How to Remove Grease and Oil Stains From Clothes

Grease behaves differently from many water-based stains because oil does not readily mix with water. The goal is to remove excess oil, pretreat it with a product that can help lift oily soil, then wash before heat makes the remaining mark harder to deal with.

Step 1: Act before the dryer

If the stain is fresh, blot excess grease with a clean absorbent cloth or paper towel. Do not spread it by scrubbing outward.

Step 2: Check the care label

Make sure the item is washable and note any temperature or product restrictions. Specialty fabrics may not be appropriate for home treatment.

Step 3: Pretreat

A liquid laundry detergent designed for stain pretreatment is a good first choice when its label permits direct application. Some laundry-care manufacturers also recommend a small amount of grease-cutting hand dishwashing liquid for certain washable fabrics. If you use this approach, use a modest amount, rinse it out before machine washing, and avoid putting large quantities of hand-dishwashing soap into a washing machine because it can create excessive suds.

Step 4: Wash

Wash with detergent using the temperature and cycle permitted by the garment's care label.

Step 5: Inspect before drying

If a dark or translucent grease mark remains, repeat pretreatment and washing. A heated dryer can make residual oily stains more difficult to remove.

Common mistakes

Drying before checking the stain, rubbing the stain across a larger area, pouring large amounts of dish soap into the washer, ignoring the care label, and mixing stain-removal chemicals.

Grease stains reward patience. Treat, wash, inspect, and repeat before adding heat.

Princeton Laundry is a locally owned laundromat in Princeton, Texas.