How to Remove Grease Stains From Clothes, No Matter the Fabric

Cashmere

To remove a grease stain from cashmere, a gentle touch is necessary. “It’s delicate and doesn’t respond well to scrubbing or heat,” Scott Liebenberg, founder and designer at Tapered Menswear, says of the fabric.

1. Blot the stain gently with a dry paper towel. "Don’t rub it in," warns Liebenberg.
2. Sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder over the stain. Allow to sit for an hour ot more. "This helps draw out the oil," says Liebenberg.
3. Afterwards, gently brush the powder away.
4. "Mix lukewarm water with a small amount of baby shampoo or wool detergent, dip a clean cloth into the mixture, and dab the stained area gently," Liebenberg instructs.
5. Rinse with a clean, damp cloth.
6. Reshape and lay flat to dry.
   

Corduroy

While corduroy is a bit more forgiving, the texture means grease can get trapped within its ridges.

1. "Start by blotting the stain with a clean cloth," says Liebenberg.
2. Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch over the stain. Let sit for an hour.
3. Using a toothbrush, brush off the powder in the direction of fabric fibers.
4. "Mix a mild detergent with warm water and blot the area using a cloth," says Liebenberg.
5. Rinse with clean water.
6. “If there’s still some residue, dab it with diluted white vinegar,” Liebenberg says.
7. Allow to air dry and then lightly brush to freshen texture.
   

Cotton

Removing a grease stain from a cotton garment is typically an overnight affair, says Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and chief product officer of Steamery. 

1. Begin by blotting up as much of the fresh grease as you can using a paper towel.
2. “After that, sprinkle either potato starch or baking soda over the stain—both are great at drawing out oily residues,” says Lewenhaupt. “Ideally, let it sit overnight so the powder has time to absorb the grease.” 
3. The next day, carefully brush off the powder.
4. Soak the area in water and wash as usual with a suitable laundry detergent.
5. “If the stain remains, you can apply a bit of dish soap or even shampoo directly to the area, let it sit for a while, and then wash again,” Lewenhaupt says. “A microfiber or cotton cloth is ideal for wiping off any excess soap or powder in this process.”
   

Denim

Removing a grease stain from denim is similar to the method for cotton.

1. Soak up excess grease with a paper towel.
2. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda or potato starch over the stain. Allow to sit overnight to absorb grease.
3. "The next day, massage the stain with a cleaning toothbrush, soft brush, or cloth," says Lewenhaupt. "This helps penetrate the thicker fabric of denim."
4. Brush off excess powder.
5. Soak and then launder as normal.
   

Fleece

The first step to removing grease from fleece—which is commonly polyester or wool—is to focus your efforts on the fabric's high pile. “This is best achieved by a degreaser, followed by physical agitation and removal from under the piles,” shares William Wong, founder of Arterton, leading garment and shoe care experts in the United Kingdom.

1. “Lay the garment flat and try to blot the stain with a paper towel,” says Wong. “This allows you to physically remove as much of the oil and grease as possible. Waiting too long can allow the grease to set in the fibers of the clothing.” 
2. Spot clean with a degreasing detergent and gently massage the fabric.
3. "Wash the garment in a detergent, ideally, a luxury washing detergent," says Wong, "as you would normally, and spend time massaging water around the stain."
4. Finally, air-dry the garment, as heat can further bake the stain into the fibers. “If they are not baked in, then subsequent washes will continue to remove the grease out of the fibers of the cloth,” Wong says.
   

Leather

To counter a grease stain on leather, you need to act quickly. And, as a rule of thumb, "Do not use water," says Alicia Sokolowski, co-CEO of AspenClean.

