How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes (Even Set-In)

Your shirt has a stain from bacon grease. A salad dressing stain is on your lap. A spot appeared after you dried your clothes. Stains feel horrible on clothes because regular washing does not remove them. However, they are easy to remove once you learn the one trick.

Here's the tip: grease dissolves in soap specifically made to cut grease, not in plain detergent. The whole secret is in the plain blue dish soap — the kind that cuts grease on your pans. Work it into the stain, let it sit, wash it on hot, and air dry until the stain disappears.

Why grease laughs at your washing machine

The main issue is that oil and water do not mix. While the washing machine is filled with water and detergent, they slide past the oil spot, and the heat from the dryer bakes the oil stain deeper into the fabric. This is the reason a shirt can look perfectly fine when placed in the dryer and later be returned with an oil stain that is permanently set.

The counterattack is a direct concentrated degreaser and is applied before any water has touched the stain.

Fresh grease stains: the 5-minute save

Step 1: Blot, don’t rub

Applying pressure with a paper towel is one way to lift the grease off the surface. Rubbing creates a wider stain.

Step 2: Cover it in dish soap

Apply a drop of blue dish soap directly onto the stain and gently rub it in with your fingers or a soft toothbrush. You’ll often notice the fabric darkening as the soap moves in, which is a sign that it’s breaking down the grease.

Step 3: Wait ten minutes, then wash hot

Wait for the soap to sit for a while and then wash the item with hot water (be sure to follow the washing instructions on the care tag). Because the heat breaks down the soap, it will pull the oil away.

Step 4: Air dry and check

Avoid using the dryer until the stain has disappeared completely and you have assessed the fabric in bright lighting. Heat will set the stain while air drying gives you another chance to work on it. If a shadow still exists, try again… most of the time, the second attempt will do the trick.

Set-in grease stains: the grandma-grade fix

If stains have already gone through the dryer, they require a little extra work. Combine dish soap and baking soda and make a paste. Work the paste into the stain with a toothbrush and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. The baking soda allows the soap to have both grit and drawing power. Finally, wash with hot water and air dry as mentioned above.

Stubborn survivors have one more trick. Place the garment stain-down on paper towels and dab the back of the stain. Try to push the grease out the way it came in not through the fabric.

The old-school tricks that still work

• Cornstarch or baby powder on a fresh stain absorbs grease before you can treat it — pile it on, wait 15 minutes, brush off, then do the dish soap routine
• White chalk rubbed on small spots (like collar grease) pulls oil out of the fibers — a favorite trick for work shirts
• Shampoo works in a pinch — it’s made to dissolve body oil, which is just grease

What about delicates?

With silk, wool, and dry-clean-only items, scrubbing is to be avoided. For these fabrics, it is recommended to blot the stain, then apply some cornstarch to soak it up, and take it to the dry cleaner, letting them know what the stain is. When it comes to more durable cotton and synthetic fibers, the full-strength method of dish soap is safe.

Keep the whole load fresh

Greasy work clothes and kitchen towels slowly coat your machine, too. A monthly vinegar cycle keeps it from redepositing grime on everything else — here's how to clean the washing machine itself, and a dozen more ways vinegar earns its spot in the laundry room.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get grease out after the dryer set it?

Typically, it's yes — it just involves the baking soda paste method and maybe two to three rounds. 'Set' means more difficult, not impossible, hopeless.

Does WD-40 really work on old grease stains?

It can work, because it re-liquefies grease so the soap can grab it, but it is a strong solvent, and can leave its own marks on some fabrics. Try the paste, and save the solvents for last on strong fabrics, and do a test on a hidden spot.

Why dish soap and not stain remover spray?

Spray cleaners are designed to tackle protein and tannin stains, such as foods, grass, and wine spills. However, for oil stains, you can use a degreasing dish soap, which is already in your kitchen.