Custom Search

How to Remove Grease Stains from Clothes

Removing Grease Stains from Clothes: It's actually almost as easy to remove on clothes as it is from a sink-full of grimy dishes.

And the solutions are identical - simply use hand dish-washing liquid to treat the stain.

The reasoning is simple: Because hand dish-washing liquid is designed to break up surface grease on cookware and dishes (allowing it to be simply lifted off the surface and rinsed away), it's uniquely qualified to do the same for clothes.

For best results with this or any other stain-busting treatment, treat spills and splatters as soon as possible.

The key here is not to let gooey splatters or drips solidify on your clothes while they languish in the hamper overnight.

1. Start by placing the garment stain-side down on white paper towels.

Place the stained item stain-side down on white paper towels.

Squirt a dime-size amount of dish-washing liquid on the backside of the stain. Give it a minute or so to work its breakdown magic.

2. Rinse under warm, running water.

Rinse under warm to hot running water for a minute or so to loosen the gunk and rinse as much of the greasy stain away as possible.

The water temperature will depend on what the fabric can safely handle. (Check the care tag if you're unsure.)

For 100 percent cotton, you can usually use hot water.

3. Follow the rinse with a spin in the washing machine.

Use the hottest water that's safe for the fabric and your regular laundry detergent.

4. Before placing in the dryer, inspect the garment.

Finally, before placing the item in the dryer, inspect the formerly greasy area.

If you can still see any residue, repeat the pre-treating with dishwashing liquid routine. Follow by another round in the washing machine.

Repeat until the stain is no longer visible and you can safely dry the stain-free garment.

Suggested Reading

About the Author

Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.