How to Get Oil Out of Clothes After Drying Without Damaging the Fabric

You dried clothes with an oil stain and think it’s permanent. Maybe you didn’t notice the stain before putting the clothes in the dryer, or the stain survived the wash and the dryer heat set it. Oil stains set by the dryer are harder to remove, but they can often be removed with the right products and patience. Here’s how to get oil out of clothes after drying without damaging the fabric.

Oil stains set by the dryer are grease or oil marks that have been baked into the fabric by dryer heat. The heat causes the oil to bond more tightly with the fibers, making it harder to remove. However, oil is still oil, and surfactants like Dawn dish soap can break it down even after it’s been set. The key is using a strong surfactant, letting it sit long enough, and being patient with the process.

To get oil out of clothes after drying, apply Dawn dish soap to the stain, let sit for 30 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, apply baking soda to absorb oil, apply Shout foam, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, and check before drying again. Don’t use cold water, don’t rub, and don’t put the clothes back in the dryer until the stain is gone.

Step-by-Step: Removing Oil After Drying

Step 1: Apply Dawn Dish Soap

Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap directly to the oil stain. Work it in gently with your fingers. Dawn is a surfactant that breaks down grease and oil, even after it’s been set by dryer heat.

Step 2: Let It Sit

Let the Dawn sit on the stain for 30 minutes. For set-in oil stains, longer is better. Don’t let it dry completely.

Step 3: Scrub with a Toothbrush

Scrub the stain with an old toothbrush. Work from the outside in. The scrubbing helps the dish soap penetrate the fibers and break down the set-in oil.

Step 4: Apply Baking Soda

Sprinkle Arm and Hammer Baking Soda on the stain. Baking soda absorbs oil. Let sit for 15 minutes. Brush off the baking soda.

Step 5: Apply Shout Foam

Apply Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes.

Step 6: Apply OxiClean

Spray with OxiClean Max Force Spray. Let sit for 15 minutes.

Step 7: Wash in Hot Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Hot water helps dissolve the oil. Add half a cup of baking soda to the wash.

Step 8: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser for the rinse. Vinegar removes detergent residue.

Step 9: Check Before Drying

Check that the oil stain is gone before putting the clothes in the dryer. If the stain remains, treat again and re-wash. Don’t put oil-stained clothes in the dryer until the stain is gone.

Step 10: Air Dry

Air dry the clothes on a clothesline or drying rack. Don’t use the dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone.

Step 11: Clean the Machine Monthly

Clean the washer monthly with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner.

For Stubborn Set-In Oil Stains

Repeat the Process

Set-in oil stains may need 2 to 3 treatments to fully remove. Repeat the process of applying Dawn, letting it sit, scrubbing, and washing until the stain is gone.

Use Hot Water and Oxygen Bleach

For white clothes, wash in hot water with 1 scoop of OxiClean (oxygen bleach). Oxygen bleach helps break down set-in oil.

Use Amodex for Ink Mixed with Oil

If the stain is a combination of ink and oil, use Amodex Ink and Stain Remover along with Dawn dish soap.

Use Lysol for Disinfecting

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for disinfecting.

Try the Iron Method

Place a clean paper towel over the stain. Iron on a low setting (no steam). The heat from the iron can help melt and release the oil from the fabric into the paper towel. Move the paper towel as it absorbs oil. Don’t use this method on delicate fabrics.

Why Oil Stains Set in the Dryer

Dryer Heat Bakes the Oil

The heat from the dryer causes the oil to bond more tightly with fabric fibers. This makes the stain harder to remove but not impossible.

Not Pre-Treating Before Washing

If you didn’t pre-treat the oil stain before washing, the detergent alone may not remove it. The stain then gets set by the dryer.

Using Cold Water

Cold water doesn’t dissolve oil well. If you washed in cold water, the oil may not have been removed before drying.

Not Checking Before Drying

If you didn’t check for stains before putting clothes in the dryer, the dryer heat set the stain. Always check before drying.

How to Prevent Oil Stains from Setting

Pre-Treat Before Washing

Always pre-treat oil stains with Dawn dish soap before washing. Apply, let sit for 15 minutes, and wash in warm water.

Check Before Drying

Always check for stains before putting clothes in the dryer. If a stain remains, treat again and re-wash.

Use Warm or Hot Water

Use warm or hot water for oil stains. Cold water doesn’t dissolve oil well.

Don’t Overload the Washer

Overloading reduces cleaning performance. The detergent can’t reach all the clothes.

What Not to Do

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

Don’t rub the stain. Rubbing spreads the oil. Scrub with a toothbrush from the outside in.

Don’t put oil-stained clothes back in the dryer. Dryer heat sets the stain further. Air dry and check first.

Don’t give up after one treatment. Set-in oil stains may need 2 to 3 treatments. Repeat the process.

Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored clothes. Chlorine bleach can remove color. Use oxygen bleach (OxiClean) instead.

Don’t use the iron method on delicate fabrics. The iron method can damage silk, wool, and synthetics. Use on cotton and denim only.

FAQ

Can you get oil out of clothes after drying? Yes. Apply Dawn dish soap to the stain, let sit for 30 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, apply baking soda, apply Shout foam, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, and air dry. Repeat if needed.

Does Dawn dish soap remove set-in oil stains? Yes. Dawn is a surfactant that breaks down grease and oil, even after it’s been set by dryer heat. Apply directly to the stain, let sit for 30 minutes, scrub, and wash in hot water.

Can you use the iron method for set-in oil stains? Yes. Place a paper towel over the stain and iron on a low setting. The heat melts the oil into the paper towel. Don’t use on delicate fabrics.

How do you prevent oil stains from setting in the dryer? Pre-treat oil stains with Dawn dish soap before washing, check for stains before drying, use warm or hot water, and don’t overload the washer.

How many treatments does it take to remove set-in oil? Set-in oil stains may need 2 to 3 treatments to fully remove. Repeat the process of applying Dawn, letting it sit, scrubbing, and washing until the stain is gone.

References

1. Tide. “Set-In Oil Stain Removal Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Remove Oil After Drying.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Oil Stain Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Dawn. “Grease Removal Guide.” dawn.com.