How to Get Grease Out of Clothes? (12+ Ways To Do So)

How to Get Grease Out of Clothes
20 min reading time

Do you ever feel like your clothes are cursed when it comes to grease stains? Find yourself trying every laundry trick in the book but still feeling frustrated because nothing seems to work. Don’t panic – we know how stressful it can be. Fortunately, with a few simple tips and tricks, you’ll have all the necessary information to help get even the toughest grease stains out of your clothing. Read on for our easy-to-follow guide on how to get grease out of clothes and restore your garments back to their former glory!

How to Get Grease Out of Clothes? (13 Ways to Do So)

Grease stains are some of the most dreaded substances to deal with when it comes to clothing. They can be unsightly and difficult to remove, leaving people searching for tried-and-true methods to tackle the problem. Luckily, there are numerous ways to get grease out of clothes, ranging from dish soap and baking soda to rubbing alcohol. No matter which method you choose, however, it’s important to act quickly and be patient. With a bit of persistence, even the toughest grease stains can be beaten.

1. Baking Soda


Baking powder’s combination of acid and alkaline components makes it an effective stain remover that acts quickly to remove grease. Here are the step-by-step instructions for using baking powder to get rid of greasy stains:

  • Begin by dampening the stained area with cold water or a wet cloth. Doing so will help lift the fat out of fibers if possible as the oil won’t be moved around as much when mixed with fluid.
  • Create a paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of baking powder with 2 tablespoons of warm water in a small bowl or container until you get a stiff but spreadable consistency. Apply this paste directly onto the greasy stain on your clothing and allow it to sit for 15 minutes or so before rinsing any residue away (make sure not to use hot water).
  • Using your fingers, gently rub at the stain in circular motions as you rinse away any remaining paste off your clothes under running cold water thoroughly and lightly scrubbing if needed (avoid using too much friction). This will help break down stubborn oils left behind while also helping draw them out from fabrics more completely than just applying baking soda alone would do.
  • When done rubbing, lay your clothes flat onto a clean towel and pat dry until all moisture is removed – this should prevent new spots from forming due to residues still lingering within fibers after you’ve washed them off earlier on during this cleaning process! Use another fresh towel afterward while blotting affected areas further – make sure not to leave chunks or pockets of liquid residue inside fabric textures otherwise, they could cause future discoloration over time too!
  • Finally, wash your clothing item according to its care label instructions – if there isn’t one then consider hand-washing separately instead since some detergents might react negatively with baking soda residues still present on stained surfaces causing further damage/staining problems afterward which needs avoiding at all costs here. For best results consider air drying instead although tumble drying may work too depending upon what garment type we’re talking about!

2. Cornstarch

  • Grab a clean cloth and some cold water. Place the fabric down on a flat surface or countertop, then wet it with cold water – enough to dampen but not soak through all of the layers of fabric.
  • Generously sprinkle cornstarch onto the stain, being careful to evenly coat only that area so as not to spread it further onto other parts of your garment. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes before brushing off any excess powder with a soft brush or cloth. (Note: You may need to repeat this step if more than one layer or application is necessary).
  • Make sure there’s sunscreen outside first! Then grab an old toothbrush and mix together equal parts of hot water and liquid dish soap into a bowl or cup until you have created sudsy bubbles using your hands or an electric mixer/whisk (if available). Dip your toothbrush into this mixture and work in circular motions over top of where you applied the cornstarch in previous step 2 — adding additional pressure if needed; allowing 5-10 minutes for it to set in before wiping it away with a dry cloth.
  • Rinse off any remaining product residue by running cold water through that same area until all signs seem eliminated –or– use pre-soaked detergent directly onto a still damp-from-previous-step fabric item before laundering in medium temperature cycle as per manufacturer’s instructions once finished rinsing.

3. Dish Soap

One of the best ways to remove grease from clothes is with dish soap. Here are the easy steps to follow for a successful and stain-free result:

