HOW TO REMOVE SET-IN GREASE STAINS FROM LAUNDRY

Found an old grease stain on a favorite shirt or pair of pants?

Don’t throw it away just yet! Set-in grease can be stubborn, but you may be able to improve or remove it with the right treatment.

🧴 What you’ll need

Liquid dishwashing detergent that is designed to cut grease
An old soft toothbrush or clean cloth
Warm water
Your regular laundry detergent
A clean towel

👕 Step 1: Check the care label

Before treating the stain, check the garment’s care instructions.

For delicate fabrics such as silk, wool, leather, or garments labeled dry clean only, it’s safer to consult a professional cleaner rather than experimenting with household products.

🫧 Step 2: Apply grease-cutting dish soap

Place a clean towel behind the stained area.

Apply a small amount of liquid dish detergent directly to the grease stain. Gently work it into the fabric with your fingertips or a soft toothbrush.

Don’t scrub aggressively—you don’t want to damage the fibers.

⏳ Step 3: Let it sit

Allow the detergent to work for around 10–15 minutes.

For an older stain, you may need to repeat the treatment rather than using increasingly harsh chemicals.

🚿 Step 4: Rinse

Rinse the treated area thoroughly with warm water, following the garment’s care instructions.

🧺 Step 5: Wash normally

Wash the garment using the warmest water temperature that the care label safely allows, together with your normal laundry detergent.

🔎 Step 6: Check BEFORE drying

This is the step people often miss!

Do not put the garment in the dryer until you’ve checked that the stain is gone.

Heat can make remaining grease stains more difficult to remove.

If you can still see the stain, repeat the treatment and wash again.

⚠️ A few things to avoid

❌ Don’t iron over a grease stain.
❌ Don’t put the garment in the dryer while the stain is still visible.
❌ Don’t mix household cleaning chemicals together.
❌ Don’t use aggressive solvents on fabrics unless the garment and product instructions specifically allow it.