How To Remove Grease or Oil Stains Out of Clothing: Different Methods

Removing grease stains from clothes can be really challenging, especially if they set in. Here, the thumb rule is to act as quickly as possible to remove grease stains, which can limit the damage to the fabrics of the clothes. Also, knowing the different oil/grease stain removal products and effective stain remover methods can help expedite this process. Thus, mentioned below are a few tried and tested tricks for removing oil/grease stains and a quick step-by-step process on how to remove grease/oil stains from clothes after you have washed/dried them.

A] Different Methods to Remove Grease Stains and Oil Stains From Clothes

1. Dish Soap, Shampoo or Bar Soap

These simple and readily available home items are one of the best ways to remove grease/oil stains from clothes. Dish soap, especially, is a great method to remove oil and grease stains, as that’s what its primary purpose is (to remove grease/oil from utensils). Shampoo and bar soap also have special agents that can help fight grease. Thus, the next time you accidentally stain your shirt/t-shirt/top while eating pizza or cheeseburger, just reach for the shampoo bottle or dish soap to remove the oil/grease stain from your clothes immediately.

2. Talcum or Baby Powder

To remove grease splatter from the fabric another trick is to use talcum or baby powder. Use a paper towel to blot away excess grease/oil and then sprinkle baby powder on it. This acts as an absorbent. Leave it for a few minutes and then gently remove the excess baby powder with the paper towel. Pour a tiny drop of dishwashing detergent and make use of an old toothbrush to gently scrub the stain (on both-side) in a circular motion. Lastly, wash the fabric using laundry detergent and air-dry it.

3. Laundry Detergent

For light oil and grease stains on clothes, the good old laundry detergent will also do the trick. Most detergent-containing stain removal products like enzymes in them, which help remove grease/oil stains without any difficulty. Just make sure to read and follow the instructions on the clothing label for best results.

4. Water and White Vinegar

As a natural cleaning agent, white vinegar can be an effective remedy to remove stubborn stains from clothes. Make use of one part white vinegar with two parts water and soak the stained garment in the solution. Leave it for 15 minutes and then rinse out the garment in cool water. Wash it with regular detergent and repeat the process (water+white vinegar solution) if required, before sun-drying the garment.

5. Salt and Rubbing Alcohol

Salt is another absorbent, and rubbing alcohol is an effective laundry stain solution. Create a solution of one part salt and four parts rubbing alcohol. Dip a clean cloth or cotton ball into this solution and work on the stain in a firm and circular motion. Keep doing this until the stain lifts away, and clean up the excess salt with a damp cloth. Follow this with a regular wash and air-dry it.

Note: Being a strong stain removal solution, rubbing alcohol and salt can be too abrasive for delicate fabrics and can fade the colour. So, it’s best to work this solution on a small part of the stain to see how it reacts with the fabric of the clothing.

6. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another ideal laundry stain solution for removing grease stains from clothes. Make a paste of baking soda and warm water. Use this to pretreat the stain before laundering. Baking soda helps lift stains easily from clothes without damaging the fabric. Check this guide to learn how to use baking soda to pretreat various types of stains.

7. Club Soda

One of the other non-toxic, effective stain remover methods is club soda. Pour club soda on the stain and scrub it gently in circular motions. This will help break down the grease and oil, thereby lifting the stain away from the fabric. Launder the article of clothing as usual and air-dry it.

Note: Make sure that the club soda contains no flavour or else it might further stain the article of clothing.

8. Toothpaste

The exfoliating (bleaching) properties in toothpaste can also help remove stains from clothes. Take a non-gel toothpaste and smear a small dab of it on the stain. After smearing the toothpaste, use a toothbrush to gently rub it into the fabric. Next, rinse the fabric in cold water and repeat the process as many times as required.

9. Hair Spray

Alcohol-based hair spray can help remove fresh stains. However, it should be used sparingly, as alcohol-based stain removal products may affect delicate fabrics.

10. Dry Cleaners

One of the safest and most effective ways to remove oil & grease stains from clothes is by opting for laundry and dry cleaning services. Depending on the type of stain, they’ll treat it appropriately. They will ensure that there is no undue damage to the fabric. Plus, it is a time-efficient & cost-effective way, and there are dry cleaners in Mumbai that offer free pick-up and delivery. So check out some of the comprehensive laundry services offered by professional laundry and dry cleaners.

B] How to Remove Grease/Oil Stains After You’ve Washed and Dried Your Clothes?

Like mentioned above, your best hope to remove grease stains out of clothes is to act quickly before it sets in, making it difficult to scrub-off. However, if you have already washed and dried the article of clothing, with no result, then below are a few things that you can do, which will (hopefully) help you to get rid of stubborn grease/oil stains out of your clothing.

Note: Read the ‘care label’ on the garment before proceeding further.

Step 1: Hold the stained article of clothing under warm running water.

Step 2: Pour a few drops of dish washing liquid on the stain. Now, hold the material and rub it together from both sides. Set aside the lathered clothing for an hour or two.

Step 3: Use a paper towel to wipe off excess soap from the article of clothing. Next, make use of regular detergent to wash it in cool water.

Step 4: Air-dry the garment instead of putting it in the dryer. Once completely dried, check for stains and if there are still some marks remaining, then repeat the process again.

#Conclusion

While the grease stain removal methods listed here are tried and tested tricks, there is no guarantee they will offer you the result you want. It all depends on the type of stain and how quickly you treat it. Here, if it’s a delicate fabric, then taking it to the dry cleaners is your best bet to completely remove the stain without further damaging the garment. So, do contact us if you are looking for a dry cleaner and we’ll help remove grease/oil stains from your garments.

FAQs

1. How can you effectively remove old or dried grease and oil stains from clothing?

Old or dried grease stains require pretreatment with effective stain removers like baking soda paste, dish cleaning soap, or white vinegar. After pretreatment, wash with a good-quality laundry detergent and air dry.

2. Are oil stains considered permanent?

While oil stains are challenging, they aren’t necessarily permanent if treated promptly using the right stain removal products. Acting quickly increases the likelihood of complete stain removal.

3. Is it possible to remove grease stains from clothes after they have been washed?

Yes, it’s possible. Using dish soap, vinegar, or baking soda as laundry stain solutions, you can lift set-in stains. Repeating the process may be required for stubborn stains.

4. Does baking soda remove grease stains?

Absolutely! Baking soda is an effective stain remover. Its absorbent properties help lift grease from fabrics without causing damage.