  • Start treating the stained area immediately to avoid it settling into the fabric. With a spoon or butter knife, gently scrape off any excess grease on top of the fabric surface that you can easily remove. Be gentle so as not to damage your clothing fibers during this process.
  • Place some paper towels or absorbent cloth underneath the grease stain and lightly dab some liquid dish soap onto it directly from the container. You don’t need too much – just enough to moisten the stained area without saturating it entirely!
  • Gently rub in an up-and-down motion over both sides of the fabric (the backside too if accessible). Your goal is not only to move around any remaining particles on top of your garment and get them out but also to help break up those stubborn particles stuck further down in your clothes’ fibers!
  • Let sit for about 10 minutes before taking a little warm water onto your fingers and massaging it into that same area again in an up-and-down motion until you can see suds coming off your garment – this usually means you’ve pulled out enough particles!
  • Rinse away any residual soap suds with cold running water either by dunking your garment underwater or using a spray bottle if possible; be sure no traces remain on there! You may have noticed some color change when rinsing – that’s okay, as long as all greasy residues are gone now!
  • Take another piece of paper towel/absorbent cloth (or two!) and put them where once was filled with suds while blotting firmly against each side; then use an old toothbrush or nail brush dipped into soapy water solution again, rubbing gently until all sud bubbles disappear completely from view – this should help pick up whatever has been left behind during first rinsing phase too!
  • Rinse thoroughly one last time under cold running tap water, making sure there’s no residue whatsoever left on the surface; take extra care here because dishwashing detergent can leave tiny white spots which could ruin the look & feel of the garment after the drying process.
  • Finally lay flat either outside or indoors (in a dry place) somewhere safe & cool.

4. Shampoo

Here’s how to remove grease stains using shampoo:

  • Start by scraping off as much of the grease as possible (using a spoon or dull knife). Be sure to take care not to spread the grease when doing this.
  • Take a clean, damp cloth and dab it in a mild detergent, such as dish soap or shampoo. Use gentle motions so that you don’t push the grease further into the fabric. Keep blotting until you see no more soil being transferred from the fabric onto your cloth.
  • After all visible traces of grease have been removed, apply some more shampoo to an area of your garment affected by greasy stains and work it in until there is enough lather to cover the stain entirely. Let sit for about 10 minutes before moving on to step 4.
  • Put your clothing item into the washing machine set at “normal” cycle with cold water only; never use hot water because this could cause any remaining oil residue to set further into your material fibers making them even harder to remove later on! Add just enough laundry detergent for one normal-sized load of clothes – too much can leave behind irritating residue once finished washing!
  • Once done washing, inspect thoroughly and repeat steps 2 through 5 if need be before putting it into the dryer! Dry on low heat setting or air dry if possible; high heat settings may set any remaining oils/stains permanently onto clothing item(s). Enjoy your freshly cleaned garments – free from those annoying oily spots that used so stubbornly stick around!

5. Chalk

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use chalk for removing grease stains:

  • Begin by creating a thick paste using chalk powder and oxy-clean or white distilled vinegar; mix the ingredients until they form a thick paste.
  • Place the stained area of clothing on top of an old towel or newspaper so that any excess solution won’t ruin surfaces it may come into contact with.
  • Rub the paste onto the stain using an old toothbrush, then allow it to sit for 30 minutes before rinsing it off with some warm water.
  • Next, apply detergent directly onto the stain and rub gently with your fingers to loosen up the debris further and break down any residual oil in order to rinse away fully as much of the greasy material as possible during the washing process.
  • Put your clothes into a washing machine set at medium temperature and add laundry detergent and fabric softener (optional) like usual – do not add bleach! If you don’t have access to one, hand wash in lukewarm water instead of using some dishwashing liquid and rubbing alcohol. Wash normally until no suds remain inside the machine then dry outside or inside. Repeat the above steps if necessary until all traces of grease are gone from the garment surface area before drying completely.

6. Lestoil

If you need to know how to get grease out of clothes using Lestoil, here are step-by-step instructions that you can follow:

  • Start by spot-cleaning the greasy area with a cloth or paper towel. Make sure not to rub it into the fabric, as this will simply spread the grease instead of removing it. If possible, gently dab away as much oil as possible before going on to the next step.
  • Dilute your Lestoil solution by mixing equal parts water and Lestoil in a container or cup until it forms a light pink coloration. This is important because too much Lestoil will ruin the fabric and too little could make it difficult for all of the grease to come up off of your clothing items.
  • Dip an old toothbrush in your diluted mixture and lightly scrub at the stained area on your clothes until you feel like all of the oily residue has been taken care of effectively but without damaging fabrics or threads in any way whatsoever (you may have some slight discoloration if there was too much oil used). Repeat steps two and three if necessary until the stain is fully removed from the garment. Rinse out any remaining suds with cold water (not hot!).
  • Allow garments to air dry completely undisturbed on a flat surface outside (or inside but away from direct sunlight). Fold them only once they have had enough time outside so that no new creases remain after drying!
  • For heavily soiled garments, pre-treat those areas directly with detergent before applying the solution of LestOil mentioned above – let sit for at least 10 minutes then proceed with the regular washing routine. Follow up by double-checking stains afterward just in case.

