Oil stains on clothes may look awful, but don't worry they're easier to remove than you think.
Time 1 hour or less
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$0 - $20
Introduction
Cooking oil stains on clothing happen all the time, whether you are frying bacon or eating pasta. Fortunately, oil stains on clothes are simple to remove, even if you don't have a pretreatment handy.
Hey, it happens to all of us at one point or another—you’re cooking, and a little olive oil splashes up on your favorite t-shirt. It’s ruined, right? No! There’s still hope when your favorite garment ends up with an unwanted reminder of dinner or a souvenir from working under the hood of your car.
Act fast!
When you drop something oily or greasy on your clothing, the sooner you start treating it, the better your chances of getting rid of it. But don’t just throw your clothing into the washing machine. Instead, use the following steps to treat the stain before laundering it. You can avoid this process if you have a pretreatment for stains handy, but that’s not always the case.
Watch this video tutorial for how to remove oil stains from clothes:
Tools Required
- Toothbrush
- Washing machine
Materials Required
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Paper towels
- Stain-removing detergent
Project step-by-step (5)
Step 1
Blot the stain
- Start by blotting any excess oil with a paper towel or clean cloth. Make sure you blot the stain rather than rub because rubbing can set the stain in the fabric.
- IMPORTANT: Before pretreating the stain on your clothes, read the care instructions. Some products may not work with the fabric of your clothing.
Step 2
Cover stain with baking soda
- Cover the stain with baking soda or cornstarch. You’ll want a thick layer of baking soda to cover the entire stain.
- Let sit for 30-60 minutes.
Step 3
Scrub the baking soda
- Next, scrub the baking soda spot with a toothbrush.
- The baking soda will start to clump, this is because it’s absorbing the oil. The baking soda may even take on the color of the cooking oil.
- If you have a particularly tough stain, you may have to repeat this baking soda step. Simply add more baking soda, wait for another 30 to 60 minutes, then scrub it out.
Step 4
Cover stain with dish soap
- Cover the baking soda spot with a thin layer dish soap.
- Gently work the dish soap into the stain with your fingers.
- Add more dish soap to the spot if it absorbed into the fabric.
Step 5
Wash the clothes in the machine
- Throw the garment in the washing machine, following the instructions on the care tag.
- Pour a special stain-removing detergent into the washing machine to ensure the stain is removed.
- Repeat the baking soda and dish soap process until the stain is gone. Hot water helps remove oil stains, but not everything can be washed in hot water.
- IMPORTANT: Do not dry it until you are sure the stain is gone. The heat from the dryer will set the stain in so it is next to impossible to remove.
- If the stain is still there after washing it, try the steps above again to remove the stain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the oil stain won’t come out?
First, try repeating the steps above from the beginning of the process. If that’s not working, let the garment air dry, and take it to a professional dry cleaner.
Can oil permanently stain clothes?
Yes. If left untreated, an oil stain is there forever. That’s why it’s important to treat any oil stains right as soon as possible.
How long do you have to treat an oil stain in clothing?
It’s important to treat oil stains as soon as they happen, since that’ll give you the best chance of removing it entirely. The amount of time depends on the type of fabric, extent of the stain, etc. As a general rule, the longer the stain sits, the hard it is to remove.
What types of fabric are more prone to oil stains?
It’s usually easier to get oil stains out of clothing made from natural fibers like cotton or linen, compared to synthetic materials.
Do stain removers work on oil stains in clothing?
Yes. Many stain pretreatments will work on oil stains too. But the same rule applies about treating the stain as quickly as possible. The baking soda and dish soap method described above will save you some money, as well as time if you don’t have a stain remover on hand when you stain your clothing.
Next, find out how to remove paint from clothes using these tried and true methods.
