Oil and grease stains can be tricky to remove from clothing, but with the right techniques and products, you can get even set-in stains out. Whether it’s motor oil on your jeans, salad dressing on your shirt, or bacon grease on your apron, don’t toss the garment just yet—try these methods first. With a little time and elbow grease, you can rescue your clothes.
What You’ll Need
Before you start, gather the following supplies:
- Dish soap – Look for brands marked “degreaser” or “grease cutting”
- Baking soda – Acts as a gentle abrasive to lift stains
- White vinegar – Helps break down oils and grease
- Old toothbrush – For scrubbing
- Paper towels or clean rags
- Prewash stain remover (optional) – Look for ones with activated carbon
Step 1: Apply a Degreasing Agent
As soon as possible after the stain occurs, run the item under cold water to rinse away excess oil or grease. Make sure the stained area is fully saturated.
Next, apply a degreasing agent to break down the stain:
- Dish soap: Apply a few drops directly to the stain and use a rag or old toothbrush to work the soap into the fabric. Scrub gently for 30-60 seconds.
- Prewash spray: Lightly spritz stained area according to product directions. Let sit 1-5 minutes.
Step 2: Make a Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda will draw out deeply embedded oil and grease stains. Make a paste by mixing:
- 3 parts baking soda
- 1 part water
Stir into a spreadable paste. Apply to stain and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Use your fingers or a toothbrush to gently scrub the paste around before rinsing.
Tip: For very heavy stains, make paste a bit thicker and pack onto the stain completely covering it. Let sit overnight before scrubbing and rinsing in the morning.
Step 3: Vinegar Rinse
For an extra stain-fighting boost, fill a sink or bowl with 1 cup white vinegar mixed into 2 quarts cool water. Allow garment to soak in solution for up to 30 minutes before rinsing again in clean water.
Step 4: Repeat and Check
Examine the stain – if it has lightened but is still visible, repeat steps 2 and 3 until it has disappeared.
For very stubborn oil and grease marks, buy an oxygenated bleach product made specifically to break down oils and fats in fabrics. Follow manufacturer’s directions carefully before washing as usual.
With the right timing and techniques, even longtime, set-in oil stains can be removed or drastically lightened. Be patient and persistent and inspect after each stain-fighting stage.
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you have any other tough laundry dilemmas.
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.