7. Baby Powder

Baby powder is an incredibly effective tool for removing grease stains, and it takes just a few simple steps to get your clothes looking as good as new.

  • First, blot the grease stain with a sponge or cloth to absorb as much of the grease as possible. Then, sprinkle baby powder generously over the stained area and leave it there for up to 30 minutes. This will absorb any remaining oil or residue that may still be present in the fabric.
  • After allowing the baby powder to sit for up to 30 minutes, tap off any excess and brush away what’s left with a soft brush or cloth in a circular motion. Sometimes this step alone can do enough of the job already! At this point, you should check on how well your stain has been removed before continuing on with further cleaning steps.
  • If some of the grease remains after brushing away the baby powder, try dabbing at it with rubbing alcohol using an old toothbrush or rag- making sure not to rub too hard so you don’t damage your clothes! If all else fails, mix together ½ teaspoon liquid dish soap and 2 tablespoons ammonia into 1 quart warm water – then soak your garment overnight in this mixture before washing in hot water (as the high heat may set in some of those stains!).

8. Hairspray

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use hairspray to effectively get rid of stubborn grease spots:

  • First, move the affected area on your garment away from any heat sources such as direct sunlight or a furnace. This will ensure that the hairspray does not damage or fade the fabric upon application.
  • Spray an ample amount of hairspray onto the area where there is visible grease build-up and gently rub it in with a soft cloth or sponge until it evenly covers the entire spot. It is important not to let too much product accumulate in one spot as this could cause discoloration over time due to the buildup of residue from successive applications.
  • Allow some time for activating ingredients present within the hair spray such as alcohols and solvents work their magic by breaking down tough oils found within greasy residues. The length of time required depends on how saturated with oil/grease that area may already have been before application however, 15 minutes should do just fine!
  • Rinse off both sides of clothing with cold water until all traces of hair spray have disappeared completely – wash normally either by hand or in a washing machine if necessary afterward (instructions according to manufacturer).
  • Finally, inspect areas where there used to be stubborn greasy stains, and voila – chances are they’ll go for good! Hairsprays can act like miracle workers when trying to get those pesky persistent greases out without damaging fabrics!

9. Saddle Soap

Here are the step-by-step instructions for using saddle soap to get grease out of clothes:

  • Start by gently brushing dirt and dusting off the item with a soft brush or cloth before pre-treating with saddle soap.
  • To apply the saddle soap, use a dampened sponge dampened in warm water and work up a thick lather from the bar of saddle soap or its liquid version.
  • Gently massage this lather onto your fabric in circular motions until you form an even layer covering all stained areas thoroughly and then let it sit for 30 minutes so that the cleaning agents can penetrate deeper into your garment’s fibers.
  • After 30 minutes have passed, rinse off any excess lather from the garment’s surface with cold water being careful not to agitate too vigorously; this could cause shrinkage or discoloration depending on your fabric type! Make sure all traces of soap residue have been removed completely before continuing onto step 5 (otherwise you may end up creating another stain!)
  • Finally, hang your item outside in direct sunlight and let it dry naturally for at least 1 hour before repeating steps 2-5 if necessary until all oil stains have been removed effectively away from crisis!

10. WD-40

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get greasy stains out of your clothes using WD-40:

  • Start by pre-treating the grease stains with laundry detergent and water. For tougher grease spots, use a prewash stain remover such as Shout or Spray ‘n Wash before laundering.
  • Apply the WD-40 directly onto the stain and let it sit for several minutes without rubbing it in too much – you want to make sure the product gets deep into the fabric fibers so that it can work its magic!
  • Rub some liquid dish soap (like Dawn) into both sides of the affected fabric until it forms suds – this will help break down any stubborn grease residue left behind from the WD-40 treatment earlier on.
  • Rinse thoroughly with cold water before laundering normally according to care instructions for best results!
  • To prevent repeat staining occurrences, consider applying a small amount of WD-40 during laundry cycles once every few weeks (especially if you’re dealing with intentional spills like oils or other greases). This helps build up a protective bond that repels similar substances from sticking around later as well!

