Butter stains on your favorite shirt or pair of pants can be frustrating. However, removing them is possible with some tried and true techniques. Follow these steps to get rid of those pesky butter stains for good.
What You Need
- Dish soap – Choose one that cuts through grease, like Dawn
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Washcloth
- Toothbrush or laundry brush
- Bucket for pretreating
- Water
- Laundry detergent
Step 1: Act Quickly
When butter gets on clothing, it’s important to act fast. The longer the stain sits, the harder it’ll be to remove. As soon as you notice a butter stain, grab your supplies and start pretreating.
Step 2: Blot Excess Butter
Before wetting the fabric, use a clean paper towel or rag to blot up any excess butter. Don’t rub it around, which can spread the stain. Just gently press down and lift. This removes some of the oily residue right away.
Step 3: Mix a Pretreating Solution
In a bucket or sink, mix up a buttery stain-fighting solution. Combine:
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon dish soap
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
Stir or whisk vigorously until foamy.
Step 4: Soak the Stain
Take the clothing item and place the butter stain face down in the solution. For heavy stains, use a toothbrush or laundry brush to gently agitate the fabric.
Step 5: Let Sit
Allow the garment to soak for at least 15 minutes. This gives the solution time to break down the fats and oils.
Step 6: Launder as Usual
After soaking, launder the item as usual with detergent and the warmest water safe for the fabric. Air dry if possible rather than machine drying.
Step 7: Repeat if Needed
Check if the stain is gone once the item is dry. For stubborn stains, repeat the entire process focusing on that spot. With some elbow grease, you’ll get there!
Other Helpful Tips
- Rinse immediately under cold water if butter spills on you when outside your home
- Avoid applying heat, which can set oily stains
- Check fabric care labels and test cleaning products on inconspicuous areas first
- For delicate fabrics, skip the brush and use a diluted solution
- If stains persist, take items to a professional cleaner
With rapid action and the right stain removal mixture, you can successfully remove fresh butter stains from washable fabrics. Blot, pre treat, wash, repeat. Don’t let pesky butter stains ruin your wardrobe!
References
Butter Stain Removal Tips. Tide Cleaners. https://tidecleaners.com/stain-tips/butter-stain-removal-tips
How to Get Butter and Oil Out of Clothes. Good Housekeeping. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/remove-cooking-oil-stains-clothes/
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.