How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes Without Causing Damage

Greasy food mishaps are a common occurrence, and dealing with the resulting stains can be quite a hassle. Fortunately, there’s no need to despair when your favorite clothing item gets marred by a grease stain. This comprehensive guide will provide you with detailed steps on how to remove grease stains from different types of fabrics quickly and effectively.

The Basics of Grease Stain Removal

When it comes to battling grease stains, you’ll often find that you can employ household items readily available in your kitchen or laundry room. These might include cornstarch, baby powder, and regular liquid laundry detergent.

These common items can work wonders in helping you restore your clothing to its former glory by eliminating unsightly grease marks.

Getting Grease Out of Canvas Clothing

Canvas clothing can be particularly susceptible to grease stains. To tackle such stains effectively, follow these steps:

1. Preparation: Identify the stained area and gather the necessary materials, which may include heavy-duty liquid detergent, pretreatment spray, or powdered detergent mixed into a thin paste with water.
2. Application: Saturate the grease stain with your chosen cleaning solution. Use your finger or a clean, white cloth to gently work the solution into the stained area. Allow it to sit for a few minutes.
3. Washing: Wash the garment in the warmest water recommended for the fabric. Avoid using a dryer until you’re sure the stain is completely gone, as heat can set the grease stain. Repeat the process as needed until the stain is gone, then proceed with drying as per the garment label instructions.

Dealing with Grease Stains on Chenille Fabrics

Chenille fabrics are known for their softness, but they can be challenging to clean. Here’s how to handle grease stains on chenille items:

1. Swift Action: As soon as you notice the cooking oil stain, apply cornstarch or baby powder to the area. These substances will act as absorbents.
2. Wait and Brush: Let the absorbent sit on the stain for at least five minutes, then gently brush it off. For smaller stains, this may be enough.
3. Pretreatment: If the stain persists, apply a stain pretreatment product according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Washing: Follow the garment label’s washing instructions and allow the item to air-dry. Ensure the stain is completely gone before using a dryer, as heat can set the grease stain.

How to Remove Grease Stains from Corduroy

Corduroy clothing is both fashionable and functional, but it’s not immune to grease stains. Here’s how to handle them:

1. Absorbent Application: Immediately apply an absorbent substance like cornstarch or baby powder to the grease stain.
2. Wait and Brush: Let the absorbent sit on the stain for at least five minutes, then gently brush it off. Smaller stains might disappear at this stage.
3. Pretreatment: For stubborn stains, use a stain pretreatment product following the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Washing: Wash the corduroy item in accordance with the garment label instructions. Air-dry the clothing and ensure the stain is completely gone before using a dryer.

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Cotton Garments

Cotton is a common fabric, and it’s susceptible to grease stains too. Here’s how to handle them effectively:

1. Preparation: Gather your materials, which may include heavy-duty liquid detergent, pretreatment spray, or a paste made from powdered detergent and water.
2. Application: Saturate the grease stain with your chosen cleaning solution and gently work it into the stained area using your finger or a clean, white cloth. Allow it to sit for a few minutes.
3. Drying: Air-dry the garment to ensure that the grease stain is completely gone. Avoid using a dryer until you’re certain the stain is no longer visible.
4. Final Check: Repeat the process as necessary until the stain is completely gone, then follow the drying instructions on the garment label.

Removing Grease Stains from Leather

When confronted with a grease stain on leather, follow these steps:

• Blotting: Begin by gently blotting the stain with a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb excess oil.
• Saddle Soap: Apply quality saddle soap to a clean cloth and use it to gently clean the stained area. Saddle soap is excellent for removing grease residue.
• Absorbent Powder: If the stain persists, try using an absorbent powder like cornstarch or baking powder. Sprinkle it on the stain, allowing it to sit for a few hours or overnight. Afterward, brush off the powder. Repeat if necessary.

Getting Grease Out of Linen Clothes

To remove grease stains from linen, follow these detailed steps:

• Preparation: Identify the stained area and gather your materials. You can use heavy-duty liquid detergent, a pretreatment spray, or create a thin paste using powdered detergent and water.
• Application: Saturate the grease-stained area with your chosen cleaning solution. Gently work it into the stain using your finger or a clean, white cloth.
• Washing: Follow the garment label’s recommendations for water temperature. It’s important to air-dry linen clothing since grease stains can seem to vanish when wet, and heat from a dryer can set the stain. Repeat the process as needed until the stain disappears.

