How to Get Pizza Grease Out of Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

You got pizza grease on your clothes. Maybe it was from a slice that dripped, or you wiped your hands on your shirt. The dark, oily spot seems impossible to remove, but pizza grease stains can be removed from most washable fabrics. The key is breaking down the oil with a surfactant (dish soap) and washing in hot water. Here’s how to get pizza grease out of clothes without damage.

A pizza grease stain on clothes is an oil-based stain caused by cooking oil and fat from pizza bonding with fabric fibers. Pizza grease is a combination of oil, fat, and tomato residue. Oil is not water-soluble, so regular washing alone won’t remove it. Removing pizza grease requires a surfactant (dish soap) to break down the oil, an absorbent (baking soda) to absorb excess oil, and hot water to dissolve the oil.

To get pizza grease out of clothes, blot the stain (don’t rub), apply baking soda to absorb oil, apply Dawn dish soap and let it sit for 15 minutes, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in the hottest water safe for the fabric, and check before drying. For stubborn stains, use Shout foam. Don’t use cold water, don’t rub, and don’t put grease-stained clothes in the dryer.

Step-by-Step: Removing Pizza Grease from Clothes

Step 1: Blot the Stain

Use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the stain. Press firmly to absorb as much oil as possible. Don’t rub.

Step 2: Apply Baking Soda

Sprinkle Arm and Hammer Baking Soda on the stain. Let it sit for 10 minutes to absorb excess oil. Brush off.

Step 3: Apply Dish Soap

Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap directly to the stain. Work it in gently with your fingers.

Step 4: Let It Sit for 15 Minutes

Step 5: Wash in Hot Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Check the care label for the maximum safe temperature.

Step 6: Check Before Drying

Check the stain before putting the clothes in the dryer. If the stain remains, treat again and re-wash. Don’t put grease-stained clothes in the dryer.

For Stubborn Pizza Grease Stains

Apply Shout Foam

Apply Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam to the stain. Let it sit for 10 minutes. The solvents break down heavy grease.

Apply OxiClean

Spray with OxiClean Max Force Spray. Let it sit for 15 minutes. The enzymes break down organic matter.

Use Amodex for Tomato Residue

If the pizza left a tomato stain along with the grease, apply Amodex Ink and Stain Remover. Work it in, let it sit for 10 minutes, and wash.

Use WD-40 (For Very Stubborn Stains)

Step 1: Apply WD-40 to reactivate the grease. Step 2: Let it sit for 5 minutes. Step 3: Apply Dawn dish soap to break down the WD-40 and the grease. Step 4: Wash in hot water.

Note: Test WD-40 on a hidden area first. Don’t use on delicate fabrics.

Pizza Grease on Different Fabrics

Fabric	Best Treatment	Water Temp	What to Avoid
White cotton	Baking soda + dish soap + oxygen bleach	Hot	Cold water
Colored cotton	Baking soda + dish soap + OxiClean	Hot	Chlorine bleach
Polyester	Dish soap + OxiClean	Warm	Hot water on synthetics
Denim	Baking soda + dish soap + Shout	Hot	Cold water
Linen	Dish soap + OxiClean	Warm	Hot water
Silk	Professional cleaning	N/A	All home treatments
Wool	Professional cleaning	N/A	All home treatments

What Not to Do

Don’t use cold water. Cold water doesn’t dissolve pizza grease. Use the hottest water safe for the fabric.

Don’t rub the stain. Rubbing spreads the grease and damages fibers. Press gently.

Don’t put grease-stained clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat sets grease stains permanently. Always air dry and check first.

Don’t use chlorine bleach on colors. Chlorine bleach strips color. Use oxygen bleach instead.

Don’t use fabric softener. It coats fibers and traps the grease.

Don’t give up after one treatment. Dried pizza grease may need 2 to 3 treatments.

Don’t wait too long. Fresh grease stains are much easier to remove than dried ones.

FAQ

How do you get pizza grease out of clothes? Blot the stain, apply baking soda to absorb oil, apply Dawn dish soap for 15 minutes, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, and check before drying. For stubborn stains, use Shout foam.

Does dish soap remove pizza grease? Yes. Dawn dish soap contains surfactants that break down cooking oil. Apply full strength, let sit for 15 minutes, and wash in hot water.

Does baking soda remove pizza grease? Yes. Baking soda absorbs excess oil. Sprinkle on the stain, let sit for 10 minutes, brush off, then treat with dish soap and wash.

How do you get dried pizza grease out of clothes? Apply baking soda, apply Dawn dish soap for 30 minutes, apply Shout foam for 15 minutes, and wash in hot water. For very stubborn stains, use WD-40. Check before drying and repeat if needed.

Can you put pizza-grease-stained clothes in the dryer? No. Dryer heat sets grease stains permanently. Always air dry and check first.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Grease from Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Grease Stain Removal Guide.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Grease Stain Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Dawn. “Stain Removal Guide.” dawn.com.