How to get rid of fat and grease stains from clothes

So you don’t know how to clean fat and grease stains from your clothes? These stains are the hardest to get rid of. Give your clothes a new lease of life with these tips.

Cooking, eating, repairing your bicycle or rubbing against any part of your car are just some of the ways fat and grease can end up on your clothes and stain them. This usually happens when we are away from home with few resources to help us out. Here are some ideas to make sure this doesn’t spoil your clothes. 

Tips to get rid of fat and grease stains from clothes

Fundamental first step: act as quickly as possible before the stain has time to dry out but never use water on oil or grease stains. Grease repels water, and if we add it to the stain we will only make the problem worse by spreading it further.

Use absorbent paper, kitchen roll for example, and press it over the stain to absorb the oil or grease as quickly as possible. Remember not to rub the stain, just press the paper gently over it.

Read the label carefully to check how to clean the fabric. Not all cleaning tips and advice work on all materials. 

Apply one of these products: 

• Washing up liquid or neutral soap: suitable for dry or stubborn stains. Neutral hand soap is the perfect alternative when we are away from home.
• Degreaser or stain remover: apply the product to the stain and leave it to work following the manufacturer's instructions.
• Talcum powder: this is perfect for more delicate materials such as silk. Apply it to the stain and carefully remove it after about 5 minutes.
• Alcohol: apply a few drops of alcohol to the stain and leave it to work for a few minutes. Then put the garment to soak in water and detergent for 10 minutes.
• Baking powder: apply it using a spoon and add a little liquid detergent. If the garment can be washed in hot water, do so.
• Cola drink: most cola based drinks contain phosphoric acid, which is good to clean grease off surfaces and get rid of stains. You can apply this to clothes, but take care with delicate garments.
• Scrub gently with a soft brush. Wash as usual in the washing machine. It is best to hang white clothes out in the sun. 

How to get rid of fat and grease stains from coloured clothes

Stains on coloured clothing tend to be less noticeable, and sometimes we don’t realise we have stained them until we get home. We will therefore have missed our chance to act quickly and the stain may be harder get out. In these cases, apply some liquid detergent to the stain as soon as possible, and leave it to work for about 10 minutes. Then scrub it gently with a soft brush and wash it in the washing machine afterwards.

How to get rid of fat and grease stains from clothes without washing them

One of the most challenging situations is to get rid of grease stains when we can’t use the washing machine. This is the case of rugs, upholstery, coats or similar items. In these cases, we can use one of the following three remedies to get rid of the stain:

• Stain remover: apply the product to the stain and leave it to work following the manufacturer's instructions.
• Talcum powder: sprinkle some talcum powder on and allow it to absorb the stain. Shake it off afterwards. Depending on how strong the fabric is, we can use a harder or softer brush.
• Bar of soap: moisten the soap and rub it over the stain. Leave it to work and then remove it using a slightly moist cloth. Then allow it to dry.