Whether your kids wiped their greasy fingers over your new blouse or you accidentally spilled salad dressing on your favorite pants, it's no secret that grease and clothing simply don’t mix.
Much to our dismay, oil and grease stains have a tendency of wrecking your favorite garments if you don't treat them properly. Fortunately, getting those stubborn stains out of clothing isn’t as hard as you may think.
With barbecue season in full swing, the Shop TODAY team consulted several laundry experts and asked them to share their tried and true stain-busting tips. With their help, your summer wardrobe will stay in tip top shape for many years to come.
How to remove new oil or grease stains
- Blot the stain first to absorb excess oil.
- Pre-treat by following one of the methods shared below.
- Wash in the warmest water that’s safe for the fabric based on the garment label.
- Air dry the garment.
How to remove stubborn/set-in oil or grease stains
With a stain remover alone:
- Apply a stain remover to the stain (even if it’s been washed once) and work it in with your fingers or a brush.
- Soak the garment in a basin of warm water for 30 minutes to an hour for cotton and linen, and no more than 30 minutes for delicate fabrics.
- Wash the garment as normal with your favorite detergent, following the care label instructions.
- Air dry the garment.
- If the stain remains, repeat the process.
With a homemade paste and stain remover:
- Apply a paste of dish soap and baking soda directly to the stain and gently work it in. (A teaspoon of each is a good starting point. If you have several stains to treat, use a tablespoon to start.) Consider adding a few drops of hydrogen peroxide for extra strength.
- Let the mixture sit for 30-60 minutes.
- Gently scrub with a brush, then rinse with warm water.
- Apply a pre-treatment stain remover, then wash with your favorite detergent in the warmest possible water that’s safe for the garment.
- Air dry the garment and repeat the process if necessary.
How to pre-treat grease and oil stains
There are several ways to pre-treat a stain before you put it in the laundry machine:
Stain remover alone
“Apply a stain remover directly to the stain. Gently work it into the fabric using your fingers or a stain brush (especially helpful on sturdier fabrics like cotton), says Hannah Yokoji, head of marketing at The Laundress. “Let it sit for at least 15–30 minutes. For heavier stains, pre-soak in cool or warm water.”
Dish soap alone
“Apply dish soap directly to the stain. This is crucial. Dish soap is specifically formulated to break down oils,” Laundry Sauce co-founder Robert Cardiff says. “Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to penetrate the stain. Gently scrub with a soft brush or your fingers. Rinse with warm water. Check if the stain is gone. If not, repeat steps one through four.”
Dish soap and stain remover together
“Flush the stain under warm running water, then pour a small amount of dish soap onto the stain, pressing it in to help penetrate the stain. Rinse the dish soap out and repeat as needed,” says Wendy Saladyga, a fabric care expert and manager of technical performance at Henkel for Persil. “Then, pre-treat a second time using a deep-cleaning [laundry] detergent. Allow the detergent to sit and absorb into the stain for about 10 minutes. Check to see if the stain is gone and if so, wash following the garment label.”
Do's and don'ts for removing grease and oil stains
No two stains are created equally, and oil and grease stains may require some unique tips and tricks to remove. Here's what the experts say you should and shouldn't be doing for best results:
Do act fast
"Removing set-in stains is more difficult than treating fresh stains and may require multiple rounds of treatment," says Saladyga.
Yokoji echoes the sentiment. She says it's critical because "oil binds to fibers quickly," meaning "the longer it sits, the more difficult it becomes to lift.
Don't rub the stain
“Always remember to blot, never rub. Rubbing spreads the stain and can damage your fabric fibers. Instead, gently blot from the outside of the stain inward to prevent spreading,” advises Cardiff.
Don’t forget to pre-treat the stain
A lot of people skip the most critical step of all: pre-treating a stain. But its importance can’t be understated, according to Yokoji.
“Oil stains can be deceiving. They often don’t look like much at first, but once they dry, they can leave behind a dark shadow that’s surprisingly stubborn,” the pro says.
That’s why it’s critical to pre-treat it “as soon as possible.”
Don't throw it in the dryer
It's tempting to toss a stained garment in the laundry and dry it immediately, but the experts we polled cautioned against using heat on an oil or grease stain right away.
"Heat will permanently set any remaining oil, making it nearly impossible to remove later," Cardiff notes.
Do air dry
"The biggest mistake people make is assuming the stain is gone just because it looks faint when wet. Always air dry so you can confirm the stain lifted," Yokoji says.
Frequently asked questions
In some cases, yes.
“If oil has been heat-set — if the garment has already gone through the dryer — or left untreated for a long time, the stain may become permanent, especially on light-colored silks or untreated natural fibers. The best defense is quick action and air drying until you’re sure the stain is gone,” Yokoji says.
Some items should be left to the professionals to clean when they come in contact with oil or grease.
“Certain structured garments — like tailored blazers, coats or items with linings or embellishments — are best handled by a trusted cleaner. Also, heirloom or vintage pieces you haven’t washed before might be too fragile to treat at home, especially if you’re not sure how they’ll react to water or enzyme-based solutions,” Yokoji explains.
Certain materials — including silk, cashmere, suede, leather and wool or items that have “dry-clean only” labels — are also best to take to the professionals, per Cardiff.
Since each fabric responds differently to stain removal, there’s no one one-size-fits-all treatment method. However, the pros were kind enough to share a quick cheat sheet with us.
- Cotton and denim: Cardiff describes these fabrics as “robust” and says they can withstand warm water and regular washing. Yokoji adds that you can likely use a brush to spot clean.
- Silk and satin: Cardiff recommends treating these delicate fabrics with cold water and a gentle dish soap, using a Q-tip to spot clean. Yokoji suggests a “specialty detergent” when you toss the garment in the laundry.
- Wool and cashmere: Cardiff suggests using “extra care” with these delicate fabrics and only using cold water plus a “minimal amount of mild dish soap or wool-specific detergent,” then gently dabbing rather than scrubbing.
- Polyester and synthetics: Cardiff says these fabrics “often attract and hold oil stains” and suggests using a thorough dish soap pre-treatment.
How we chose
The laundry experts we spoke to know a thing or two about stain removal, so we asked them about the must-have household items you should keep on hand in case of oil and grease stains. With their cleaning recommendations in mind, we've curated a list of bestsellers and easy-to-order products that will make your job a bit easier.
Meet the experts
- Robert Cardiff is the co-founder of Laundry Sauce, a premium laundry care brand that makes a range of scented laundry products, including dryer sheets, fabric softener, scent boosters and fabric refresher spray.
- Wendy Saladyga is a fabric care expert and manager of technical performance at Henkel for Persil. At the company, she conducts technical research in the laundry category and tests detergent efficacy against stains on different fabrics and materials.
- Hannah Yokoji is the head of marketing at The Laundress, a luxury brand of laundry detergent and fabric care brand that makes detergent, fabric conditioner, fabric sprays, laundry accessories and more.
