How can you remove grease stains from fabric without harsh chemicals? It might seem impossible, yet with a bit of patience, you can tackle even the toughest stains. So, without further ado, let’s see what homemade solutions you can apply to remove grease from different types of fabrics.
Tackling Set-In Grease Stains
Set-in grease stains might seem like a lost cause. However, before tossing the stained piece, try this simple technique:
Ingredients:
- Baking soda (or cornstarch)
- Washing up liquid
How to:
Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch directly onto the stain, let it sit for about 15 minutes, and then brush it off. Apply a few drops of washing-up liquid to the stain, work it in with your fingers or a soft brush, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. If it is safe for the fabric, wash it in hot water.
- Tip: Always read garment care instructions and test the fabric’s colourfastness when unsure. Better Homes and Gardens Magazine has a great article about colourfastness here.
- Tip: For particularly stubborn stains, make a paste from baking soda and water, apply it to the stain, and let it dry before washing.
Martha Stewart advises treating stains before washing and suggests the baking soda-water method. You can find more info here.
Removing Grease Stains on Already-Washed Clothing
- Reviving Stained Clothes
Realising a grease stain survived the wash can be frustrating, but don’t worry. There is still hope. Even in this case, with little persistence, we can remove grease stains from our clothes.
What to do:
Reapply the washing-up liquid or grease-cutting dish soap to the stain and work it in with your fingers or soft brush. Then, soak the garment in warm water for roughly 30 minutes before washing.
- Treating Persistent Stains
If the stain persists after washing, here’s another trick to combat it.
What to do:
Mix white vinegar and water in equal parts, dab the mixture onto the stain with a clean cloth or sponge, then sprinkle baking soda. Be careful, as it will bubble! But this bubbling helps lift grease stains from the fabric. After a few minutes, rinse the area and launder again.
- Tip: don’t give up! You might have to repeat the process a few times to get rid of stains for good. To discover more tricks about treating stains in already-washed clothes, read this article from The Spruce.
How to Remove Grease Stains from White Clothing
Grease stains on your crispy whites can give you some serious headaches. Luckily, they are not impossible to fix.
What to do:
Treat the stain with a small amount of washing-up liquid and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing.
- Tip: for an extra boost, mix hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of washing-up liquid, dab it on the stain, leave it for 5-10 minutes, and rinse well.
- Tip: Avoid using bleach as it might damage fabrics. Furthermore, WebMD highlights that mixing bleach with certain cleaners can produce toxic gases. The link to the full article is here.
How to Remove Grease Stains from Colourful Clothing
Colourful clothing requires extra precautions when dealing with grease stains. This is because they are prone to fading and discolouration. Therefore, always check care labels before applying any treatments.
What to do:
First, manually remove as much oil as possible. You can blot the stain with a clean cloth or paper towel. Then, sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch, leave for 5-10 minutes to absorb more, and brush off completely.
Second, use your fingers to apply a small amount of washing-up liquid and leave for another 5-10 minutes before washing.
- Tip: When dealing with delicate or prone-to-bleeding fabrics, it is best to use baking soda and water paste. Apply the paste to the stain, leave it on for 15 minutes, and rinse it with cool water.
Treating Stained Delicates (Silk, Wool, Cashmere, etc.)
Delicate fabrics like silk and wool require special care when removing grease stains. Fragile garments are more prone to damage, snagging, shrinking, etc. That’s why most of them should be hand-washed.
- What to do with silk:
Sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder onto the stain and leave it overnight. Gently brush it off.
- What to do with wool and cashmere:
Blot the stain with a clean cloth or paper towel to remove as much grease as possible. Dilute mild detergent with cool water and gently dab the stain with this solution using a soft cloth, rinse the garment with cool water and lay it flat to dry.
Southern Living Magazine warns not to wash delicates in the washing machine and gives good practical advice on hand-washing here.
A Few Mor Tips for Removing Grease Stains
- Act quickly whenever possible. Fresh stains are always easier to treat than set-in ones.
- Avoid using hot water unless you’re sure the fabric can handle it.
- Always test treatments on a small, inconspicuous area first.
- Keep versatile ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar, and washing-up liquid handy for unexpected spills.
- Try homemade laundry detergent to level up your sustainable and no-tox laundry routine. Recipe here.
Final Thoughts
Grease stains may be tricky and intimidating. But you can give them a fight with just a few basic and inexpensive pantry staples. It might take time and patience, but you don’t need to throw your loved garments out. These simple recipes will help remove grease stains from almost any type of clothing. So, no panic when the next kitchen accident happens!
