser or purple power and re-wash. Still there? It's gonna be there forever. Ride with dark colored socks.
drlogik is offline  
Old 05-25-19, 10:59 PM
  #12  
Wildwood 
Veteran, Pacifist
 
Wildwood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,303

Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?

Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3874 Post(s)
Liked 4,779 Times in 2,204 Posts
Beausage, wear them with Honor!!!
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Wildwood is offline  
Likes For Wildwood:
Old 05-25-19, 11:35 PM
  #13  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4558 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
Tide Ultra Stain Release liquid. It's hard to beat the better clothes detergents like Tide and Gain with enzymes in addition to the usual surfactants. The trick is patience: pretreat, then a long soak in detergent, 20 minutes to an hour. Tepid water is good. If you have a washing machine with soak options for delicate clothing, try that.

I handwash most of my cycling apparel this way, usually in a 5 gallon mop bucket in the tub. Quicker than a trip to the laundromat. I hang 'em over the tub to dry with a recirculating fan. They're dry by morning.
canklecat is offline  
Old 05-26-19, 12:29 AM
  #14  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Is it taboo to suggest bleach?
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Likes For ThermionicScott:
Old 05-26-19, 01:16 AM
  #15  
HTupolev
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,261
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1971 Post(s)
Liked 1,297 Times in 629 Posts
Dye them black.
HTupolev is offline  
Likes For HTupolev:
Old 05-26-19, 01:21 AM
  #16  
JoeTBM 
Droid on a mission
 
JoeTBM's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Palm Coast, FL
Posts: 1,002

Bikes: Diamondback Wildwood Classic

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 315 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times in 191 Posts
They just became a rag to wipe off other oil/grease, don't ask me how I know but my wife can tell you
__________________
JoeTBM (The Bike Man) - I'm a black & white type of guy, the only gray in my life is the hair on my head
www.TheBikeMenOfFlaglerCounty.com




JoeTBM is offline  
Likes For JoeTBM:
Old 05-26-19, 02:45 AM
  #17  
taz777
Senior Member
 
taz777's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 865

Bikes: 5

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 19 Posts
I'd just bin them and buy a new pair of socks. The effort to make them look clean and white again may not be worth it.

You may have too much lube on your chain if it's getting onto your socks.
taz777 is offline  
Likes For taz777:
Old 05-26-19, 04:54 AM
  #18  
hillyman
WALSTIB
 
hillyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,798
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 280 Post(s)
Liked 384 Times in 183 Posts

This saved my favorite Grateful Dead jersey from grease. Worked a miracle for me. Just bought the spot remover on a whim at Wallyworld and really good stuff.
__________________
www.bikeleague.org

hillyman is offline  
Old 05-26-19, 06:41 AM
  #19  
Sy Reene
Advocatus Diaboli
 
Sy Reene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,611

Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,526 Times in 997 Posts
Originally Posted by taz777
I'd just bin them and buy a new pair of socks. The effort to make them look clean and white again may not be worth it.

You may have too much lube on your chain if it's getting onto your socks.
Or get a black fabric marker and go to town on the socks to make the black streaks look like there's an intentional kandinsky pattern.
something like this..

Sy Reene is offline  
Old 05-26-19, 07:19 AM
  #20  
wolfchild
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
Don't wear white socks, wear black socks.
wolfchild is offline  
Old 05-26-19, 07:36 AM
  #21  
u235
Senior Member
 
u235's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,185
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 437 Post(s)
Liked 133 Times in 86 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
Don't wear white socks, wear black socks.
Does not answer the original question but my thoughts exactly.
If the OP is really concerned, search Google. You'll get results from far more than just bikers. A simple search and reading the first few hits suggests polyester stained with grease and oil, grease "fighting" dish soap seems to be the most suggested.

This is an "I'm bored and it's winter and can't ride now" type of question". Not a late spring no reason not to out riding one. Go out and get some grease on them and then see if it really matters
u235 is offline  
Old 05-26-19, 07:47 AM
  #22  
jon c. 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,812
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,015 Times in 570 Posts
Originally Posted by hillyman

This saved my favorite Grateful Dead jersey from grease. Worked a miracle for me. Just bought the spot remover on a whim at Wallyworld and really good stuff.





A GD jersey is worth saving. White socks are not.
jon c. is offline  
Likes For jon c.:
Old 05-26-19, 08:23 AM
  #23  
hillyman
WALSTIB
 
hillyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,798
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 280 Post(s)
Liked 384 Times in 183 Posts
Originally Posted by jon c.
A GD jersey is worth saving. White socks are not.
Not if their white GD socks.
__________________
www.bikeleague.org

hillyman is offline  
Likes For hillyman:
Old 05-26-19, 08:49 AM
  #24  
Dirt Farmer
Senior Member
 
Dirt Farmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Madison, Wi.
Posts: 1,181

Bikes: Jamis Quest Elite; Fuji Sagres; Trek Fuel EX 8

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 329 Post(s)
Liked 73 Times in 53 Posts
Originally Posted by Tusk
Goop hand cleaner. Rub in, toss in the wash, and hope for the best.

Yes, this works very well.
Dirt Farmer is offline  
Likes For Dirt Farmer:
Old 05-26-19, 08:56 AM
  #25  
dennis336
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 523

Bikes: Trek Domane, Surly Disc Trucker

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 170 Post(s)
Liked 103 Times in 68 Posts
Another vote for "never buy white socks". If you're not able to get the stains off, I personally am too cheap to throw away something because of stains. I'd just wear them until they broke out in big holes.


When I got my first serious road bike, it came with white handlebar tape and the sales guy thought that was very much in style. Then, got white cycling shoes ... I will never do that again. Black or some other color dark enough to hide the problem in socks, shoes, handlebar tape, etc etc
dennis336 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.