How to Remove Oil Stains From Clothes

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 - 45 mins
  • Total Time: 1 - 6 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0 to $10

Whatever kind of oil or grease stain you have—automotive oil, car door grease, cooking oil, butter, or margarine—the good news is that, while difficult to eliminate, it is possible to remove.

Try to remove the stain as soon as possible, as the longer it sits, the harder it is to remove. Whatever you do, don't rub or scrub oil stains, or you can embed them into the material fibers further, once again, making them difficult to remove. And, make sure that the stain is gone before putting that piece of clothing in the dryer, as the heat from the clothes dryer can set the stain in permanently.

Some household products you likely already have on hand can help get rid of these types of oil stains. Here are our best tips to remove oil stains.

How to Remove Oil Stains From Clothes

The Spruce / Hilary Allison

Stain Type   Oil-based
Detergent Type  Heavy-duty
Water Temperature   Hot
Cycle Type Varies depending on the type of fabric

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Dull knife or spoon
  • Soft-bristle brush
  • Bowl (optional)

Materials

  • Cornstarch, baking soda, talcum powder, or piece of bread
  • Spray or gel stain remover
  • Heavy-duty laundry detergent
  • Hot Water

Instructions

How to Remove Oil Stains From Washable Clothes

When any type of oily stain happens never rub or wipe it because that will push it deeper into the fibers of the fabric.

  1. Remove the Oily Solid

    Gently lift away any solid matter (like that blob of butter) with the edge of a dull knife or spoon as soon as possible.

    removing oil solids from clothing

    The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

  2. Sprinkle Powder on the Stain

    Sprinkle on some cornstarch, baby powder, baking soda, or even use a piece of bread to absorb as much of the oil as possible. It usually takes about fifteen minutes for the powder to absorb the oil.

    Brush the powder away from the stain with a soft-bristle brush.

    Sprinkling baking soda on an oily stain

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Pretreat the Stain

    Head to the laundry room as soon as possible, and pretreat the stain with a solvent-based spray or gel stain remover.

    Allow the stain remover to work on the stain for at least 15 to 30 minutes. This will allow the enzymes to break apart the oil molecules, making them easier to flush out of the fabric fibers.

    Tip

    If you don't have a solvent-based stain remover, apply a heavy-duty liquid detergent like Tide or Persil directly to the stain and work it in with a soft-bristled brush like an old toothbrush or by gently rubbing the fabric together with your fingers. If you only have powdered detergent, make a paste with a bit of warm water and apply that to the stain.

    Pretreating the oily stain with detergent

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  4. Wash the Clothing

    Wash the garment as usual in the hottest water recommended for the fabric along with the recommended amount of detergent for a regular load of laundry.

    Tip

    If the fabric is a synthetic like polyester that wouldn't normally be washed in hot water, stretch the pretreated stained area of the fabric over a bowl and pour a steady stream of hot water directly onto the stain and then wash in cold or warm water.

    Washing the stained garment as usual

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  5. Check the Stained Area

    Inspect the stained area of the garment before drying and repeat the treatment if necessary.

    Warning

    Never place an oil-stained garment in a dryer, as the high heat will make the oil even more difficult to remove. Repeat the cleaning steps if necessary.

    Checking the stained area

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

    Additional Tips for Handling Oil Stains

    • Place the clothing on a towel, and make sure to have the stained spot separated from any other part of the clothing.
    • Spray WD-40 using the nozzle attachment it comes with, or onto a cotton swab or a paper towel, and carefully dab it on the stained area. A little goes a long way, do not use a lot of WD-40 as it will spread.
    • Sprinkle the area with cornstarch, talcum powder, or baking soda, and brush with a soft-bristled brush. The powder will clump up and start lifting the oil(s) out of the stain. Remove clumps. You will have to repeat this step a few times until there are no clumps, just fine powder.
    • Put stain remover or heavy-duty laundry detergent on the area and brush with a soft-bristled brush. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes before laundering as usual.

How to Remove Set-In Oil Stains

If an oil stain has already set in, perhaps because the item with the stain went through the dryer, there are still steps you can take to remove it.

Use a water displacement lubricator (such as WD-40) to re-activate the oil stain by spraying it and then letting it sit for about half an hour. Then, treat the stain with dish soap. Avoid running the item through the washing machine, and instead, hand wash it with warm water and a bit of laundry detergent. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.

Warning

During this process, keep in mind that water displacement lubricators such as WD-40 are flammable. Do not put anything that has WD-40 or a similar product on it into the washing machine.

FAQ
  • Can you remove oil stains from clothes after washing?

    It can be possible to remove oil stains from clothes after washing, but it is definitely much more difficult and will depend on the fabric (cotton tends to be easier to work with). This is why it's so important to try to treat the stain as soon as possible and not dry the garment until the stain has been removed.

  • Can baking soda remove oil stains?

    Baking soda can help to absorb excess oil. Sprinkle on for 15 minutes and then gently brush away.

  • Will dish soap remove oil stains?

    While heavy-duty laundry detergent and a stain treatment are your best bet, in a pinch, dish soap can act as a pre-treatment for an oil-based stain.