How to Remove Grease Stains from Clothes

Apply dishwashing liquid to all grease stains. Grease cleaners can be helpful, but are not necessary. You can also use shampoo this way, it’s meant for body oils, so it should work on this type of stain. Also, using soap, or any soap for the body or for the hands will also work (make sure it doesn’t have any additives that interfere with cleaning, for example Dove would not be suitable). ), or for stubborn grease stains, look for soap bars labeled laundry soap. Wet with water (or ammonia for better grease removal), then rub the soap into the stain until it foams. You can also grate soap bars and apply soap powder/shards to the stain after wetting.

• If using bleach, make sure you dilute it or the bleach can stain the clothes.
• For stubborn stains, using an old toothbrush will help you remove stains better than using your hands. An old pedicure or nail brush will work just as well, as long as the bristles are capable of cleaning.

Apply soap, dish soap, or shampoo to the stain. You will see it melt. Dishwashing liquid and laundry soap have special active ingredients that degrease, so do shampoos.

Wash the soiled area with water first, then rinse with vinegar water (optional). Vinegar is a widely used natural cleaner for many purposes, however it reduces the alkalinity of soaps or detergents, making them less effective, so do not use detergents or soaps with any kind of vinegar. If you want, mix one part vinegar to two parts water and soak the stain in water and vinegar, then rinse off the vinegar and use bleach/shampoo/soap as above.

Wash clothes separately with detergent. Follow the directions on the clothing label exactly.

• When drying begins, hang clothes outside. Drying in a high-heat dryer can cause oil stains or stains to adhere to the clothes.

Repeat the steps for stubborn grease stains.

Use a stain remover such as Spout to repel any oil and/or grease stains. Spray an arbitrary amount of bleach onto the stain and scrub with a toothbrush.

Meanwhile, heat a large pot of water until it boils. Leave the bleach alone when starting this step.

Lift the pot down and carefully pour water over the stain from above. There are a few things to keep in mind when doing this step:

• Put clothes in a basin, sink, or other safe place. You shouldn’t put clothes on the floor and pour hot water over it (and possibly on your feet).
• Try to lift the pot of water as high as possible. This works for two reasons:
  • Hot water helps to remove oil and/or grease stains.
  • Water has a strong effect on oil/grease stains. The higher you pour the water onto the stain, the stronger the impact it will have on the garment.
• Be careful! You are using boiling water. Make sure you put water on the correct clothes. Try to avoid splashing water on people.

Repeat these steps for each grease/oil spot. Turn the garment inside out and remove the stain with detergent/boiling water again if it doesn’t work the first time.

Wash clothes separately with detergent. Follow the directions on the clothing label exactly.

• When you’re ready to dry your clothes, hang them outside. Drying in a high-heat dryer can cause oil stains or stains to adhere to the clothes.

Instead of bleach, spray some WD-40 or gasoline on the clothes. WD-40 is effective at removing grease stains from surfaces, like some gasoline. ^[1]

• Test on an inconspicuous area of the garment before removing stains with WD-40 or gasoline. Better be careful first.

Leave WD-40 or gasoline on clothes for 20 minutes.

Rinse WD-40 or gasoline by fully soaking the garment in warm water.

Wash clothes separately with detergent. Follow the washing instructions on the clothing label exactly.

• When preparing to dry your clothes, hang them outside. Drying in a high-heat dryer can cause grease stains to adhere to clothes.