How to Get Oil Stains & Grease Spots Out of Clothes

Cooking oil and grease make some of the most stubborn stains you can get on your clothes. Here’s how to remove an oily set-in stain using a bit of liquid dishwashing detergent.

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Use as directed.

Don't rush to the sink to rinse out that stain! Whether it comes to cooking oil and grease, removing oily stains from clothing starts with the right pretreating technique.

One of the best things to use for pretreating oil stains is actually liquid dishwashing detergent (the kind you use for handwashing dishes) because it’s formulated for greasy dishes. Look for a traditional dish detergent instead of one made with plant-based cleaning agents.

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What you need

Step to get rid of oil stains

  1. Apply dish detergent to the stain

    Apply enough liquid dishwashing detergent to saturate the oil stain. Gently massage it completely into the stain.

  2. Wait 5 minutes

    Allow a little time for the dish detergent to break up all of the oil.

  3. Rinse the stain

    Completely remove the dish detergent from your clothing by rinsing with warm water. This is important to keep the dish detergent out of the clothes washer.

  4. Machine wash with bleach

    If your clothing is white and bleach-safe, wash in the hottest water recommended on the care label using a good laundry detergent and ⅓ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach.

    If the fabric has color, or is white and includes any spandex, wash it in the warmest water recommended using detergent and Clorox 2® for Colors.

    Tip

    Always avoid bleaching wool, silk, leather, mohair and spandex.

  5. Air dry and check for success

    Air drying is important. Damp or wet fabric can hide residual oil that was missed when pretreating. To completely remove the oil from your clothes, repeat the treatment again, starting with dry fabric.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you remove oil stains with color, like balsamic vinegar and olive oil, using dish detergent?

When an oil stain has a color component (like greasy pizza sauce, pesto or gravy), after treating with the dish detergent, but before machine washing, treat the stain again with liquid Clorox 2® for Colors. It’s okay to do this right after rinsing away the dish detergent. Apply a little Clorox 2®, rub it into the stain and wait 10 minutes, then machine wash.

Is hot or cold water better for removing stains?

If your clothing is white and bleach-safe, wash in the hottest water recommended on the care label. If the fabric has color, or is white and includes any spandex, wash it in the warmest water recommended.

Are oil stains on clothes permanent?

This can depend on the color of the stain and how long the stain has been on the fabric. The type of fabric can also affect how easily a stain can be removed. It’s always best to treat the stain as soon as possible for optimal results. Some stains may require multiple rounds of cleaning. Learn how to get old stains out of clothes that have dried.