1. “Gently blot—don’t rub—any fresh excess with a paper towel or soft microfiber cloth,” Sokolowski says.
2. Cover the stain with a generous layer of corn starch or baking soda. Press lightly so the powder contacts the leather. “Leave powder in place for several hours or overnight—from four to 24 hours,” says Sokolowski. “The powder draws out oil.”
3. Gently brush or wipe the powder away with a soft brush or cloth. Repeat powder application once if the stain is still obvious.
4. "If residue remains, use a leather cleaner or a tiny amount of saddle soap on a damp (not wet) cloth," Sokolowski says. "Work very gently in circular motions; don’t soak the leather. Use a cotton swab with a small amount of leather cleaner for edges or corners."
5. After stain removal is complete, allow the leather to dry completely. Then, "apply a leather conditioner to restore oils and finish," says Sokolowski.

If the stain persists or the item is expensive or rare, take the piece to a professional leather cleaner.

Linen

Grease stains on linen can be remedied by a kitchen staple—degreasing dish soap.

1. Start by blotting it immediately with paper towels to soak up excess grease. Do not rub.
2. "Sprinkle corn starch or baking soda over the stain, let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then brush off," Sokolowski says. "This lifts surface oil."
3. "Apply a few drops of grease-cutting dish soap directly to the stain and gently rub it into the fabric with your fingers or a soft brush," instructs Sokolowski. "Let it sit for five to 10 minutes."
4. Check the care label and launder in the warmest water safe for the linen with a heavy-duty laundry detergent. "Add oxygen bleach (non-chlorine) for white, or use as a color-safe booster, if needed," says Sokolowski.
5. Air dry until you're sure the stain has completely lifted. "Do not use the dryer until the stain is completely gone, as heat sets grease," says Sokolowski.
6. If the stain remains, repeat the pre-treat and wash. Persistent stains may need professional treatment.
   

Nylon

"Nylon generally responds faster to dish soap and warm water than heavier natural fibers," says Sokolowski.

1. Start by eliminating any surface grease by blotting it with a paper towel.
2. "Put a few drops of dishwashing liquid on the stain, and gently rub with your fingers or a soft brush to work the soap into the fibers," advises Sokolowski. "Let it sit for five to 10 minutes."
3. Rinse with warm water to lift loosened oil.
4. Check the care label, then launder on a normal cycle in warm water (if permitted) with your regular detergent.
5. Air dry and inspect. “If the stain remains, repeat pre-treat and wash. Don't machine dry until it’s gone,” Sokolowski warns.
   

Polyester

"Oil sets in polyester very quickly, yet polyester can be quite robust," Wong says.

1. Lay the garment flat and try to blot the stain with a paper towel. “This allows you to physically remove as much of the oil and grease as possible,” says Wong. “Waiting too long can allow the grease to set in the fibers of the clothing.” 
2. Spot clean with a strong surfactant or degreaser. A specifically-formulated stain remover will be your best bet, Wong advises, but if in a bind, dishwashing liquid will suffice. Massage the stain.
3. Launder the garment as normal.
4. “Finally, air dry the garment, as heat can further bake the stain into the fibers,” Wong says. “If they are not baked in, then subsequent washes will continue to remove the grease from the fibers.”
   

Rayon

“Rayon fibers are weak when wet and will pill,” says Matt O’Connor, the co-founder and CEO of NoScrubs.com, a premier laundry service. Rayon and acetate are actually made from wood pulp. “They’re not truly synthetic, so they react more like natural fibers to grease,” he explains. “They need gentler treatment than polyester, despite looking similar.”

1. Blot the stain, being careful not to rub.
2. "Apply corn starch directly to the stain and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes to absorb oil," says O'Connor.
3. Brush off the excess powder gently.
4. Apply diluted dish soap (1:3 with water) to the back of the fabric first. This will help push the grease out rather than through. Allow to sit for five minutes.
5. Rinse with cool water.
6. “If the stain persists, use dry-cleaning solvent on a cotton pad and work from the outside in,” O’Connor says. 
7. Air dry only, as the dryer's heat can set the stain and shrink rayon.
   

Satin

To remove grease stains from satin, first identify the specific material breakdown satin type—silk, polyester, and acetate react differently to grease solvents.

