Bushra Griffith
Grease stains on clothes can be a challenge to remove, especially once they have dried. The key to removing grease stains is to act fast and use a solvent in combination with warm or hot water. Blotting the stain with a paper towel or napkin can help to remove excess oil. You can then sprinkle the stain with an absorbent powder such as salt, baking soda, or cornstarch to lift the grease. After a few minutes, brush off the powder and apply a small amount of liquid dish soap or heavy-duty liquid detergent to the stain. Work the soap into the fabric and let it sit for a few minutes before washing with the hottest water the fabric can tolerate. Repeat the process if necessary and let the garment air dry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Immediate action | Blot the stain with a plain white paper towel or a napkin to remove as much oil as possible. |
| Absorbent powder | Sprinkle the stain with salt, artificial sweetener, talcum powder, baking soda, cornmeal, cornstarch, or baby powder. |
| Stain remover | Massage a small amount of liquid soap, colour-safe stain remover, or shampoo into the fabric. |
| Wash | Wash the garment using the hottest water the fabric can take. |
| Dry | Air dry the garment. Grease stains can seem to disappear when wet, and heat from the dryer will set the stain. |
| Repeat | If the stain remains, repeat the process. |
| Alternative products | Fels Naptha, Dawn Powerwash Spray, Shout Advanced Grease-Busting Foam |
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Blot the stain
Blotting is the first step to take when tackling a grease stain. It is important to act quickly, as the longer a grease stain sits, the tougher it will be to remove.
Blotting helps to remove excess oil from the stain. Use a plain white paper towel to blot the stain gently. Avoid coloured paper towels, as the dye may transfer to your clothing and make the situation worse.
Silva-Nash, a cleaning expert, advises blotting rather than rubbing: "Blot, don't rub at the stain—because rubbing will push the substance into the fibres."
If you are at home, you can also try sprinkling the stain with salt, artificial sweetener, or talcum powder. These fine, absorbent powders will help to lift soaked-in grease. Leave the powder for a few minutes, then brush it off.
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Sprinkle with salt
Grease stains can be a challenge to remove from clothes, especially if they have already dried and set into the fabric. However, there are several methods you can use to tackle them, including one that involves sprinkling salt on the stain.
The salt method works by sprinkling salt—which draws out the oils from the fabric—onto the stain and letting it absorb the grease. You can also add salt to a stain remover to make it more effective on stubborn marks. First, blot the stain with a paper towel or napkin to remove as much of the oil as possible. Then, sprinkle table salt over the stain so it's completely covered. Leave the salt to work for about 10 minutes. Next, work the stain remover into the salt and the stain with an old toothbrush. Finally, wash the garment with detergent using the hottest cycle your clothes can handle. Check that the stain has disappeared before tumble drying.
This method works best for stains on thicker fabrics, such as denim or linen, but it can also be used on any non-delicate garment. However, it is not recommended for black or colourful clothing, as it can be quite harsh on the fabric.
Other methods for removing grease stains from clothing include using liquid dish soap, shampoo, or laundry detergent, which can break apart oil and grease. You can also try using baking soda, which draws out and absorbs grease, or an absorbent powder like cornmeal, or even hairspray.
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Use liquid soap
To get cheese grease out of your clothes, you can use liquid soap. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Place a small piece of cardboard directly behind the stain to prevent it from spreading to the other side of the fabric.
- Blot the stain with a paper towel to absorb excess grease. You can also use a spoon or a dull knife to remove any solid debris, such as melted cheese.
- Apply a few drops of liquid dish soap to the stain. Choose a soap that is specifically designed for dissolving oil, as these often contain oil-eating bacteria. For delicate fabrics like silk, use a mild laundry detergent instead of dish soap.
- Gently rub the soap into the stain with your fingers.
- Let the soap sit for about 5 to 30 minutes.
- Rinse the garment thoroughly with warm water to remove the soap. Make sure to remove all the soap before placing the item in the washer.
- Machine wash the garment on the warmest setting recommended for the fabric.
- Line dry the garment. Do not machine dry as heat can set any remaining stains and grease into the fabric.
If the stain persists, you can repeat the above steps or try using baking soda or a pretreatment spray in addition to the liquid soap.
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Wash with hot water
When it comes to removing cheese grease from clothes, time is of the essence. The longer a grease stain sits, the tougher it will be to remove. If the stain has just occurred, use a plain white paper towel to absorb as much of the grease as possible. Blot gently, rather than rubbing, to avoid pushing the substance further into the fabric fibres.
Once you've blotted the stain, it's time to reach for the hot water. But before you start, it's important to check the care label on your garment. While hot water can be effective for removing grease stains, it's not suitable for all fabrics. Cotton, for example, can withstand hot water, but synthetic fabrics may require a more cautious approach. If you're unsure about the fabric content or worried about shrinkage, it's best to err on the side of caution and opt for warm or even cold water.
When you're ready to treat the stain with water, start by running hot water—as hot as the fabric can safely tolerate—from the backside of the garment, not the stained side. Flush the area for several minutes, working to loosen the grease from the fabric.
After flushing the stain with hot water, it's time to launder the item. Place the garment in your washing machine and select the hottest setting recommended for the fabric. Use your regular laundry detergent, and consider adding an extra stain remover or pre-treater to boost the cleaning power.
Finally, when the wash cycle is complete, inspect the garment before drying. Grease stains can appear to disappear when wet, only to reappear once the item is dry. If there's still a shadow of a stain, repeat the entire process. Air-drying the item is ideal, as heat from a dryer can set stains.
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Air dry
If you are unable to remove the cheese grease stain after the first attempt, you can repeat the process of stain removal and then air dry the garment again to check if the stain is gone. It is important to be patient during this process, as dissolving grease stains can take time.
When air drying, you can line dry the garment or lay it flat. This allows you to inspect the garment closely to ensure that the stain is completely gone before putting it in the dryer. If any grease remains, the dryer will only make the stain more difficult to remove.
Additionally, air drying is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Instead of relying on a machine dryer, you utilize the natural airflow and sunlight to dry your clothes. This not only saves energy but also helps to prolong the life of your garments by reducing their exposure to the high heat of machine dryers.
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