How to Remove Cooking Oil Stains from Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

You got cooking oil on your clothes. Maybe you were cooking, eating, or handling oil in the kitchen, and a spot landed on your clothes. Cooking oil stains are oil-based stains that can be difficult to remove if not treated correctly. Here’s how to remove cooking oil stains from clothes without damaging the fabric.

Cooking oil stains on clothes are oil-based stains caused by fats and oils bonding with fabric fibers and producing a dark, greasy spot. Oil stains are difficult to remove because oil repels water and bonds tightly with fabric. The key to removing cooking oil is using a surfactant (Dawn dish soap) that breaks down the oil, then lifting the stain with OxiClean and baking soda.

To remove cooking oil stains from clothes, scrape off excess, apply Dawn dish soap to the stain, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, apply baking soda to absorb the oil, apply OxiClean, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in warm water, and check before drying. Don’t use cold water for oil stains, don’t rub, and don’t put oil-stained clothes in the dryer.

For Fresh Cooking Oil Stains

Step 1: Scrape Off Excess

Use a dull edge to scrape off excess oil. Don’t rub, which pushes the oil deeper.

Step 2: Apply Dish Soap

Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap to the stain. Work it in gently. Let sit for 15 minutes. Dawn is a surfactant that breaks down cooking oil.

Step 3: Sprinkle Baking Soda

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

Step 4: Scrub with a Toothbrush

Scrub the stain with an old toothbrush. Work from the outside in.

Step 5: Apply OxiClean

Spray with OxiClean Max Force Spray. Let sit for 15 minutes. OxiClean breaks down the remaining oil.

Step 6: Apply Shout Foam

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

Step 7: Wash in Warm Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in warm water. Warm 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.

Step 9: Check Before Drying

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

Step 10: Air Dry

Air dry the clothes. Don’t use the dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone.

For Dried Cooking Oil Stains

Step 1: Apply Dish Soap

Apply Dawn dish soap directly to the dried oil stain. Work it in gently. Let sit for 30 minutes. Dawn breaks down the dried oil.

Step 2: Scrub with a Toothbrush

Scrub the stain with an old toothbrush. Work from the outside in.

Step 3: Apply Baking Soda Paste

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply to the stain. Let sit for 30 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush. Baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive to lift the dried oil.

Step 4: Apply OxiClean

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

Step 5: Apply Shout Foam

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

Step 6: Wash in Warm Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in warm water. Add baking soda and OxiClean to the wash.

Step 7: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse.

Step 8: Check Before Drying

Check that the stain is gone. If it remains, repeat the process. Don’t put oil-stained clothes in the dryer.

For Stubborn Cooking Oil Stains

Use Rubbing Alcohol

Apply rubbing alcohol to the stain with a cotton ball. Let sit for 15 minutes. The alcohol helps dissolve stubborn oil. Blot with a clean cloth.

Use Cornstarch or Baby Powder

Sprinkle cornstarch or baby powder on the stain. Let sit for 30 minutes. The powder absorbs the oil. Brush off and reapply if needed.

Use WD-40 (For Set-in Oil Stains)

For set-in oil stains, apply WD-40 to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes. The WD-40 re-liquefies the oil. Apply Dawn dish soap to remove the WD-40 and oil. Wash in warm water.

Use Oxygen Bleach Soak

Soak the stained clothes in a solution of OxiClean and warm water for 2 to 6 hours before washing.

Use Amodex for Ink Mixed with Oil

If the oil stain has ink mixed in, use Amodex Ink and Stain Remover.

Use Lysol for Disinfecting

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse.

Repeat the Process

Stubborn oil stains may need 2 to 3 treatments. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Clean the Machine After

Clean the washer with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner.

Cooking Oil Stain Removal by Type

Oil Type	Best Treatment	Water Temp	Notes
Vegetable oil	Dawn, baking soda, OxiClean	Warm	Most common
Olive oil	Dawn, baking soda, OxiClean	Warm	May need 2 treatments
Canola oil	Dawn, baking soda, OxiClean	Warm	Similar to vegetable oil
Coconut oil	Dawn, warm water	Warm	Solid at room temp, warm water melts it
Butter	Dawn, OxiClean	Warm (fresh), cold (protein)	Combination stain
Bacon grease	Dawn, baking soda, OxiClean	Warm	May need 2 treatments

What Not to Do

Don’t use cold water for oil stains. Cold water doesn’t dissolve oil. Use warm water for oil stains.

Don’t rub the stain. Rubbing spreads the oil. Scrape and scrub with a toothbrush.

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

Don’t use chlorine bleach on oil stains. Chlorine bleach doesn’t remove oil and can damage fabric. Use oxygen bleach (OxiClean) instead.

Don’t use hot water on butter stains. Butter contains protein (dairy), which hot water sets. Use cold water first, then warm water.

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

FAQ

How do you remove cooking oil stains from clothes? Scrape off excess, apply Dawn dish soap for 15 minutes, sprinkle baking soda to absorb the oil, scrub with a toothbrush, apply OxiClean, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in warm water, and check before drying.

What removes cooking oil from clothes? Dawn dish soap is the best product for removing cooking oil from clothes. It’s a surfactant that breaks down oil. Follow with baking soda to absorb the oil and OxiClean to remove the remaining stain.

Does Dawn dish soap remove cooking oil from clothes? Yes. Dawn is a surfactant that breaks down cooking oil. Apply to the stain, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, and wash in warm water.

What water temperature should you use for cooking oil stains? Use warm water for cooking oil stains. Warm water helps dissolve the oil. Don’t use cold water, which doesn’t dissolve oil.

Can you put cooking oil-stained clothes in the dryer? No. Dryer heat sets oil stains permanently. Air dry and check first. If the stain remains, treat again and re-wash.

References

1. Tide. “Oil Stain Removal Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Remove Cooking Oil from Clothes.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Oil Stain Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. OxiClean. “Stain Removal Guide.” oxiclean.com.