I have just plain cotton t-shirts that have splattered grease spots on them for cooking and they have been washed several times and dried. Now I have a big pile of fairly new t-shirts that all look like they have wet spots on them. Any suggestions on how to get those out?
Dawn dishwashing detergent works great on my son's shirts from McDonald's and believe me he can sure get plenty of grease on his clothes.
Pour it on full strength, scrub it in with a fingernail brush or toothbrush then wash as usual in your regular laundry detergent. I add store brand colored clothes bleach.
I work in fast food and get fryer grease on my shirts all the time. I've asked for help here before, but the hints didn't help, including Dawn. I found a degreaser called "Purple Power" that took out stains that have been washed and dried many times. You can find it in Wal-Mart in the Automotive section.
I get fryer/grill grease on my clothing constantly at work. A co-worker told me about a product called Lestoil. I believe it is produced by Clorox and can be found at any hardware store.
My husband is an Ironworker and his clothes come home pitch black with grease, and even coal dust all over. The best thing I have found is a hand cleaner called GoJo, it is actually inexpensive and does wonders. Just put it on the stain, and rub in with a nail brush let sit overnight and then wash as normal.
I have been told to put them in the washer with a can of coca cola.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Just recently as I was eating a quesadilla, grease spilled out of the end of the piece I was eating and spilled on my shorts. The shorts are 100% cotton. I washed them once and hang dried them and the stains are still there. Any ideas on the best method to remove the stain?
I always have good luck with Dawn dishwashing liquid. I put it on the grease spot (even old spots that have been washed in), rub it in and wash as usual.
Lestoil takes out any grease stain - even old ones that have gone through the dryer a few times. Just pour a little in the cap, pour it on the stain and let it soak for a little while. Wash as normal and it will be gone!
I have used ammonia, which works well, however, shampoo works well also. After all, it takes grease out of your hair. Works good on ring around the collar too.
Also, GOOP handcleaner takes grease and oil stains out really well
I recently wound up with some balsamic salad dressing on a cotton polo shirt. I took the advice of some folks on this board and put a couple of drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid directly on it. I let it sit for a couple of hours and then threw it in the wash. It came completely out. I'm obviously very satisfied. Give it a try.
Jeff in Cerritos, CA
Use Corn Starch. Rub a little powdered corn starch into the stain and let it sit for about an hour. Then shake and brush the corn starch out of the fabric. Wash as usual.
Corn Starch works in a similar fashion to oil dry that mechanics use to soak up oil on a garage floor.
My son has a red Ohio State hoodie and got grease on it from his job. He washed and dried it in hopes that the grease would come out. It didn't come out.
He had asked me to see if I could get it out, I used carbon tec (the chemical the dry cleaners use), after I sprayed it with that, I used a toothbrush on it, then sprayed it with Simple Green scrubbed it again with the toothbrush. I washed and dried it in hopes to getting the stain out.
Is the stain in there forever or is there something else I can use to get the grease out?
By Chris T. from Sagamore Hills, OH
It is hard to remove grease, and drying the garment sets the stain in, so it is possible the stain will not come out. But you can try Lestoil or those waterless hand cleaners mechanics use. One is called Goop. Or try a spray on degreaser like Fantastic. Don't expect miracles, though.
Dawn dish detergent (original kind) on the front and back of the stain, let soak in then wash. Do this over again until stain is gone.
GOOP! I live with a house full of mechanics. It works wonderful. Put a little on the stain. Rub with fingers make sure its in, then toss in laundry. Can also use it safely in washer.
I recently applied flea/tick drops to my dog's back. Not long after, I forgot and snuggled up next to her back. Now I have this oily stain on my tee shirt and can't get it out. Any suggestions?
By Cricket P.
I have gotten oily stains out with a bit of Dawn dish soap. Put some on the stain and in the wash cycle. Do not put in dryer until you are certain it came out as heat sets the stain, hang it dry. If that doesn't work, go to the dollar store and get some 'awesome' degreaser in the pump bottle.
Pears Bar soap works great on just that type of oil..Works really good on polyester material as well. Rub the spot with damped bar & wash as usual.
I have had good luck with an orange peel cleaner. I've forgotten the name, but I got it in the laundry section of the local grocery store. It is an orange liquid made from orange peels.
