How to get oil stains out of clothes after washing and drying

Q: Are oil stains on clothes permanent?

Though its tough to learn how to get oil out of clothes, the idea that oil stains are permanent is completely false. Learning how to get rid of oil stains is important. If you can act calmly in an emergency, it is not hard to get oil stains out.

Removing oil stains from clothing starts with pretreating, but the stains need to be removed when the fabric is dry without rinsing with water beforehand.

Table of Contents Show

Remove oil stains from dry clothes
Pretreat stains with dish detergent
Keep dish detergent out of the washer
Related articles
Related products
Gather your supplies
Steps to get rid of oil stains
Apply dish detergent to the stain
Wait 5 minutes
Rinse the stain
Machine wash with bleach
Air dry and check for success
Frequently asked questions
Sign up for Clorox newsletter
How do you get oil out of washed and dried clothes?
Can oil stains be removed after drying?
How do you remove set in oil stains from clothes?
Are oil stains on clothes permanent?

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Whether it’s cooking oil, greasy food stains or motor oil, get rid of oil stains from clothes and fabric with the right pretreating technique. Oil stains aren’t like other stains — you handle them in an entirely different way.

Remove oil stains from dry clothes

Oil stains in fabric are much easier to get out when you don’t rinse the stain with water before pretreating.

Pretreat stains with dish detergent

One of the best things to use for pretreating oil stains is actually liquid dishwashing detergent (the kind you use for hand washing dishes) because it’s formulated for greasy dishes. Look for a traditional dish detergent instead of one made with plant-based cleaning agents.

Keep dish detergent out of the washer

Liquid dishwashing detergent generally makes lots and lots of suds, so only use it for pretreating oil stains and rinse it away before you put your clothes in the washer, otherwise you’ll likely end up with excessive foam.

Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach with CLOROMAX®
Clorox® Clorox 2® for Colors 3-in-1 Liquid

Gather your supplies

Liquid dishwashing detergent

Steps to get rid of oil stains

1
Apply dish detergent to the stain
Apply enough liquid dishwashing detergent to saturate the oil stain. Gently massage it completely into the stain.
2
Wait 5 minutes
Allow a little time for the dish detergent to break up all of the oil.
3
Rinse the stain
Completely remove the dish detergent from your clothing by rinsing with warm water. This is important to keep the dish detergent out of the clothes washer.
4
Machine wash with bleach
If your clothing is white and bleach-safe, wash in the hottest water recommended on the care label using a good laundry detergent and 1/3 cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach.
If the fabric has color, or is white and includes any spandex, wash it in the warmest water recommended using detergent and Clorox 2® for Colors.
Tip
Always avoid bleaching wool, silk, leather, mohair and spandex.
5
Air dry and check for success
Air drying is important. Damp or wet fabric can hide residual oil that was missed when pretreating. To completely remove the oil from your clothes, repeat the treatment again, starting with dry fabric.

Frequently asked questions

Can you remove oil stains with color, like balsamic vinegar and olive oil, using dish detergent?

When an oil stain has a color component (like greasy pizza sauce, pesto or gravy), after treating with the dish detergent, but before machine washing, treat the stain again with liquid Clorox 2® for Colors. It’s okay to do this right after rinsing away the dish detergent. Apply a little Clorox 2®, rub it into the stain and wait 10 minutes, then machine wash.

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How do you get oil out of washed and dried clothes?

Here's how:.

Remove any excess oil with a paper towel or cloth..

Sprinkle baking soda on the affected fabric and allow it to sit for 24 hours..

After a day passes, vacuum or brush the baking soda away..

Spray the affected area with a vinegar and water solution..

Scrub with soap and a brush, then rinse..

Can oil stains be removed after drying?

Pour dish detergent onto the stain area and rub in with the brush. Allow the detergent to sit for 30 minutes. Wash as usual. Air dry, again to make sure the oil stain is actually gone.

How do you remove set in oil stains from clothes?

Sprinkle baking soda over the stain, covering it completely. Let sit for about 30 minutes to give the baking soda time to absorb the oil stain. Place the garment in a bucket of water (use hot water if possible) Stir in a few more tablespoons of baking soda and leave for another half hour. Wash as usual.

Are oil stains on clothes permanent?

Though it's tough to learn how to get oil out of clothes, the idea that oil stains are permanent is completely false. Learning how to get rid of oil stains is important. If you can act calmly in an emergency, it is not hard to get oil stains out.