1. “Place an absorbent cloth under the stain,” O’Connor says.
2. “For polyester satin, use straight dish soap and work in with a soft toothbrush," instructs O'Connor. "For silk or acetate satin, use baby powder first, then a 1:4 diluted soap ratio."
3. Rinse from the opposite side of the fabric with cool water.
4. Gently roll the garment in a towel to remove moisture. Never wring satin fabrics.
5. Lay flat to dry.

Silk

Silk requires the utmost care and discretion. Be sure to act quickly—waiting too long can allow the grease to set into the fibers of the clothing. 

1. Lay the garment flat and blot the stain with a paper towel.
2. Avoid using degreasers or surfactants on silk garments. "Rather, use some corn starch to further absorb the surface oils as much as you can," says Wong.
3. "Lightly massage the corn starch," Wong says. "The idea is to transfer the oil from the garment onto the sacrificial corn starch.” 
4. Launder the garment as normal, taking time to massage the soapy water into the stain during the cycle.
5. Air dry the garment, as heat can bake the stain into the fibers.
   

Spandex

It’s important to treat a grease stain on spandex ASAP, as the spandex's tight weave traps oil quickly.

1. "Apply dish soap—full strength—directly to the stain," O’Connor advises. "Use a finger to work into the fabric with a gentle circular motion."
2. "Rinse with lukewarm water, as hot water degrades elastane," says O'Connor. 
3. If needed, apply rubbing alcohol to the stain with a dampened cotton swab. “Test first, as some dyed spandex bleeds,” says O'Connor. Note: Acetone or acetone-alcohol solutions are not a substitute. These can destroy acetate satin and damage spandex, he notes.
4. Launder in cold water.
5. "Air dry flat, because dryer heat kills elasticity," O'Connor advises.
   

Suede

When it comes to suede, avoid DIY methods and take your garment to a professional for cleaning. “Suede is a type of leather made by running the flesh side of an animal hide under a coarse emery sander to create a soft napped finish,” explains Mary Gagliardi, in-house scientist and cleaning expert at Clorox.

"Water exposure can damage suede garments, so they should only be professionally cleaned by a suede specialist," she says.

Velvet

Velvet is a specialty fabric, so it’s especially important to start by checking for fiber content and care instructions before treating any stains. “If the label says dry clean only, then that’s your only option,” warns Gagliardi. “Be sure to point the grease stain out to the staff so they can mark it for pretreatment.”

1. For velvet that’s safe to wash at home, pretreat the grease stain with a little liquid laundry detergent before washing. “Use the cap to apply the detergent to the stain and very gently push it into the stain,” Gagliardi says. “You want to avoid rubbing, which I typically recommend for other fabrics, to protect the pile.”
2. After applying the detergent, turn the item inside out and place it in a mesh laundry bag. Wait 10 minutes to allow the surfactants to work.
3. Machine wash in cold water. “Remember that the upper end of cold water is 86 degrees Fahrenheit,” Gagliardi says. “If you can wash at that temperature, you’ll have a better chance of getting the grease stain out because warmer water really helps with this.”
4. Lay the item flat to air dry. “Because you are working on removing a stain, it’s important to keep the item out of the dryer—even if it’s allowed on the care label," says Gagliardi. Ensure the stain has been removed before exposing the garment to the heat of your dryer.

For velvet that’s labeled hand wash, start with the pretreatment step, followed by gently swirling the item in a detergent and water solution. "Carefully rinse by squeezing several changes of fresh water through the fabric, being careful not to twist or wring the velvet," Gagliardi says. "Air dry, then touch up with the iron using a velvet board, as needed."

Wool

Wool is slightly sturdier than cashmere, but still needs careful handling.

1. “Blot gently, then apply baking soda or corn starch and let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes,” says Liebenberg.
2. Gently brush off excess powder.
3. "Mix cool water with a bit of wool detergent, then use a cloth to blot the stained area," Liebenberg says.
4. Rinse with clean water using another clean cloth.
5. Press between two towels to remove moisture, and lay flat to dry.