Grease Marks Out of Clothes: A Repeatable Care Routine

You got grease marks on your clothes. Maybe it was from cooking, a car, or food. Grease marks are stubborn because grease bonds strongly with fabric fibers. But grease can be removed with the right products and method. Here’s a repeatable care routine for getting grease marks out of clothes.

A grease mark on clothes is an oil-based stain caused by grease bonding with fabric fibers. Grease is hydrophobic (water-repelling), so water alone won’t remove it. Removing grease requires a surfactant (dish soap) to break down the oil, a solvent (Shout foam) to dissolve the grease, and hot water to wash it away.

To get grease marks out of clothes, apply Dawn dish soap to the stain, let it sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, rinse with warm water, spray with OxiClean or Shout foam, let it sit for 10 minutes, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, and check before drying. Don’t use cold water, don’t rub, and don’t put grease-stained clothes in the dryer.

Step-by-Step: Removing Grease Marks

Step 1: Apply Dish Soap

Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap to the grease mark. Work it in gently. The surfactants break down the grease. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Step 2: Scrub with a Toothbrush

Scrub the grease mark with an old toothbrush. Work from the outside in to prevent spreading.

Step 3: Rinse with Warm Water

Rinse with warm water to remove the dish soap and loosened grease. Don’t use cold water.

Step 4: Apply Shout Foam

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

Step 5: Apply OxiClean

Spray with OxiClean Max Force Spray. Let it sit for 10 minutes. The enzymes break down any remaining grease.

Step 6: Apply Baking Soda

Sprinkle Arm and Hammer Baking Soda on the stain to absorb any remaining grease. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Brush off.

Step 7: Wash in Hot Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Hot water dissolves grease. Add half a cup of baking soda.

Step 8: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse.

Step 9: Check Before Drying

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

For Dried Grease Marks

Step 1: Scrape Off Excess

Use a dull edge to scrape off any dried grease.

Step 2: Apply Dish Soap

Apply Dawn dish soap full strength. Work it in. Let it sit for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Apply Baking Soda

Sprinkle baking soda on the stain to absorb the grease. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Brush off.

Step 4: Apply Shout Foam

Apply Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Step 5: Soak in Hot Water

Soak in hot water with 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle for 30 minutes.

Step 6: Wash in Hot Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add baking soda.

Step 7: Check Before Drying

If the grease mark remains, treat again and re-wash.

For Stubborn Grease Marks

Use Rubbing Alcohol

Apply rubbing alcohol to the grease mark with a cotton ball. Blot. The alcohol dissolves the grease.

Use Amodex

For grease marks that leave a persistent stain, apply Amodex Ink and Stain Remover. Work it in, let it sit for 10 minutes, and wash.

Use WD-40

Spray WD-40 on the grease mark. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Apply dish soap to break down the WD-40 and the grease. Wash in hot water.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide (For White Clothes)

Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the grease mark. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Don’t use on colored clothes.

Use Lysol for Disinfecting

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for heavily soiled loads.

Clean the Machine Monthly

Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

Repeatable Care Routine for Grease-Prone Clothes

If you work with grease regularly (mechanic, cook, baker), follow this routine:

1. Pre-treat immediately: Apply Dawn dish soap to grease marks as soon as possible.
2. Soak before washing: Soak in warm water with Tide Free and Gentle for 30 minutes.
3. Wash in hot water: Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water with baking soda.
4. Add vinegar to the rinse: Add half a cup of white vinegar.
5. Check before drying: Don’t put grease-stained clothes in the dryer until the mark is gone.
6. Repeat if needed: Grease marks may need 2 to 3 treatments.
7. Clean the machine monthly: Use affresh to remove grease buildup.

What Not to Do

Don’t use cold water. Cold water doesn’t dissolve grease. Use hot water for washing and warm water for rinsing.

Don’t rub the stain. Rubbing spreads the grease. Press gently and scrub with a toothbrush.

Don’t put grease-stained clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat sets the grease permanently.

Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored clothes. Use oxygen bleach.

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

Don’t wait too long. Fresh grease marks are much easier to remove.

Don’t give up after one treatment. Grease marks may need 2 to 3 treatments.

FAQ

How do you get grease marks out of clothes? Apply Dawn dish soap for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, rinse with warm water, apply Shout foam for 10 minutes, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, and check before drying.

Does dish soap remove grease from clothes? Yes. Dawn dish soap is the best treatment for grease marks. Apply full strength, let it sit for 15 minutes, scrub, and wash in hot water.

Does hot water remove grease from clothes? Yes. Hot water dissolves grease. Wash grease-stained clothes in hot water with Tide Free and Gentle. Don’t use cold water.

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

Does baking soda remove grease from clothes? Yes. Sprinkle baking soda on the grease mark to absorb the grease. Let it sit for 15 minutes, brush off, and wash.

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. “Grease Removal Guide.” dawn-dish.com.