I have some really difficult set in stains in some shirts. The stains I believe are grease and dirt. I have tried OxiClean, and other stain removers, but have not been able to get out these stains. I have even washed these shirts in hot water. Can you possibly offer a solution?
By Anthony Kidd from Greenville, SC
Have you tried Dawn dishwashing liquid? That's my newest best friend. Also, hope you didn't put these clothes in the dryer because I've heard that the heat 'sets' the stain in. Try to find a cleaning product called 'Lestoil' it's a minor miracle.
Have you tried regular shampoo? The clear kind not the kind with conditioner. It's meant to dissolve body oils.
I recently discovered that Caress bar soap will dissolve adhesive from the skin and from a glass window. Frightening, but true. Adhesive came off my body with Caress bath gel also. Scary, but much nicer than nail polish remover!
Years ago Safeguard made a plain white soap bar that dissolved heavy equipment grease. Not sure if they still sell the plain, but you can try.
Did you try Fels Naptha soap? It's in the laundry aisle at the grocery store and I believe it comes in a block like soap.
I bought a pair of lovely royal blue cotton trousers, but something leaked in my bag, it was grease. I washed them straight away, but alas the stain was still there. So this time I massaged Fairy liquid into the area and washed again; now there's a small amount of stain left, but it is noticeable. What can I do now?
By Mandy
I have had good luck with Dawn and Dove dish liquid. Dampen the spot, work in a little of the dish liquid. Let it really soak in - and then wash.
Is there a good homemade formula for removing chocolate or grease stains from cotton clothing?
By Tracy Leonard from Kansas City, MO
Years ago I read a tip about using cheap shampoo to remove ring around the collar. I figured if shampoo would remove that 'grease and grime' it would also remove grease splatters from cooking. It 'does' work for that, and lots of other stuff too. I'm not sure about the chocolate, but it's worth a try.
I use dish soap on my husbands t-shirts even if the grease is dry it will still remove it. Get a good name brand dish soap put it on full strength, let it sit for an hour or two, wash in warm water. It cuts the grease.
How do I remove set in grease stains?
By Susan Blevins from Creston, NC
Lestoil is a strong grease remover, but it has a strong smell. Just treat the spots and let it sit a while, rubbing the material together, then launder. The stain may need several treatments.
I have had good luck using a spray cleaner from dollar stores called Awesome--it's an amber colored liquid.
How do I removed grease stains from clothes, all types of material?
By pussycat from Birmingham, England
Dawn dishwashing liquid will remove grease and other stains; just be sure to not use the one with bleach.
The cheapest way is to buy the hand cleaner that mechanics use to clean their hands with. Some of it is called Goop or Go-Jo and there are also cheaper off brands that work; just rub a little into the stain and wash as usual.
If the item is nylon, plain old Crisco or cheaper stuff will remove black auto grease; this is tried and true by me.
Hope one of these works for you.
How do you remove old grease stains from clothing?
By sandra from Cyprus
I work at a Seamstress shop and we get a lot of grease stains out with ease out. Sold at Fabricville and maybe other material and craft stores. I've seen it get grease out of garments previously sent out to dry cleaners. This may help.
Shampoo was a massive help! Thank you so much @rforbes! I used Tresseme too! I got garlic bread greese on some chinos, and from what I can tell it's almost totally gone! If I do it again, I reckon it'll be completely gone! :D
How do I remove lobster stains from a delicate white top?
Most likely you are talking about butter stains and these can be very difficult to remove - especially from a delicate fabric.
I need a stain remover to take out set in oil and grease stains. Any suggestions?
By Judy S.
Depends on type of material, but dawn really is a miracle worker! Just dap a little on, massage it in and let it set for a little while and wash as usual.
There are, I don't know how many, grease spots on the back and front of my Detroit Tiger jersey which is made of polyester and is white what the Old English D in blue and blue trimming. How can I get the grease spots out?
By Warren
I have had great success using Shout Advanced is the squeeze spray bottle. Spray it, let it sit overnight and then wash it in cold water and see if it takes care of the problem. Do not dry it in a dryer or use hot water until you have removed the stain. Hot anything will set the stain permanently.
