All Orders Shipping on Time  

Advanced Search

loader
Loading Form

 
 

Getting Massage Oil Out of Spa Towels

getting massage oil out of towels

A thorough massage can do wonders for physical and mental health, and massage oils are crucial in making those benefits happen. But these oils — while great for the skin — can wreak havoc on fabrics, including towels. 

If your spa offers massage therapy, you likely have faced the problem of how to remove massage oil from towels. Like most stubborn substances, there are verified methods to successfully get them out of fabrics, even 100% cotton.

Your towels are likely cotton or some combination of synthetic materials. You won't want to treat all fabrics the same way, so the tricks for getting oil out of a cotton towel won't be the same as with a microfiber towel.

What Is Massage Oil?

Massage oils reduce friction on the skin during a massage. The skin gradually absorbs these lubricating substances, which leaves it feeling soft and nourished. Sometimes, diluting essential oils like peppermint and lavender in massage oils introduces aromatherapy into the experience.  

All massage oils are different, with some considered better for specific skin types. They derive from various fruits and nuts, including almonds, jojobas and coconuts. Since massage oil is a moisturizing product and towels are intrinsically absorbent, the two go together well. However, massage oil has nowhere to go from the towel, so it settles and, eventually, stains the cloth. The oil can be stubborn and challenging to successfully remove, but there are ways to save your towels even if they encounter massage oils.

How to Get Oil Out of Towels

Regardless of which method you choose to get oil out of your spa towels, a good rule of thumb is to treat the stain as soon as possible. Like with most stubborn stains, the longer the oil sits on your towels, the harder it will be to remove. For smaller stains or spills, you can do a simple spot treatment using laundry detergent or a designated massage oil remover. In a pinch, you can also use baking soda mixed with some dish soap and scrub the oil out.

Pretreating the stain will help loosen the oils and make it easier for the clothes washer to dislodge the stains. This extra step also saves you from washing and rewashing the same towels to get out a stubborn stain. 

If oil has saturated the towel or there are too many small stains to individually target, pretreat the towel by soaking it in a strong laundry detergent, then wash as usual. You can dry the towels in a dryer, but be sure to double-check the towels to ensure all stains are gone. Drying a stained towel in the dryer will only help secure the oils to the fabric and make them more or less permanent. 

If you're worried about being unable to identify the oil stains on a freshly washed towel, consider hanging your towels to dry in the sun instead. Doing so is doubly useful, since the sun will naturally bleach away any stains. 

Once you've pretreated your towels, here are some ways to wash them to get the oil out altogether. Because massage oil stains can be very stubborn, you may need to try multiple methods to find one that works to your liking.

1. Wash and Soak

wash and soak

If you run a spa, you likely have to deal with several stained towels at once. Your staff may not have time to individually spot-treat each one, or you could find yourself dealing with larger stains. In this case, doing a wash and soak may be a better option, since it doesn't require pretreating and you can apply it to multiple spa towels at once. 

For the wash-and-soak method to be maximally effective, the wash should occur as soon as possible after the towels come into contact with the massage oil. Start with a regular wash to help lift the stains. While the towels are in the laundry, fill a large bucket or tub with water and add some white vinegar to fight the stains. If your towels are all white, you can use bleach instead. However, oxygen bleach is the ideal option, since it's safe to use on all fabric types and colors.

Ammonia is the next ingredient — a quarter of a cup added to the water and bleach or vinegar. Once the towels come out of the wash, transfer them to this mixture and let them soak for several hours. Ideally, you want to leave them to soak overnight for optimal effects, but if you're short on time, leave them in for as long as possible.

After the soaking time is up, move the towels back to the washing machine and wash them as usual. Before drying them, check to make sure the stains have all disappeared. Or, to be on the safe side, dry the towels in the sun instead.

2. Hairspray

It may seem like a strange option, but hairspray is one of the most effective stain removers. Most hairspray includes alcohol as a primary ingredient, and the more alcohol the hairspray contains, the more effective it is as a stain remover.

Hairspray is especially useful for older stains you didn't have the chance to wash immediately. Instead of giving up and believing your stains are permanent, try giving the hairspray method a try. It's best to use a hairspray with high alcohol content, since the alcohol helps bring the stain back up to the surface for easier cleaning.

Spray the hairspray directly on the stain — no need to be stingy here. Soak the stain thoroughly, then let it sit for about half an hour. You can leave it on longer if you'd like, because the more time the alcohol has to loosen the stain, the easier it will be for you to wash it off.

Once the stain has soaked in the hairspray long enough, wash the towel as usual. A dryer is an option, as always, but ensure the stain is gone before putting the towel in the dryer. Line-drying in the sun may be an even better option in the case of older stains, since the sun will help reduce them even more.

3. Essential Oil

Removing oil stains with more oil sounds counterproductive, but some essential oils are outstanding stain fighters. It's less the essential oils themselves and more their role in a homemade stain remover that does the trick. It's easy to make and keep around for natural spot removal, so you can treat an oil stain right away rather than risk it settling into the fabric.

