How to Remove Grease from Clothes

Co-authored by Rani Gorgis

Grease stains are easy to come by, but hard to get out. If you're frustrated of having the mis-coloured splotches smattered across your clothing, try a few different methods of removal. Whether your stains are fresh or set-in, there are several different ways of getting them out.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Removing Fresh Stains

1
Try dish detergent or dish soap.^{[1]
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Research source} The simplest way to remove anything oily or greasy from almost any fabric is by generously applying dish detergent or soap to the stain. Using a small brush, like an old toothbrush, scrub the stain in a circular motion for several minutes. Keep adding additional detergent or soap if needed. Allow the fabric to rest for 30 minutes before placing it in the washing machine. Finally, wash the item in the warmest water you can safely use for the material.
- For best results, find a dish soap that is specifically labeled for dissolving oil since these often have a special type of oil-eating bacteria as an ingredient.
- Your clothing should be grease-free after a single wash, but you can repeat the process again if it's not.
2
Pour on some baby powder. As soon as you're able, pour a small amount of baby powder all over the fresh grease stains on your clothing. The baby powder is fine enough that it will fill in the crevices between the fibers, and absorb the grease. Leave the baby powder to 'soak' for 10-15 minutes, and then brush it off.^{[2]
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Research source} If the grease is still faintly visible, toss it in the washing machine under cold water. The combination should do the trick, and by the time the clothing has dried, there should be no trace of grease left!

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3
Rub some chalk on it.^{[3]
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Research source} Because chalk is such a fine powder, it easily absorbs the grease in your clothes and makes it easy to remove. Fill in your grease stain with plain white chalk, or scrape some of the powder over the stain. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes and then rub it off. If the stain is still visible, you can wash it with cold water. The rinse/dry cycle will finish the task and should fully remove the stain.
4
Cover it up with cornstarch. Yes, another one of the fine powders (just like baby powder and chalk), cornstarch works wonders at soaking up fresh grease and oil stains.^{[4]
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Research source} Pour a small amount of the powder on the stain and allow it to sit for a quarter of an hour. You can brush off the cornstarch afterward, or leave it on and put it in the washing machine. Wash your clothes on 'cold', and your grease stain should be gone!
5
Pour on some talcum powder. Don't have any of the aforementioned powders on hand? Try using talcum powder to remove the stains. Follow the same process as explained above by pouring a small amount of the powder onto the grease stain, and allowing it to soak for 10-15 minutes.^{[5]
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Research source} When it's had a bit of time to soak up the grease, throw the clothing into the washing machine and wash it on 'cold'.
6
Make a salt and rubbing alcohol solution. This solution works best for stains on thicker fabrics, such as denim or linen. Mix together one part salt with three parts rubbing alcohol, and then pour it onto the grease stain. Use a soft cloth to rub the mixture into the stain, working it into the fibers. Allow the solution to soak for 10-15 minutes, and then wash your clothing as you normally would. By the time the clothing has been washed and dried, there should be a missing grease spot!
7
Use a dry cleaning solvent. If you're up for spending a few bucks, pick up a specialty dry cleaning solution used for cleaning up grease stains. These are typically spray-on or iron-on liquids that are applied directly to the stain prior to washing. Because they are dry-cleaning grade, they should work out the stains almost immediately, making your clothing look good-as-new.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Removing Set-in Stains

