Whether the olive oil spill is on the kitchen floor or the kitchen table, it’s nothing less than a nightmare for homeowners. Because the olive oil cleanup process is not a breeze, it takes time and effort. But with the right steps and a bit of elbow grease, you can do it quickly and easily.
Are you interested in knowing more about the olive oil spill cleaning process?
Scroll down and be with us. Our detailed guide will teach you how to clean olive oil spills effectively without resorting to harsh chemicals or scrubbing with dirty hands.
How To Clean Olive Oil Spill In The Kitchen
A spill is an accident that can happen to anyone. When olive oil spills, most of us get worried because olive oil cleanup is time-consuming and sometimes impossible to remove totally.
But don’t panic; there are a few things you can do to clean it up. Follow the below steps, and we hope you will get rid of an olive oil spill and its stain.
Equipment You Will Need
Dish liquid, distilled vinegar, warm water, toothbrush, sponge, paper towel, microfiber cloth, spray bottle, hand gloves, and face mask.
Step One: Remove the Excess Olive Oil
Wear your hand gloves and face mask, then take an absorbent fabric like sacks or tarpaulins. If you don’t have an absorbent fabric, you can use a microfiber cloth or paper towel and blot the oil spilled until all the excess oil is removed.
Blotting will help you to get rid of excess oil. But don’t think blotting will remove the oil totally.
Step Two: Cover the Oil Spilled Area with Absorbent Material
You can use absorbent material like flour, baking soda, salt, cornstarch, sand, or oatmeal. From my experience, I will recommend you to use oatmeal. Oatmeal is easy to spread and pick up.
And it is also an excellent absorber. Sprinkle cornstarch/oatmeal, cover the oil spilled area fully, and leave for 15-20 minutes.
Step Three: Clean up
After the time is up, use a paper towel or cloth and clean up the oatmeal, baking soda, or whatever you have used to absorb. You can also use a dustpan or spatula to pick the residue.
Remember, you are not going to get rid of this oil spilled so soon. If you touch the floor with your hand, you will still feel the cooking oil on the floor. You have to repeat the process a minimum of 3 times.
Step Four: Remove the Oil Stain
Once you are done removing the oil spill, you have to work to clean the olive oil stain. Yes, olive oil can leave a stubborn oil stain. To get rid of oil stains, you must use acidic cleaning solvents like vinegar.
You can also use a commercial stain remover, but vinegar is also effective, and most importantly, it’s free of any chemicals that can ruin the kitchen floor.
Take ¼ cup of distilled vinegar ( avoid white vinegar), one tablespoon dish liquid (avoid dish soap or detergent), and one cup of hot water (lukewarm). Mix all these ingredients until bubbles show up.
Take the DIY cleaner in a spray bottle and spray directly on the affected area. Then take a toothbrush, and scrub the floor. Repeat the process a few times, and you will see the floor is free of oil stain.
Step Five: Mop the Floor
Once the floor is free of oil and its stain, now you have to mop the floor with clean water to get rid of any residue. Take some cold water in a bucket, dip a cloth or rag into it, and mop the floor in dabbing motion. Then wipe away with a dry cloth to absorb excess moisture and dry naturally.
Frequently Asked Question
How Do You Clean an Oil Spill on The Kitchen Floor?
Blot the oil spill with an absorbent fabric, remove the excess oil, and then cover the area with an absorbent material like cornstarch, oatmeal, or salt.
Leave it for 15 minutes. Once time is up, remove the absorbent material with a dustpan or spatula and mop the food with fresh water. Allow it to dry naturally.
What Dissolves Olive Oil?
Many types of agents can dissolve olive oil, but the most common dissolver of olive oil is vinegar. Vinegar is an acidic substance that helps break down the oil into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the skin or dissolved by water.
Which Solvent Can Remove Lubricant Oil?
A few solvents can be used to remove lubricant oil, but the most popular is ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate is a strong solvent that can dissolve most types of oils along with lubricant oil. And it is also safe to use.
Does Salt Dissolve in Oil?
Salt will dissolve in oil, or not will depend on the type of salt and the type of oil. Generally, salt does not dissolve in oil, but there are exceptions to this rule. For example, table salt dissolves in oil, but sea salt does not.
It is also important to note that the degree to which salt dissolves in oil will depend on the temperature. Salts like Kosher salt will dissolve more quickly in hot oil than cold oil.
What Materials or Methods Work Best for Cleaning up Oil Spills?
There are a few different materials and methods that work well for cleaning up oil spills. The most popular methods include booms, skimmers, and absorbents. We find the absorbents method most effective.
Use absorbent fabric for blotting and then clean up with absorbent material like cornstarch or oatmeal to soak up the oil and neutralize it.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever had to clean up an olive oil spill in the kitchen, you know it can be a messy and time-consuming process. But with the process we shared above on how to clean olive oil spills in the kitchen, it can be simple.
When you want effective results, you need to carefully follow the best way and each step. Some people avoid step one and jump directly to step two, which only makes the clean-up process hard. Because cleaning lots of oil spoils with absorptive material will cost you a lot and be time-consuming.
While blotting with a paper towel or microfiber cloth takes less time and doesn’t cost you much. So follow the steps we described above, keep in mind our tips, and get rid of olive oil spills in the kitchen.
Jessie Grisham is a writer, editor, and content strategist. She’s also a big fan of naps, coffee, and books. Jessie has been writing and editing for over 10 years, and has worked in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. When she’s not busy writing or editing, you can find her spending time with her husband and two young sons.