To make the remover, you'll need:

 

  • One whole bar of unscented castile soap
  • A third of a cup of washing soda
  • Two tablespoons of white vinegar
  • Half a cup of water
  • Half a cup of the laundry detergent of your choice
  • Four drops of lemon essential oil
  • A container or bag

 

In a saucepan, heat the castile soap, washing soda and vinegar until the soap has thoroughly melted and combined with the other two ingredients. Add the laundry detergent and lemon essential oil and stir the mixture, then transfer it to a container or bag to cool. Once it's reached room temperature, you can use it as a spot remover as needed. Rub as much of the stain remover as necessary into the stain for several minutes. Then, wash and dry the towel as usual.

4. Shampoo

shampoo your towels

It should come as no surprise that shampoo is a potential oil stain remover, since its purpose is to wash the grease out of your hair and scalp. Using shampoo to spot-treat massage oil stains is worth trying, but for best results, use a shampoo designed for very oily hair.

To use it, take a bit of the shampoo and massage it into the massage oil stain for a few minutes before washing and drying the towel as usual.

5. Carbonated Soft Drink

Believe it or not, carbonated soft drinks are a well-known remedy for stains, especially when used before the stain has had a chance to settle. Club soda is a popular option, but you can use any carbonated soft drink. Ideally, you want to avoid beverages with food coloring, especially if treating a stain on white towels.

To pretreat a stain using a soft drink, pour some of the liquid onto the stain until it's thoroughly soaked and let it sit for an hour or two. After it has had time to sit, wash and dry the towel as usual.

6. Paint Thinner

Another seemingly unusual method of stain removal is to use paint thinner. As with the carbonated soft drink, pour some paint thinner directly over the stain before rinsing the area. If the stain is still there, repeat the process until it has faded. Then, launder your towels as usual and dry them in a dryer or on a clothesline.

Why It's Crucial to Remove Massage Oil From Towels

Besides wanting your towels to be clean, hygienic and attractive, there are safety reasons to ensure you know how to get massage oil out of fabric. Spontaneous combustion is a risk when you're dealing with oily residue on cloth. It can lead to potentially fatal fires, but you can prevent this danger.

Spontaneous combustion often occurs in the dryer when the heat from the appliance heats any remaining oils on clothes, which then reacts with the oxygen, increasing heat until combustion occurs. Sometimes, the fire is minor and limited to the clothes in the dryer. But any situation in which oily fabrics are unattended without proper ventilation can lead to spontaneous combustion, including dirty clothes in a hamper.

Preventing spontaneous combustion is another important reason to ensure the massage oil stain has thoroughly washed away before putting your towels in the dryer.

How to Prevent Massage Oil Stains on Spa Towels

prevent massage oil on towels

The best way to deal with massage oil stains on towels and other fabrics is to avoid the stain altogether. However, in a massage parlor or spa, where using massage oils is inevitable, follow specific tactics to reduce the likelihood of dealing with stubborn, set-in stains.

Avoid Oils That Stain

Some massage oils — and some essential oils as well — are more likely to stain than others. Almond oil, olive oil and grapeseed oil are some oils that can leave stubborn stains, especially if you allow them to set. On the other hand, jojoba oil and sunflower oil have a reputation for not leaving stains. If possible, opt to use these instead.

Use Less Massage Oil

You likely don't need to saturate your hands or your clients' bodies with the massage oil, so be careful of how much you're using. Limit yourself to only using what you need. That way, you reduce the likelihood of stains on your towels and sheets, while conserving the oil and making it last longer.

Opt for White Towels

Your salon's aesthetic is up to you, and white is a shade that goes well with every other color. White fabrics are also easier to clean because you can bleach them after removing the oil stains and leave them looking fresher and brighter.

If you decide to use colored towels, invest in oxygen bleach, which is ideal for all types of fabrics and is safe to use on all colors.

Wash in Hot Water

Hot water will help the oil move away from the fibers of the towel. Cold water will have the opposite effect, so it's smart to wash your towels in hot water — especially if you're using the wash-and-soak method without pretreating.

However, remember that while hot water is useful in getting rid of stains, hot air — such as from the dryer — will only help the stain settle even more. Double-check your towels after washing them to ensure there are no lingering stains. Or, line-dry them in the sun to be on the safe side in case you miss a stain.

Buy Wholesale Spa Towels From Towel Super Center

Salon owners know that appearances matter, which is why they opt to stock their establishments with the best products, including 100% cotton towels from Towel Super Center. We offer high-quality towels wholesale, which means you can save money without sacrificing quality. 

Browse our large selection of spa towels and mats, and create the ultimate atmosphere of relaxation that will keep your clients coming back. Shop online today or, for more information, call toll-free: 888-664-0951.

buy wholesale spa towels

Connect With Us

g f t