11. Dry Cleaning Solvent

Here is a guide to getting grease out of clothes using dry cleaning solvent:

  • Start by rubbing some laundry detergent directly onto the grease stain and let it sit for about 10 minutes. This will help break down the oils in the stain before you start trying to get it out.
  • After 10 minutes have passed, take a clean rag or paper towel and dab at the stained area gently until most of the detergent has been soaked up into the cloth or paper towel.
  • Now that most of the detergent is gone, it’s time to tackle the rest of that pesky stain with a dry cleaning solvent. Take a small amount (just enough to cover up all of your stained areas) and rub it into the fabric gently in circular motions until all areas are covered evenly with solvent-liquid formulations. Let this sit for another 5-10 minutes so that further breakdowns occur before attempting to remove it again via the dabbing method as earlier mentioned above with a clean cloth or tissue. This should bring much better results than just using regular laundry detergents alone for tough stains like greases!
  • Once 5-10 minutes have passed, use another clean dry cloth or absorbent paper towels (depending on the type/ delicacy of fabric ), blot away any excess liquid from the surface ensuring no oils remain while being gentle enough not to spread around stubborn stain further reducing chances of success.
  • Depending on the type/delicacy of the Fabric try the next step if necessary, spray spot cleaner directly overtop the affected area then let air dry naturally without rubbing as risk ruining garment fibers ( acetate & rayon types are more vulnerable than cotton).

13. Enzyme Cleaner

Here is a step-by-step guide to using an enzyme cleaner to remove grease stains:

  • Pre-treat the Stain: Before you use an enzyme cleaner, you want to pre-treat the stain with some laundry detergent and warm water. This will help loosen up any embedded debris and make it easier for the enzymes in your cleaner to get rid of the stain. Apply a generous amount of detergent directly onto the affected area, then let it sit for around 10 minutes before rinsing it out with warm water.
  • Apply Enzyme Cleaner: Once you have pre-treated the stain with laundry detergent, it’s time to apply your enzyme cleaner directly onto the affected area. To do this, simply spray or squirt a generous amount of enzyme cleaning product onto the problem spot (make sure not to saturate the fabric). Allow the product to sit on the fabric for at least 15 minutes (longer if needed).
  • Rinse Fabric & Repeat (If Necessary): After allowing enzyme cleaner enough time to work its magic against tough greasy stains, rinse off fabric thoroughly with warm water. If stain still remains after the first attempt using this method, repeat steps 1–3 until desired results are achieved!

Additional Tip: Keep in mind that certain fabrics may require special care when washing them – always check the label before washing any new item of clothing and follow the manufacturer’s instructions accordingly.

13. Salt & Stain Remover

Removing grease stains from clothing is a common problem that can be addressed using salt and stain remover. Here are detailed instructions for addressing the problem:

  • Start by pre-treating the area with a few drops of liquid detergent such as dishwashing soap or an enzyme-based detergent specifically designed to remove grease stains. For best results, allow it to sit for 30 minutes before washing.
  • Once you have allowed the pre-treatment enough time, soak up any excess moisture with a paper towel or cloth rag before sprinkling generous amounts of salt onto the stain until it is completely covered. The salt will help absorb some of the grease while loosening it at the same time.
  • Let this sit for an hour so that it has ample time to take effect and then add a few drops of your chosen stain remover directly onto the affected area – make sure that you choose one specifically designed for greasy stains! Again, allow this to sit for another half hour before wiping away any excess residue with towels or rags and repeating steps 2 & 3 if necessary until all traces of grease have been removed from your clothing item(s).
  • Finally, rinse thoroughly in cold water – warm temperatures may cause oil/grease molecules to reactivate and cause further staining – before washing according to garment care instructions suggested by manufacturer labels on your clothes after they’ve soaked in water mixed with laundry detergent (be sure to use one specifically intended for greasy fabrics). If any residual traces remain then repeat these steps until they are fully gone! Make sure you learn how often you should repeat these steps based on how old/persistent your grease stain is; as older ones may require more attempts in order to get them out effectively!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What’s the best way to treat a grease stain while I’m out and can’t wash my clothes right away?

If you’re out and get a grease stain, blot the stain with a napkin to remove as much of the grease as possible. Then, when you can, apply a stain remover and wash the garment as soon as possible.

2. Are there any types of fabric that I should not try to remove grease stains from myself?

Delicate fabrics like silk or wool may require special care. If your garment is made of a delicate fabric, it might be best to take it to a professional cleaner.

3. What should I do if I’ve washed and dried a garment before realizing there’s a grease stain?

If you’ve already washed and dried a garment with a grease stain, the heat may have set the stain. However, you can still try treating the stain with dish soap or baking soda. If the stain persists, you may need to consider a professional cleaning service.

4. Is there a way to prevent grease stains on my clothes?

While accidents happen, you can try to prevent grease stains by wearing an apron while cooking or eating, being mindful when working with greasy substances, and treating any stains as soon as possible.

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