How to Remove Cooking Oil, Grease, and Butter Stains from Clothes

Grease and vegetable, olive, avocado, coconut, and other kinds of cooking oils can leave dark stains in your clothing. Once you throw your garment in the dryer, the oil can set into the fibers, making it more difficult to get out. Luckily, all you need to remove any grease or oil stain is dish soap or a lubricant like WD-40 that separates it from the fabric fibers. Keep reading for all the best ways to remove oil and grease spots from clothing.

How to Get Oil Stains Out of Clothes

Blot up as much oil as you can with a paper towel.
Sprinkle baking soda or baby powder on the stain.
Let the powder sit for 5 to 10 minutes to absorb the oil before brushing it off.
Pour an enzyme-based laundry detergent or dish soap on the stain.
Wash the item as usual and let it air dry to make sure the stain is gone.

Method 1

Method 1 of 6:

Removing Oil Stains with Baking Soda & Soap

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1
Scrape off the excess oil and blot the area with a paper towel. Use a butter knife, spoon, or old credit card to scrape off any solids or pooling grease. Blot the spot with a clean white paper towel or cloth to absorb as much oil as possible.^{[1]
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Research source} If the oil has already dried up, move on to the next step.
- Plain paper towels are best for this step—colored cloths or paper towels with printed patterns may transfer color onto your clothing.
- Optionally, pretreat the area with a prewash stain remover.^{[2]
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- Looking for other ways to remove grease stains from your clothes? Check out wikiHow’s “How do I get grease stains out of my clothes?” forum.
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Apply baking soda and let it soak up the oil for 5 to 10 minutes, then brush it off. Use an old soft toothbrush to gently scrub the baking soda into the stain. If the baking soda clumps and turns brown, scrape it off and apply a new layer. Repeat until the baking soda no longer changes color, then brush off any leftover soda with the toothbrush.^{[3]
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- For delicate or dry-clean-only fabrics (like silk or chiffon): Use cornstarch, talcum powder, or baby powder instead of baking soda and skip the next step.
- After brushing off the baking soda, you can spray or pour white distilled vinegar directly on the stain to cut through the grease and let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes.^{[4]
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If you’re using dish soap, make sure it specifically removes grease. Apply enough of your preferred liquid soap to saturate the stain and use a cloth or your finger to rub it in gently. Let the soap sit for 5 minutes.^{[5]
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Wash as directed and allow the shirt to air dry. Check your clothing’s care label for specific requirements. Try to avoid putting your garment in the dryer—high heat can react with the leftover oil and cause a fire hazard or set the stain into the fabric.^{[6]
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- Check your clothing’s care label for washing instructions.
- Add ½ to 1 cup (118 to 237 mL) of white vinegar to the wash cycle to make the detergent more effective.
- If the stain is there after washing and air-drying the garment, repeat these steps until it’s gone. If the stain remains, try the next method.
- For dry clean only items or fabrics like wool, silk, or cashmere: Bring your garment to a professional for special care.

Method 2

Method 2 of 6:

Removing Set-in Oil Stains with WD-40 & Baking Soda

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Put a piece of cardboard inside the garment behind the stain. Try to cut the cardboard several times larger than the stain, in case the stain spreads. The cardboard will prevent the stain from sinking into the back of your garment.^{[7]
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- Try these steps if you’ve washed and dried your oil-stained garment or if the oil stain has been sitting in the item for a long time.
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Spray the stain with WD-40 and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. If you have a small stain, spray the WD-40 into a small bowl, and apply it to the stain using a cotton swab. The WD-40 will help break the oil stain down and make it easier to get out.^{[8]
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- Alternatively, apply a lemon juice and salt paste to the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Scrub with an old toothbrush, then rinse the garment and wash it as usual.^{[9]
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Pour baking soda over the stain in a thick layer. Work it into the fabric using a toothbrush. As you scrub, the baking soda will clump up as it absorbs the oil.^{[10]
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Dust off the old, clumpy baking soda, and sprinkle on some new baking soda. Keep scrubbing, dusting, and adding new baking soda until you get no more clumps.^{[11]
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Gently swirl the dish soap to get it into the fabric. Make sure that there is still a slick layer of dish soap. If it has completely soaked into the fabric, add a little bit more.^{[12]
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Wash the item and let it air dry. Hand-wash the garment or put it in the washing machine. Check to make sure the stain is gone after it dries. If the stain is still there, repeat this process until it’s gone.^{[13]
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- Make sure the stain is completely gone before putting the item in the dryer. High heat can set the stain into the fabric, making it even more difficult to remove.

