How to remove food grease from clothes

You’re enjoying your meal when...bam! There goes that new tee or blouse, covered in greasy butter or gravy drips. Ugh!

"Grease is one of the worst substances to get out," says Michael Silva-Nash, executive vice president of Molly Maid of Greater Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas. "But it is possible if you act fast and follow several steps to help pull the grease away from the fabric surface."

Here’s exactly how to get grease stains out of clothes:

Act fast.

The longer it sits there, the tougher a grease stain will be to remove. If it just happened, remove as much as possible with a plain white paper towel. (You don’t want dyes from paper towels with designs to transfer to the material, making the situation worse.)

"Blot, don’t rub at the stain—because rubbing will push the substance into the fibers," says Silva-Nash. This technique also works on other items, such as tablecloths or cloth napkins.

If you're out and about, sprinkling a small amount of salt or artificial sweetener on the stain can help keep it from setting.

Check the wash label.

Cotton can withstand hot water and repeated washings. Synthetic fabrics can be tricky because you may not know if it's blended with other materials, but many will tolerate warm water. If you’re not sure what kind of fabric you have and are worried about the garment shrinking, cold water is the safest bet, though it may not be as effective for flushing out stains. If it’s a silk or wool garment, you’re better off taking to a professional dry cleaner.

Dab dish soap directly on the stain.

Apply a single drop or two of a traditional dish soap, such as Dawn, directly on top of the stain; avoid plant-based types which often don't have the same grease-fighting power. Gently smear it across the stain with your finger. Rub it in the direction of the fibers (sort of like the "grain"). The goal is to get the grease to interact with the soap, which attaches itself to the oil and pulls it away from the fabric when water is added. You also can try this step with your favorite laundry detergent.

Rinse from the opposite side of the fabric.

Now flush water (as hot as is recommended for the fabric) from the back side—not the stained side—of the garment. Flush for several minutes. Toss it in your washing machine and launder immediately on the hottest setting the garment can tolerate using your regular laundry detergent. You can also try adding an extra stain remover or pre-treater, but be sure to read the instructions.

Air dry and check for stains.

Heat from your dryer will set stains, so let the garment air dry. Then, inspect for any remaining residue. If there’s still a shadow of a stain, repeat the process, says Silva-Nash. You can make multiple attempts and may have success if you’re patient! Although the technique isn’t always foolproof, it’s certainly worth a try to save your favorite garments from those ugly grease and oil stains.

Shop Stain-Fighting Products

Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Dish Soap

SHOUT Foaming Grease and Oil Stain Remover

OxiClean Max Force Stain Remover Spray

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent

Arricca SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

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To remove fresh grease stains from clothes, cover the stains with baby powder, cornstarch, or talcum powder and let them sit for 15-20 minutes. Then, machine wash the clothes with cold water and the stains should be gone! If the grease stains have already set in, spray them with hairspray and let them sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, machine wash the clothes on a regular cycle. For more ways to remove grease stains, like using shampoo, cola, or rubbing alcohol, scroll down!

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To remove fresh grease or oil stains from clothing, first blot the stains on both sides with a cloth or paper towel to soak up as much of the oil as possible. Then, apply dish soap to the stains and let it sit for 30 minutes, which will help loosen the remaining oil so it comes out in the wash. Finally, machine wash your garment with laundry detergent. If the stains are still there, repeat the process. Don’t dry your garment until the stains are gone since the heat will cause the stains to set. For grease or oil stains that are already set, you can remove them with WD-40, baking soda, and dish soap. First, place a piece of cardboard under the stains so they don’t transfer to another part of your garment. Then, spray each stain with WD-40 to loosen the oil so it’s easier to remove. Next, pour a liberal amount of baking soda over the stains, and scrub it in with an old toothbrush. The baking soda will absorb the oil so the stains are easier to remove. Keep pouring more baking soda and scrubbing it into the stains until no more clumps form. Now, brush off the excess baking soda, and pour dish soap onto the stain. Work the dish soap into the stain with the toothbrush, then let it sit for 30 minutes. Finally, machine wash your garment on a normal setting with laundry detergent. To learn how to use baby powder or a stain remover to get rid of tough grease stains, keep reading!

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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 5,361,873 times.

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