How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes

Whether it’s grease splatter while you’re cooking bacon or a wayward slice of greasy pizza—getting grease on your clothes is always frustrating. Especially because grease stains are famously difficult to remove completely. Grease stains aren’t always as noticeable at first as something like ketchup; but the grease leaves behind a darkened patch of fabric that must be cleaned immediately. Here’s how to get grease stains out of clothes for good.

Does Grease Permanently Stain Clothes?

Like most food stains, treating a grease stain as quickly as possible will help you get the best results. Grease can permanently stain if left on the fabric too long, or even worse—if you run the garment through the dryer before removing the stain. The heat from the dryer sets the stain and makes it permanent (we’ve got a secret weapon that might work though, more on this later.)

The type of clothing fabric will also determine if the stain can be removed; durable fabrics like cotton and polyester are forgiving, whereas delicate fabrics like silk will be more challenging to work with.

How to Remove Grease from Clothing

TMB Studio

Things You’ll Need

• Dish soap
• Soft toothbrush
• Cardboard
• Baking soda

Directions

Step 1: Blot

Place a small piece of cardboard directly behind the stain, this will help the stain from spreading and soaking through another layer of fabric. Blot the stain with a paper towel to remove as much of the grease as you can. You can also use a spoon or dull knife to remove any solid debris like melted cheese.

Step 2: Apply dish soap

Apply a few drops of liquid dish soap (we recommend Dawn Platinum) to the grease stain. For more delicate fabrics like silk, use laundry detergent instead of dish soap. Gently rub the soap into the stain using your finger. Allow it to sit for about five minutes.

Step 3: Wash

Wash the garment with a regular load of laundry on the hottest setting. Line dry the garment. Air drying will allow you to see if the stain is still present and will not permanently set the stain like the dryer will.

Step 4: Sprinkle baking soda

If the stain remains, baking soda might help draw some of the grease out of the fabric. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and allow it to sit for 24 hours. Gently brush away the baking soda, then proceed with steps 1 through 3.

Can You Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes After They’ve Been Washed?

Yes, you can still remove a grease stain after it’s been washed, using the steps above. If the garment has been dried before you noticed the stain, you’re facing a bigger challenge. The only stain remover we’ve seen remove old set-in grease stains is Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover. As one five star reviewer said, “It worked well on a stain that had not come out with any other product. It was a grease stain that had been treated then dried in the dryer twice before and Grandma’s Secret took it out completely. Hurray!”