We’ve all been there: enjoying a delicious slice of hot pizza that’s bubbling with warm cheese and toppings when suddenly one piece of pepperoni dislodges and lands right on your favorite shirt. You pull it off right away, but it’s too late; a perfect circle of grease is left behind and has already set into your new top. Your shirt may not be ruined forever. Grease is a challenging stain that leaves many wondering how to remove grease stains from clothing. You might even think if it wouldn’t be better just to buy a whole new set of clothes…
Removing grease stains is a labor of love that will take a little effort and the right cleaning products in order to maintain. Grease is a tough chemical property that grips tightly onto clothing fibers and leaves serious stains behind, so the sooner you can treat your grease stains, the better off your clothing will be.
Our expert cleaning team has tried out a variety of methods for cutting through grease stains and removing the dangerous and staining liquid from your clothes and put together this guide on the best ways to bust tough grease stains from the get-go and keep your clothes in pristine condition.
Removing Fresh Grease Stains
Materials Needed:
- Shout Grease-Busting Foam
Grease is at its most vulnerable when it’s fresh and immediately on your clothing. The quicker you treat grease, the easier it is to remove it and prevent it from permanently staining. If you realize you’ve spilled grease, you’ll want to immediately change clothing and begin treating the material. Commercial pre-treaters like Shout Advanced Grease-Busting Foam can immediately take out the worst of any grease stains, so apply liberally to the stain and work through the material thoroughly. Next, throw your item of clothing in the wash or take it to a dry cleaner. Wash your item in the hottest water that’s still safe for the fabric and air dry for best possible results.
Removing Old Grease Stains
Materials Needed:
- Commercial Stain Treater
- Baking Soda
- Dawn Dish Detergent
- Scrub Brush
Grease stains are challenging to remove even when it’s a fresh stain, but when you let them set they gain even more intensity and become that much more difficult to remove. However, an older or set grease stain doesn’t mean it’s impossible to remove.
Treat old grease stains first with a commercial stain treater, whether from Oxi Clean or another powerful stain-blasting brand. Once the stain remover has soaked in, lay the item flat and pour dish soap over the visible stain. Allow the dish soap to sit for ten minutes and then work into the fabric with a scrub brush or toothbrush. Next, sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the stain and allow it to set. Scrub the baking soda into the fabric with the scrub brush and wash with hot water before air drying. Repeat as needed until the grease stain has entirely dissolved.
Removing Grease Stains Naturally
Materials Needed:
- Baking Soda
- Cornstarch
- Vinegar
- Lemon
- Castile Soap
- Toothbrush
If you don’t want to use heavy chemicals in your treatment plan, you can turn to these natural cleaning solutions in order to bust the heavy-duty grease out of your clothing.
If the stain is fresh, sprinkle cornstarch over the stain and allow it to rest. The cornstarch will help clump up the grease and attract the liquid to prevent it from soaking into the fabric. Next, mix small parts of vinegar and lemon together into a cleaning concentrate that works similarly to a heavy-duty stain remover. Apply to small but seriously stained areas and work in thoroughly with a toothbrush, scrubbing hard enough to work into the stain but without damaging the fabric.
If the grease stain has set by now, you can apply a layer of baking soda over the vinegar and lemon to draw out even more stains. Hand wash in warm water with castile soap or a plant-based soap and air dry.
Removing Oil Grease Stains
Materials Needed:
- Paper Towels
- Sponge
- Dawn Dish Detergent
- Enzyme Liquid Detergent
Oil-based grease stains can show up in cooking or eating quite frequently. Whether you spill cooking oil or just drop a piece of food on yourself, oil grease stains are quite common. Treating them is much easier than you might think as well!
Begin by treating your oil grease stain as quickly as possible in order to prevent the oil from setting firmly into the clothing. Start by blotting the stain and removing immediate excess grease. Blot on both sides with a tissue or paper towel in order to eliminate any grease residue. Next, take a sponge soaked with grease-cutting detergent like Dawn and apply directly to the stain. Just like it removes oil from pots and pans, it will also remove grease from your clothes. Finish with a warm wash in enzyme-based liquid detergent that lifts tough stains or oils off clothing by dissolving them from the surface of your clothing and air dry.
Removing Black Grease From Clothing
Materials Needed:
- Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid
- Bowl
For those who work with their hands in mechanic heavy jobs, removing oil or grease based stains can be a major pain. However, black grease can be easily removed. Take the affected item of clothing and soak in a bowl of warm water with one ounce of Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid. Let it rest for ten minutes, weighing it down if needed to make sure the clothing is entirely submerged. Next, wash in warm water using the same detergent for a more distilled version of cleansing. Allow to air dry and repeat as needed until your stain is gone.
Grease stains are tough to beat, but they’re not impossible! With targeted cleaning solutions that tackle the grease and oil at the source, you can eliminate permanent and pesky grease stains in minutes with a good soak and a wash cycle. Thanks to these expert tips you can now rest assured knowing how to remove grease stains from clothing!
