How To Remove Grease Stains From Fabric And Clothes Using Tried And Tested Methods

Grease stains look unsightly and tend to attract more dirt and rime if not treated immediately. Also, grease stains can become permanent on the cloth if care isn’t taken. They can be more difficult to deal with than other types of stains because grease is an oily and thick substance that’s tough to remove from fabrics and clothes.

A grease stain is resistant to traditional cleaning methods, and that’s why special products and methods are used when treating it on fabrics. You have to act immediately because the more it stays on the fabric or cloth, the harder it is to remove. Due to the nature of grease, you might have to use a combination of methods to remove the stain on your cloth.

You can always restore your fabric to its original appearance with the right methods. This article will outline effective ways to remove grease stains from your fabric and clothes without causing any damage so that your clothes remain clean and fresh.

Simple Ways For Removing Grease Stains On Fabrics And Clothes

Laundry Detergent

If you can spot the grease stain immediately, a detergent will be your best option. A detergent might not effectively remove the grease stain if it has been on the fabric for a long time. Here are the steps for removing grease stains on clothes with a laundry detergent;

You should scrape the stain with a knife to get rid of the oil as much as possible. You also use paper to blot the oil from the fabric.
Then you can add a stain removal and allow it to stay for some minutes.
Use a laundry detergent to wash the greasy area; you can wash it with your hands or a washing machine. Ensure enough water is flowing through the fabric if you’re using a washing machine.
You then rinse the cloth; if there are still traces of the grease stain, you can rewash by repeating the process to keep the fabric clean.

Dish Detergents

Dish detergents are also effective in removing grease stains because they come with grease solvents. Even though they’re designed to clean greasy particles on cutlery and dishes, they can still be used on fabrics. They’re gentle on the cloth, and they won’t cause damage. Here is how to use a dish detergent to remove grease stains on fabrics;

You should apply a dish detergent on the grease stain, just a small amount that will cover the stained area.
You should rub the detergent over the grease stain and let it stay for up to one hour.
Then you proceed to wash the fabric as usual.
You will be able to get rid of the grease right away.

Baking Soda

As you already know, baking soda is a base, which means it can dissolve oil and greasy residue. They’re effective in removing grease stains on fabrics and clothes. Here is how to use baking soda to remove grease stains from fabrics;

Before applying the baking soda, remove any excess oil or grease on the fabric.
Add a small quantity of baking soda on the grease stain left.
Allow the baking soda to stay for up to two hours to dissolve the grease.
You can then use a laundry detergent to wash the cloth or fabrics.
You should get rid of the grease stain after washing.
For more information on how to use baking soda for cleaning, you should search online for “Baking soda cleaning hacks.”

Shampoo

Shampoos also have oil-dissolving ingredients since they’re designed to wash oily hair. You can also use them on your fabrics if you want to take care of oil and greasy stains. If you have a shampoo in your household, follow these steps to eliminate grease stains from fabrics;

As with the other methods, you get rid of excess grease on the fabrics first.
Then apply a small quantity of shampoo on the stain; you should cover the stained area.
You should rub the area so that the shampoo can penetrate the fabric.
Allow the shampoo to stay for some time to dissolve the grease.
Wash the grease stain with a machine or with your hands. The stain should be washed, and you will get a clean and fresh look on the fabrics.

Hairspray

This might sound weird, but I’ll tell you that it does work; if you have hairspray in your household, you should try it on any grease stain, and you will be amazed at the result. Here is how to use hairspray to remove grease and oil stains;

Remove any excess grease on the stain.
Spray the hairspray directly on the grease stain.
Let it soak for up to 30 minutes.
Wash the cloth with your hands or a washing machine using medium heat.
Your grease stain should be cleared.

Degreaser

If you have kitchen degreasers, they can be helpful when it comes to cleaning greasy stains on fabrics. They’re powerful yet gentle on fabrics; degreasers can help you clean stubborn grease stains on clothes.

Use the degreaser to spray on the grease stain.
Let it stay on the fabrics for 30 minutes so that the solution can work on the fabrics.
You then wash in your machine with medium heat or handwash if the cloth is very delicate.
You should be able to remove the grease stain after washing with detergent.

These are some of the clever ways you can clean grease stains using your household ingredients. If you act fast, you should be able to get rid of the grease stains using any of the ingredients and steps outlined above.

Different Fabrics And How To Remove Grease Stains Without Damaging Them

Canvas Clothing – How To Remove Grease From Canvas Clothing

Treating grease stains on canvas clothing isn’t that difficult; with the right ingredients, it can be done right away. Here is how to do it;

You should create a thin paste of detergent and water and use a pretreatment spray or a heavy-duty liquid detergent.
You should saturate the grease stain area with any of the options above.
Use your fingers to work on the stained area after applying the solution. Let it stay for some minutes, and if the stain isn’t removed, you should work on it with your fingers again.
Use warm water to wash the fabric; you will notice the grease disappear while the cloth is wet before drying.
If it’s a stubborn grease stain, you may have to repeat the process until it’s completely removed.

