The best way to clean oil stains

June 27, 2024 by
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Since I wrote about dishwashing liquid yesterday, I thought it would be appropriate to follow up with another post about cleaning. I’m a messy cook and often forget to don an apron so I end up with spills and splatters on my clothing. Few things are worse than a grease or oil stain, which is why I was keenly interested in a recent Southern Living article about the best ways to remove oil stains on clothing.

The article provides the following advice for treating fresh stains: scrape off the excess, blot away as much of the oil or grease as you can with a plain paper towel (printed towels can add to the problem), and pre-treat the stain with liquid dish soap before washing in the warmest water your clothing manufacturer recommend. Never dry clothing with grease or oil stains in the dryer because it can set the stain and be a fire hazard if there is enough residue.

What’s even better about the article is that it also gives you ways to remove old and set in stains. They recommend using a water-displacing lubricant such as WD-40 to reactivate a set-in stain before turning to the process outlined above. I have used WD-40 to help get stubborn label residue off items so I will try this the next time I get a stain (probably tomorrow). Years ago I used strong chemicals to remove set in stains but I have since shied away from them, reasoning that an oil stain is just a badge of honor that I received for making a good meal.

Category: Antipasto

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5 Comments

  • KatieK1  on  June 27, 2024

    I have pretty good luck with Fels-Naptha soap and a nail brush. Sometimes repeated applications are necessary.

  • Fyretigger  on  June 27, 2024

    Darcie, I have the same problem, compounded by messy eating. And I can tell you that pre-treating with Dawn usually works for me. While it sometimes works with set-in stains too, I’m going to have to try the WD-40 trick.

  • demomcook  on  June 27, 2024

    Try the Carbona Stain Devils. One for each kind of stain and they all work like magic. I keep a little basket with one of each in the laundry room.

  • FuzzyChef  on  June 28, 2024

    Spray & Wash still works really well.

  • averythingcooks  on  June 28, 2024

    My partner makes a stain remover spray with Dawn dish soap (note that he is adamant that it must be BLUE Dawn), hydrogen peroxide and baking soda that seems to work on all kinds of stains (including grease/oil). Spray, rub in, sit for 5 – 15 minutes and then launder.

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