Eliminating Grease Stains from Nylon, Polyester, Spandex, or Lycra

The process for removing grease from clothing made of these materials is similar. Follow these steps:

• Pre-treatment: Use a pretreatment product designed for oily stains or rub liquid detergent into the stained area.
• Washing: Wash the garment using the warmest water recommended for the fabric. Air-dry and repeat if the stain persists. Once the stain is gone, dry the garment according to the care label instructions.
• Quick Action for Nylon and Polyester: Food grease stains on nylon and polyester can be more easily removed if treated promptly. Apply any pretreatment laundry stain remover before washing as quickly as possible. If needed, rub the stain with liquid detergent before washing.
• Dealing with Stubborn Stains: For any remaining stain, consider using liquid chlorine bleach for whites or color-safe bleach for colored items. Air-dry and repeat as necessary.

Treating Grease Stains on Silk

When confronted with a grease stain on silk, use these steps:

• Blotting: Begin by blotting the excess oil gently.
• Absorbent Powder: Apply an absorbent powder like cornstarch or baking powder to the stain. Allow it to sit overnight. Afterward, gently brush off the powder, and reapply if necessary.
• Dish Detergent: If the stain persists, apply a small amount of clear, grease-cutting dish detergent to the area. Let it sit for at least an hour, then dab with water to remove. Blot dry.

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Suede

For suede items with grease stains, follow these steps:

• Blotting: Begin by blotting the excess oil from the suede.
• Cornmeal Application: Dip a cloth into ground cornmeal and rub it into the stain using a circular motion. Once it’s dry, gently brush off the powder with a wire brush. Repeat if necessary.
• Lemon Juice: If the stain persists, test lemon juice in an inconspicuous area. If it doesn’t damage the suede’s appearance, rub the stain with lemon juice. Hold the suede in the steam from a boiling teakettle for a few minutes. Finally, brush the stained area with a wire brush.

Dealing with Grease Stains on Velvet

For washable velvet items, use these detailed steps:

• Absorbent Application: Immediately apply cornstarch or baby powder (absorbents) to the cooking oil stain. Allow the absorbent to sit on the stain for at least five minutes, then gently brush it off.
• Pretreatment: If the stain persists, apply a stain pretreatment product following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Washing and Drying: Follow the washing instructions provided on the garment label. Air-dry the item to check if the stain is entirely gone before considering the use of a dryer.

Removing Grease Stains from Wool

When dealing with wool, follow these steps:

• Scraping: Gently scrape off as much cooking oil as possible from the wool fabric.
• Absorbent Application: Apply an absorbent substance like cornstarch or baking soda to the surface of the wool. Let it sit for at least an hour, then gently brush it off and reapply if necessary.
• Cleaning with Sudsy Water: If the stain remains, carefully wet the area with cool, sudsy water spiked with vinegar. Blot with clear water and blot dry.
• Consumer Dry-Cleaning Solvent: If the stain still persists, consider using a consumer dry-cleaning solvent following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can vinegar remove grease stains from clothes?

Vinegar can work to remove grease stains from some fabrics. Place an old towel on the underside of the fabric, saturate the stain with a 50/50 mix of white distilled vinegar and water, scrub the stain with a wet toothbrush and soap until it begins to lift, and do not launder the item until the stain is completely gone.

Do grease stains come out in the washing machine?

Grease is a lipid that does not dissolve in water, so even a hot laundry cycle may not remove it. Pretreating the stain with soap or an emulsifying agent before laundering is usually necessary.

Check the item before putting it in the dryer, as heat can set grease stains.

How do I remove old, set-in grease stains?

For old grease stains, scrape or blot the stain with dish soap or a stain pretreatment and let it set for several minutes. Soak the item in warm or hot water for 30 minutes, then launder it following the care label instructions.

As a last resort, consider using WD-40 to reactivate the stain, then repeat the pretreatment process, hand wash, and hang to dry.