Method 3

Method 3 of 6:

Removing Oil Stains with Rubbing Alcohol & Soap

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1
Use rubbing alcohol and bar soap to dissolve the stain. Soak the edge of a cloth in rubbing alcohol and dab at the oil or grease stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rub the area with a bar of soap. Rinse and let the garment air dry to make sure the stain is gone. If the stain is still there, repeat this process.^{[14]
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- If you have a hair spray that contains alcohol, you can use that in place of rubbing alcohol. However, most modern hair sprays are alcohol-free.
- This method and the methods below might not be as effective as using dish soap or WD-40, but you can try them if the stain still doesn’t come out.

Method 4

Method 4 of 6:

Removing Oil Stains with Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda

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1
Apply hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to light-colored fabrics. Soak the stain with dish soap and hydrogen peroxide, then sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over it. Scrub the entire area with a toothbrush, then let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse the area and let it air dry. If the stain is gone, put the garment in the washer with hot water.^{[15]
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- If the stain is still there after air drying, repeat this step or try a different method.
- Hydrogen peroxide may bleach dark fabrics. Test it out on an inconspicuous area, such as a hem or cuff, before applying it to the stain

Method 5

Method 5 of 6:

Removing Oil Stains with Aloe Vera

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1
Rub aloe vera gel onto the stain and wash it in cold water. Lay the garment flat and dampen the stained area with cold water. Rub 100% aloe vera gel into the stain and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then, wash it with cold water and let it air dry to make sure the stain is completely gone.^{[16]
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- If the garment still has a noticeable grease stain, repeat this process.
- The amino acids in aloe vera make it an effective tool for breaking up grease.

Method 6

Method 6 of 6:

Removing Oil Stains with a Stain Remover

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The salt works like baking soda and absorbs the grease. Let the salt sit for a few minutes, then apply a store-bought grease stain remover. Launder the item in hot water and let it air dry to make sure the stain is gone.^{[17]
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Join the Discussion...

How do I get grease stains out of my clothes?

15

WikiPandaTrader571

So, I was cooking earlier today and I didn’t realize it at the time, but I got this big splash of bacon grease on my favorite shirt. The stain... Read More

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist

Firstly, it’s important to be aware that stains are much easier to remove when they’re fresh. If the stain is old, try to remove as much of t... Read More

WikiTapirHugger750

Yeah, I agree with this! Dawn dish soap, especially the one labeled "Heavy Duty Degreaser" is the best thing I;ve used and it saved my favorite s... Read More

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Question

How can I get dried oil out of clothes?

Safir Ali
Laundry Specialist
Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.

Safir Ali

Laundry Specialist

Expert Answer

Try soaking the garment in warm water and a couple drops of dish soap to help break the stain down.

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Question

What removes grease stains at home?

Safir Ali
Laundry Specialist
Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.

Safir Ali

Laundry Specialist

Expert Answer

Try rubbing the stained area against itself to see if it lifts the oil or grease out of the fabric.

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Can I use cooking oil instead of WD-40?

Community Answer

No. Cooking or other types of oil are what you are trying to get out. WD-40 is a solvent and helps break down those oils.

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Tips

Although chalk is sometimes listed as a method for removing grease, it’s much less effective than soap or baking soda.^{[18]
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Try to act fast. The sooner you try to get the stain out, the easier it will be to clean.

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Try to blot the oil stain first with a paper towel and avoid rubbing or scrubbing the area, or you could set the stain deeper.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Sprinkle some salt on the grease stain and leave it for five minutes. Brush it off, then repeat 3 times. It should soak up the stain.
Place a piece of cardboard behind the stain as you work to help keep it from transferring to the back of the garment.

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Warnings

Dish soap can fade color from freshly dyed or brand-new fabric.^{[19]
X
Research source} Check the garment for color-fastness before using dish soap.

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The heat from a dryer can set oil stains. Always make sure that the stain is completely gone before you toss the garment into the dryer. If you don't do this, the dryer will set the stain into the fabric.

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Not all fabrics can handle hot water, and not all fabrics can be washed. Always read the care tag inside the garment and follow the instructions.

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