1
Spray on some hairspray. Believe it or not, hairspray can actually work to remove set-in grease stains. Heavily douse your grease stain with hairspray, using a paper towel in between the fabric and the spray. Allow it to soak for thirty minutes, and then put it in the washing machine for a regular wash. Air-dry your clothes when finished in the washing machine, and you should be good to go! If this process doesn't work the first time, you can repeat it until the stain is totally removed.
2
Smear on some cheese-whiz. Granted, this does sound a little gross. However, cheese-whiz is a sworn-upon grease remover by some. Coat your grease stain in a thick layer of cheese whiz, and then rub it in with your finger and put it in the washing machine. A single wash should be enough to get out the stain - and the whiz.
3
Try using shampoo. Shampoo is used for getting the natural oils and grease out of your hair and scalp, so why not use it for the same process on your clothing? Pour shampoo directly onto your stain, and use a cloth to vigorously rub it in. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and then wash it as you would regularly in the washing machine. Allow the clothing to air-dry, and you should be grease stain free.
4
Use waterless mechanic's soap. Waterless mechanic's soap - a type of powder detergent - is used in garages all over the world to remove oil from the hands of greasy mechanics. Pour the powder onto the stain, and then rub it vigorously into the oil stain. Let it sit for thirty minutes, and repeat the process. Wash the clothing and allow it to air dry; if the stain still persists, repeat the aforementioned process again until it has been fully removed.
5
Try simple green. Simple green is a cleaning solution used by many for regular household cleaning tasks. However, it also works to remove set-in stains. Pour the liquid directly onto the stain and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, adding more if necessary. Then wash your clothing on a cold water cycle, and air dries it.
6
Use a bit of WD-40. WD-40 is used for a multitude of cleaning purposes, including oil and grease stain removal. Pour the cleaner onto the stain and wait for 30 minutes, allowing it to soak in. You should wash your clothes immediately after letting it soak, washing it with cold water and then air-drying it when complete. Repeat this multiple times if necessary to completely remove the stain.
7
Pour on cola. It's been known for quite a while that cola sodas have some amazing cleaning qualities, as a result of their ability to dissolve nearly anything. Although you may fear for furthering your stain, colas can remove set-in grease stains. Pour it directly onto the stain, and leave it to soak for 1-2 hours (this isn't long enough for the soda to stain). Follow this up with a wash in the washing machine and an air dry, and you're finished.
8
Try using aloe vera. If you're having trouble scrubbing out an oil stain, you can try aloe vera gel on it. Soak your clothing in cool water, and then pour aloe vera (100% aloe vera gel is best) onto the stain. Rub the gel into the stained spot vigorously for a few minutes, and then wash your clothing with cold water.
9
Use Lestoil. Another multi-purpose cleaning solution, Lestoil is perfect for removing oil stains (it's practically in the name). Pour the Lestoil directly onto the stain so that it may soak in for 20-30 minutes. Then, wash your article of clothing in the washing machine with cold water. If you're removing oil from multiple articles of clothing at once, you can add the lestoil directly to the washing machine with the detergent.^{[6]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do you get a grease stain out of jeans?

Rani Gorgis
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Rani Gorgis is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Park Blvd Laundry & Dry Cleaners in San Diego, California. With several years of experience in the laundry and cleaning industry, Rani specializes in dry cleaning, wash-n-fold, shirt laundry, and servicing smoke-damaged clothes. He holds a BS in Accounting and a CPA certification.

Rani Gorgis

Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Using circular motions, brush baking soda paste into the stain with a small bristle brush until you see the stain subside. Then, wash the jeans in warm water with regular laundry detergent—you can also add vinegar to the wash cycle to ensure that the stain is completely removed. Dry off the jeans by sticking them in a low-heat dryer cycle.
Question

How do I remove a grease stain from a 32 degree jacket?

Community Answer

You can pour 1/2 cup of vinegar onto 2 tablespoons of baking soda and mix up the solution. Once the baking soda is mixed in, take a sponge to soak up the liquid you have created and scrub throughouly for 30-60 seconds until grease is removed.
Question

How do I remove stains from antique fabric?

Community Answer

Antique fabric may be too fragile to be cleaned. If it's an item that has sentimental or monetary value, it may be best to consult a textile conservator before doing anything. (A local museum may be able to point you in the direction of one.) A textile conservator will also be able to advise you on how valuable the item is. Also, how you proceed will depend on what caused the stain to begin with.