How to Remove Grease Stains From Clothes

We’ve all encountered little accidents wherein a splatter of oil gets on our clothes or we drop a slice pizza on our pants, leaving an unfortunate grease stain that sends you into a laundry battlefield to remove. Battling these stubborn stains is such a headache, as they tend to damage your clothes and force you to put it in the donate pile. But worry no more, as we have found the perfect solution for these grease stains from clothing!

You can remove them, just chill.

Oftentimes we go into a state of panic as we attempt removing grease stains on clothing. But the first step is to actually relax and refrain from doing anything that will worsen the situation! We know that grease or oil stains cling onto the fibers of our clothes, so in order to avoid excess grease from spreading into your clothes, do not rub them at first sight! This is because oil/grease does not mix with water, meaning that they will be harder to clean so you might not want to spread the stain further.

Act quickly, and absorb as much oil as possible.

When the stain gets dry, it will be so much tougher to remove, so make sure to act quickly! You can start by using a table napkin to blot and absorb any amount of oil in the stained area that has not seeped in through the fibers of your clothes! This way, you can have lesser oil to remove as you put it in the laundry.

Pre-treat your clothes before loading them in the washer.

Make sure to pre-treat your clothes before putting them in the washing machine. Don’t worry, you don’t need expensive chemicals or soap with it! Your trusted laundry detergent can do the trick for you. Apply a small amount of detergent, enough to cover the stain on your clothes, and leave for 30 minutes before rinsing. (Make sure to check the care instructions on your clothing to also ensure that there will be no adverse reactions in this step!) Afterwards, wash the item as you normally would, but do not wash with high temperature as this would worsen your greasy situation. After washing, if you still notice the stain, you can always repeat the process until you get your desired result. Make sure to air dry the clothing as well, since the heat from tumble drying will worsen the situation.

Use dish detergent to remove the stain.

Good news: you don’t have to look further because you can use this laundry hack and you just need dish soap! It is worth noting that dish detergents are efficient in breaking down the grease in your dishes, so it would work perfectly on your grease-stained garments!

1. Test an unseen area in your garment first before applying it to the stain. This is to ensure that discoloration will not occur.
2. Rub the detergent on the stained area and let sit for a few minutes.
3. Wash your garment as stated on the care instructions.
4. Rinse and enjoy your stain-free clothing!

Baking soda can save you.

Okay, what else can baking soda not do? Seriously, this is a great thing to have in your house! Baking soda is also popular for its cleaning properties, and it can help you get out of your grease mishap! Here’s how you can do it:

1. Remove excess grease and oil using a paper towel.
2. Sprinkle baking soda of the stained area and let sit for 24 hours.
3. Vacuum or brush away all the baking soda.
4. Spray the stained area with a vinegar and water solution.
5. Scrub using a soap and brush, and rinse.
6. Repeat the process if the stain still persists.

When all else fails, leave it to the dry cleaner.

They know what to do, so trust them to do the job for you! Dry cleaners are equipped with the right stain removers to ensure that you receive your laundry fresh and clean, and you can slay your outfit the next day! Many dry cleaners now offer a delivery service so you can just stay home and wait for your laundry.

Grease is indeed an enemy our clothing hates to face, but when you find the perfect solution, you can keep your clothes and prevent them from going into the donate or throw pile! You no longer have to be afraid of grease stains the next time you eat out at a restaurant!