How to Get Grease and Oil Stains Out of Clothes (Even After Drying)

Water alone won’t touch a grease stain, because oil and water don’t mix. You need something that breaks down grease. Dish soap is made to do exactly that.

In this guide

1. What you’ll need
2. Step-by-step: fresh grease stains
3. Old or “dried-in” grease stains
4. Special cases
5. Mistakes to avoid
6. FAQ

What you’ll need

• Cornstarch, baking soda, or baby powder
• Liquid dish soap (a degreasing type)
• An old toothbrush
• Laundry detergent

Step-by-step: fresh grease stains

1. Blot, don’t rub. Use a paper towel to lift off surface oil.
2. Absorb. Sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda over the stain. It soaks up oil that hasn’t reached deep into the fibers. Wait 15 to 30 minutes, then brush it off.
3. Degrease. Put a few drops of dish soap on the stain and work it in with your fingers or a soft toothbrush, from both sides of the fabric.
4. Wait 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
5. Wash in the warmest water the care label allows. Warm water helps release oil, which isn’t true for most other stains.
6. Air-dry. Grease spots are hard to see when wet. Check the item once it’s dry, and put it in the dryer only after the stain is gone.

Old or “dried-in” grease stains

Stains that went through the dryer often still come out:

1. Lay the item flat and rub dish soap into the stain. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
2. Sprinkle baking soda on top and scrub gently with a toothbrush to make a paste.
3. Wash in warm water. Repeat once or twice if needed.
4. For polyester and other synthetic fabrics, which hold oil, a laundry pre-treatment spray with enzymes can help after the soap step.

Special cases

• Motor oil or bike grease: use dish soap first, then a citrus-based degreaser. Test it on an inside seam.
• Lipstick or makeup: dab with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball, then use dish soap.
• Silk and wool: blot only, cover with cornstarch, then take it to a dry cleaner.

Mistakes to avoid

• Rubbing with a wet napkin. It spreads the oil.
• Drying before you’ve checked the stain. Heat makes it harder to remove.
• Using too much water at first. Absorb first, then wash.

FAQ

Does WD-40 remove grease stains? Some people use it to loosen old stains, but it’s an oil itself, so you have to wash it out with dish soap afterward. Dish soap alone usually works.

Will a grease stain come out on its own in the wash? Usually not. Detergent alone often leaves a dark spot. Pre-treat it.