Chenille – How To Remove Grease Stains From Chenille

If you’re dealing with washable Chenille items, you can easily remove the greasy stains on them. Follow these steps;

For washable chenille material, you should use baby powder or cornstarch that acts as an absorbent. Apply any of these ingredients to the stained area.
Let the solution stay for 5 minutes, then gently brush off the area.
If the greasy stain is small, you get rid of it right away.
However, if you’re dealing with a stubborn grease stain, you may have to use a stain pretreatment product. The product should be applied based on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Wash the fabrics according to the specifications of the garment’s label.
You should then air dry and check to see if the grease stain is gone.

Leather – How To Remove Grease Stains From Leather

Leather fabrics are easier to deal with because the grease stain will always stay on the surface without penetrating inside the fabric. You can remove the grease stain on your leather fabrics with simple steps;

You should gently clear excess oil or grease on the leather.
Rub quality saddle soap over the stained area; use water to create foam. This should remove the grease stain immediately; however, if it’s not cleared, follow the additional steps below.
Rub any absorbent powder like baking powder or cornstarch.
Leave it for some hours, or you can leave it overnight.
Brush off the powder and then use a leather cleaner and conditioner.
Make sure to follow the instructions provided by the leather cleaner and the saddle soap.

Linen – How To Remove Grease Stains From Linen

Linen garments can be washed off easily if they have greasy stains; you must act fast to prevent the stain from spreading. Follow these steps;

Apply any of these three ingredients on the grease stain; a heavy-duty liquid detergent, a thin paste of detergent and water, or a pretreatment spray.
Use your finger to work on the stained area, or use a clean cloth.
Wash with warm water and air dry; heating with a dryer isn’t recommended.
The stain on the linen is not removed; you should repeat the process until it’s erased from the fabric.

Cotton – How To Remove Grease Stains From Cotton Clothes

The process is the same as outlined above; use a liquid or powdered detergent to cover the stain.
Work on the greasy stain with your fingers.
Let the fabric stay for a few minutes.
Then you airdry the fabric.
Repeat until the stain is completely removed.

Nylon, Spandex, Polyester, And Lycra

To remove grease stains on any of these fabrics, you need a pretreatment product made only for greasy and oily stains. You can also apply a liquid detergent to them.
Allow the solvent to act for some minutes and then wash with warm water; the warmness shouldn’t exceed the recommendation on the label.
You can then airdry your fabric and repeat the process if you have to until the greasy stain is removed.
It’s important to note that polyester and nylon good grease stains are removed quickly if you act sooner than later.
For food grease, on polyester and nylon, you should use a stain remover that has aerosol. Apply this pretreatment remover for a few minutes.
Since it’s food grease, you should use a liquid detergent to wash the fabric. Also, you should use warm water when washing the fabric.
Airdry the cloth and check if the grease stain is removed.
If the grease stain isn’t cleaned, you can use chlorine if it’s white fabric or any color-safe bleach liquid on the fabric.

Silk – How To Remove Grease Stains From Silk

Silk fabrics are not difficult to deal with as well; you will need baking powder, cornstarch or any absorbent powder you have in the household.
Apply the absorbent powder and let it stay overnight on the fabric or for hours.
You then brush off gently and then reapply if you have to.
Use a clear grease dish detergent in small amounts if the grease stain isn’t removed. Allow it to stay for at least one hour, and then use water to clean it.
You can then dry the fabric, and hopefully, it should be removed this time.

How To Remove Dried Grease From Fabric

You should lay the clothing flat and place a cardboard or an old towel under the stain.
Sprinkle a baking soda on the stain and let it stay up to 10 minutes. The stain changes color as the baking soda soaks in the fabric.
Remove the backing soda off the fabric by scraping.
Wash the fabric with warm water and dry it.

Can A Vinegar Remove Grease Stain From Cloth?

Yes, it has already been mentioned that using a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar can remove a grease stain. You should wash with soap and water to see the result.

Are Oil And Grease Stains Permanent?

They can become permanent if they’re not treated fast. The best way to deal with them is by blotting them quickly and then treating them with the right method. The longer you wait to remove the grease stain, the less likely it will be removed.

Hot Water Or Cold Water, Which Is Better For Removing Grease Stains?

Hot water or warm water is the best recommendation for removing grease stains on the fabric. Unless your fabric label doesn’t support it, you should always use hot or warm water when removing grease stains.

Which Household Items Are Used To Remove Grease Stains?

Baking soda, vinegar and dish soap are household ingredients used to treat grease stains effectively.

What Is The Most Powerful Degreaser Available Today?

Solvaline is very powerful; it can treat the toughest greasy stains and can be used in most cleaning jobs. It’s ideally used for heavy-duty grease-cleaning tasks where other products and methods have failed.