How to Remove Fabric Softener Stains From Clothes

Reduce fabric softener build-up and learn tips to prevent it

How to Remove Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheet Stains

The Spruce / Ellen Lindner

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 5 - 10 mins
  • Total Time: 1 - 8 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Both liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets can stain freshly washed clothes. Fabric softener stains often occur due to user error, namely, using too much of the product. The main ingredient in fabric softeners is usually silicone, which binds to fabric fibers. Excessive amounts will leave deposits on the fabric—appearing as an oily stain—especially after drying the garment at high heat.

Fabric softener stains are not usually permanent. Here are steps you can take at home to remove the fabric softener stains and prevent them from reoccurring.

Stain type Chemical and oil-based
Detergent type Regular detergent and oxygen-based bleach
Water temperature Warm

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Washing machine
  • Soaking basin (optional)

Materials

  • Water
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Regular laundry detergent
  • Oxygen-based bleach
  • Bar soap or dishwashing liquid (optional)

Instructions

materials for removing dryer sheet stains
 The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

How to Remove Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheet Stains From Clothing

Vinegar dissolves the mineral buildup from commercial fabric softener. Vinegar doesn't reverse the effects of fabric softener but can help strip some of its coating from fabric.

  1. Wash in Vinegar Solution

    • If you discover oily streaks on clothes as they come out of the washing machine, place the clothes back in the washer with no detergent or fabric softener, and add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar to the wash water.
    • Allow the clothes to go through a complete wash and rinse cycle, and the stains should disappear.

    Tip

    Be careful not to put undiluted vinegar directly on colored fabrics, as it contains a mild acid that can bleach the color out of items. Put the cup of liquid in the washer drum before you load the clothes back into the drum. Start the load right away. The water added by the washing machine will dilute the vinegar as needed.

    vinegar solution
    The Spruce / Danielle Holstein
  2. Soak in Oxygen-Based Bleach

    • If the fabric-softener-stained clothes have already gone through the dryer, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and warm water following package directions.
    • Submerge the stained items and allow them to soak for at least four hours or overnight.
    • Wash as usual without any detergent or fabric softener. Oxygen bleach is safe for white and colored washable fabrics other than wool, silk, leather, or wooden buttons.
    soaking fabric in oxygenated bleach
    The Spruce / Danielle Holstein
  3. Remove Dryer Sheet Stains

    If you see what appears to be grease stains on freshly dried clothes and suspect dryer sheet residue, rub the spots with a wet bar of soap like Fels-Naptha or Zote or a bit of liquid dishwashing soap, and then rewash.

    using soap to remove stains before rewashing
    The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

How to Prevent Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheet Stains

  1. Shake Liquid Fabric Softener and Dilute if Necessary

    • Shake the bottle of liquid fabric softener well each time before using it because the ingredients can separate.
    • Dilute the fabric softener with equal parts warm water before adding it to the washer to help disperse the liquid. This should be done whether you use an automatic dispenser, dispensing ball, or add the fabric softener manually to the rinse cycle.

    Warning

    Never pour liquid fabric softener directly onto the fabric, as this often will leave an oily stain.

    diluting fabric softener before washing
    The Spruce / Danielle Holstein
  2. Clean Out Your Dispenser

    • If your washing machine has an automatic fabric softener dispenser, regularly clean it out by flushing the dispenser with heated distilled white vinegar or very hot water.
    • Run a rinse cycle with no laundry in the washer. These actions will clear the clumps of fabric softener residue that can easily stain your laundry if left in place.
    cleaning out the washer dispenser
    The Spruce / Danielle Holstein
  3. Do Not Overload the Washer

    Avoid overloading the washer. Without room to move easily through the water and fabric softener solution, some clothes will get excessive exposure to the fabric softener, which can cause streaking or spotting.

    avoid overloading the washer
    The Spruce / Danielle Holstein
  4. Use Dryer Sheets Properly

    • To avoid spots on clean clothes from dryer sheets, always place the dryer sheet on top of the freshly loaded clothes and start the dryer immediately.
    • Do not bury the sheet in the middle of the load where it can get trapped. The spots occur when the dryer sheet stays in contact with a fabric surface for too long.

    Tips

    Dryer sheets are activated by heat and should not be used when using the air fluff or low-heat dryer cycle.

    placing the dryer sheet on top
    The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

Additional Tips for Handling Fabric Softener Stains

  • Switch fabric softener brands: If you continue to find fabric softener or dryer sheet stains on your freshly laundered clothing, even after following all the above steps, try switching to a new softener brand. It could be that the product you have been using does not react well with your home's water supply (hard or soft water), washing machine, or laundry detergent you regularly use.
  • Use vinegar as a fabric softener substitute: Vinegar is sometimes used as an alternative to commercial fabric softener to relax fabric fibers and reduce residue, lint, and static.
  • Switch detergent type: Try changing to a heavy-duty detergent containing enzymes (e.g., Persil or Tide).
  • Use the hottest water the care label allows: Each fabric has a different water temperature tolerance. Use the hottest water recommended for the fabric to remove stains and discoloration.
  • Do not dry unless the stain is gone: When you see streaks on wet clothes, do not dry them in a clothes dryer until the stain is entirely gone. Drying the stain in a clothes dryer will make the stain harder to come out.
  • Check that the machine is in working order: There are a couple of other explanations if you never use fabric softener or dryer sheets but still have these streaks or spots. First, your washer could be spraying transmission fluid or bearing oil. You can determine whether this is happening by opening the housing of the washer and looking for a fine oil spray; if this occurs, your washer requires repair.
FAQ
  • Why is my fabric softener staining my clothes?

    Fabric softeners are oil-based. Direct contact with fabric softener for a prolonged period, like pooling on the fabric, can build up and make pre-existing stains appear worse.

  • What do fabric softener stains look like?

    Fabric softener stains can appear like blue-gray oily spots or streaks.

  • How do you remove fabric softener stains from non-washable fabrics?

    Do not machine-wash non-washables or delicates like acetate, triacetate, wool, rayon, or silk fabrics. If they are safe to wash by hand and have fabric softener stains, moisten them with water, dab them with a bar of soap, mild dish soap, or liquid stain remover. Rinse with clear water, dab to dry, and allow the item to air-dry.

  • How is fabric softener dissolved?

    Stain remover, dishwashing liquid, and vinegar-baking soda paste can dissolve fabric softener.