How to Remove Spills of Vegetable Oil

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Spilling vegetable oil can be messy, but cleaning it up is not difficult. Here are some steps to clean vegetable oil spills:

1. Act quickly: The sooner you start cleaning, the easier it will be to remove the oil.

2. Absorb the oil: Use paper towels or a clean cloth to blot the oil and absorb as much as possible.

3. Sprinkle absorbent material: Sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or kitty litter over the spill to help absorb remaining oil.

4. Scrub the area: Use a scrub brush or sponge to gently scrub the affected area with a mixture of dish soap and warm water.

5. Rinse and dry: Rinse the area with clean water and pat it dry with a towel.

Remember to always check the cleaning instructions for your specific surface before attempting any cleaning methods.


Cleaning up spills at home can be a messy task that no one wants to deal with. However, some spills, like water or milk, are easier to clean compared to others. If you have spilled vegetable oil in your kitchen, you are aware of how difficult it can be to clean it up if you treat it like any other liquid. Since oil tends to leave behind a sticky and slippery residue, cleaning up an oil spill should involve absorbing, blotting, and using soap and water for cleaning.

Oil Spills in the Kitchen

If you have spilled vegetable oil on the floor or any other surface inside your house, chances are it happened in the kitchen. Many people are tempted to use a cloth to clean oil off the floor, just like they would with spilled water or sauce. However, doing this will only spread the oil and cover a larger area. Depending on where the oil has spilled, this could result in stickiness or even a dangerous slippery floor.

Instead, you need to use something that can absorb the oil. For example, you can sprinkle a granular powder over the oil or use absorbing sheets that are designed to soak up oil without spreading it. If you need to wipe up an oil spill, make sure to blot the oil with a towel rather than wiping it in a circular or back-and-forth motion.

Granular powders for absorbing, which can be bought in stores or online, utilize clay particles to soak up spilled oil. Alternatively, you can use basic ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen, which can be equally effective for removing oil from floor tiles. Cornstarch is a fine and absorbent powder that can be used to clean up spilled cooking grease or vegetable oil. Other good options include oatmeal, cat litter, sawdust, and wood shavings.

Removing Oil from Floor Tiles

Once you have absorbed the spilled oil from your floor or countertop, you will need to clean up the oil stain to prevent stickiness or a slippery surface. If you have spilled oil on a linoleum floor, you can use dish soap, baking soda, warm water, and a scrubbing brush to remove the oil stain. For vinyl flooring, wipe it down with warm water before using vinyl floor cleaner, which can be purchased at grocery, hardware, or drug stores. To remove oil from ceramic floor tiles, mix white vinegar and hot water in a bucket, then use a rag or chamois mop to gently buff the surface.

Cleaning Oil from Carpeting

If you have spilled vegetable or other cooking oil on your carpet, you can restore your flooring to its original state by using dishwashing soap, which is designed to cut through grease. Start by blotting the oil with a clean towel until the towel no longer picks up any oil. Then, blot the area with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag, being careful not to rub the stain into the carpet. Once you have treated the carpet with alcohol, mix 1 quart of water with a 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing soap, pour it onto the stain, and blot with a towel until the entire oil stain has been lifted.

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