Thinking about this maybe you could try powdered Cascade with STPP..I think its worth a try..I just don't know how much..but I hear some people use the Cascade for expecially tramatic loads. And it would aid in cleaning the washer at the same time.

I echo what Mama suggests. Blue Dawn and/or Pine Sol might be a good additive, since you have a top loader. I also cannot stress the importance of HOT water and rinse, rinse, rinse. Warm rinsing might even be preferable, since it is oil/grease you are trying to remove.

My brother in law is a grinder at a razor company. His clothes are black with oil and tiny, teeny pieces of ground metal. His clothes reek, even after being washed and washed and washed. I have tried everything, and that is even coming out of a Euro Bosch at a 160 degree wash, with the most water changes and highest water levels available. I have done the top loader thing, too, to no avail. Some oil smells might be near impossible to shift. Good luck!

Not sure fuel oil smell will wash out for a long time. We had an overfill on our heaing oil tank and it leaked onto the floor. They came, scrubbed, deodorized and did everything they could to get rid of it but it took a very long time -- like years. I should think a pretreat with ammonia and boiling water. Or maybe even old fashioned boiling. Hard to say. But please use gloves and I hope your DH does as well. That is very bad stuff for humans.

After a google search in Sweden I have found atleast 3 different detergents that are made for the kind of laundry you are doing.

I have copied the label of content of one of them:

Sodium bicarbonate> 30%, Sodium silicate 5-15%, Sodium 5-15%

Sodium metasilicate 5-15%, Sodium Citrate 5-15%, Soap 5-15% Non-ionic surfactants

<5%, CMC <5%, Polycarboxylate <5% Enzymes (Protease, Amylase) <0.1%

I do not know what this al means but there detergents are for grease oil soot etc.

It saids its for 140f and up to 200f not lower that 140f.

I did se that some recomended the same as Mama, dishwasher detegent as it is very good dealing with grease

I got gear oil and automatic transmission fluid off my jeans by pouring dish detergent on the spots and scrubbing it in before washing. I've also used undiluted simple green on various oil stains. It works on some things better than others.

Isn't greased lightening supposed to good for this sort of thing? Just a thought.

Enduring..if it was me I would try the Cascade.. powder only..hot wash..than rewash in detergent and a good rinse. Are you the one that ordered Somat? If so that's what I'd try first.

I was skeptical when trying WD40 on the nasty oil stains, including items already washed/dried. I saturate spot with WD40, let it sit a while,. Then run boiling water with dishwashing liquid and lightly scrub w/ old toothbrush. Even set stains completely disappear. Then reg wash to get rid of WD40 smell. I am stunned and delighted that this works every time. Only once did I have to do it twice and it was a huge nasty auto grease stain. Have only worked jeans cottons and similar work clothes.

Thanks everyone! I will have to wait a week now for the next load to test the first go around.

I did rinse the load in hot water then a cold rinse on the second time around.

Mamapinky, I like your recipe with the warm soak followed by a hot wash. In fact the 1/2 powder and 1/2 liquid is something I did in the second wash yesterday. I also poured some ammonia on the oil stain. The oil stain did come out after the double wash. The other pair of jeans still smells every so faintly of diesel. Typically DH doesn't get oil, diesel, or gas on him. He is very careful. But there are those days.

I'll bookmark this thread so I can recall all the tips.

Let me see, what will I try first next week?

I think I will try the powdered auto dishwasher detergent in the next load, with hot water. So how much do I use? A whole scoop like regular laundry detergent?

I just remembered an old laundry hint that someone told me at the laundromat years and years ago. For really greasy wash loads, add a can of Coke to your wash, with detergent like usual. From what I understand the Coke cuts the grease that detergent cannot. It must be the brand name, and plain Coke. I have not tried it myself, but if you are trying everything...... what the hell, right? :)

I'll have to try the Coke too. Years ago some coke got spilled on my table and sat for some time before it got wiped up, like over night. It took the finish off! I don't think the finish was urethane though, I really don't know. But I was amazed at the power of that stuff, whether it was the acid or the ingredients in the Coke I don't know.