How to Remove Grease Stains From Clothes

A splash of cooking oil or a drip of salad dressing can leave a dark spot that ordinary washing won’t budge. Grease responds best to products that break down oil, and the sooner you treat it, the better your chances of getting it out completely.

First Response

1. Blot excess oil gently with a paper towel. Don’t rub, which pushes the grease deeper into the fibers.
2. Sprinkle the spot with an absorbent powder such as cornstarch, baking soda, or talc.
3. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes to draw out the oil, then brush the powder away.

Pretreat With Dish Soap

Liquid dish soap is designed to cut through kitchen grease, which makes it one of the most effective treatments you already have at home.

1. Lay the garment flat with a folded paper towel underneath the stain.
2. Apply a few drops of dish soap directly onto the spot.
3. Gently work it in with your fingertips or a soft toothbrush, moving from the outside of the stain inward.
4. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
5. Rinse with the warmest water the care label allows.

A laundry stain remover or a liquid detergent that contains enzymes can be used the same way if you prefer.

Wash, Then Check Before Drying

1. Wash the item in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric, according to the care label. Hot water helps dissolve oils, but some fabrics shrink or fade, so don’t go above what the label allows.
2. Air dry the item and inspect the spot in good light. Grease stains often look gone when wet but reappear as the fabric dries.
3. If any trace remains, repeat the treatment before the garment goes in the dryer. Dryer heat can set the stain permanently.

Stubborn or Old Stains

• Rubbing alcohol: dab a little on with a cotton ball to help loosen oil, then pretreat and wash again. Test it on a hidden seam first.
• Oxygen bleach soak: for colorfast fabrics, soak in an oxygen bleach solution following the package directions, then wash.
• Solvent-based spot removers: use only in a well-ventilated area, away from any flame, and follow the label directions carefully.

Avoid chlorine bleach on colored fabrics, and don’t combine different stain removers, since some chemical mixtures can release harmful fumes.

Delicate Fabrics

Silk, wool, leather, suede, and anything labeled dry-clean only need special care. Blot the oil and cover it with cornstarch to absorb what you can, then take the garment to a dry cleaner as soon as possible and point out the stain so they know what they’re treating.

Quick Tips

• Keep a stain stick or travel-size dish soap in your bag for spills on the go.
• Treat stains from the back of the fabric when possible to push oil out rather than through.
• Be patient. Older grease stains may need two or three rounds of treatment.
• Wear an apron when frying or cooking with lots of oil to prevent the problem altogether.