How to get oil stains out of clothes – easy methods to shift ugly marks

Oil stains never happen on your oldest, comfiest pair of jeans – accidents happen, and when they do, it's always on a new, more special item. Whether it's an unfortunate salad dressing spill on a white dress, smeared butter on kids' clothes or motor oil on jeans, we have the best, tried-and-tested methods to banish stubborn oil stains on clothes and other fabrics.

Doing a little work to remove dried-on olive oil stains or swiftly eliminating a fresh stain before doing laundry will be much more effective than throwing the garment straight in the wash and hoping for the best. 

Don't panic, and don't assume it's beyond fixing.

How to get oil stains out of clothes 

There are various grease-busting laundry stain removers available at Walmart and Amazon, and these may well be all you need. In the meantime, try the budget-friendly and eco-conscious methods recommended by the professionals below.

1. Use dish soap

'Soap is oil's worst enemy,' says Nick Valentino professional mover from Bellhop Movers. 

Using dish soap is the best cleaning tip for removing oil stains – and getting rid of chocolate stains – because of a simple chemical reaction that happens when it comes into contact with water and oil, also known as emulsion. As we all learned in chemistry, water and oil do not mix. But because dish soap is attracted to both oil and water molecules, it forces them to mix together. Therefore, applying dish soap to the stain will dissolve the oil and help get it to budge.

'It's best to start right after the spill happens if you can. Remove the garment and start blotting as much of the oil as you can with clean, dry rags or paper towels,' says Nick. 'After that, get the spot wet and pour a healthy blob of dish soap on the spot before scrubbing it hard with a sponge or toothbrush. 

For especially dark stains, like from motor oil, Nick says that adding some baking soda, at Walmart at this point can work wonders. Once you've scrubbed as much as you can, rinse the item and check the stain. Repeat the process if needed before putting it in the washing machine on the highest setting for the type of fabric to get rid of the remaining residue.

2. Choose powerful natural cleaners

Oil stains are the worst, and can be even trickier to remove than red wine stains or spilled wax, but natural cleaning methods, such as cleaning with vinegar and baking soda, are surprisingly effective. 

Combine equal parts baking soda and white vinegar to make a paste. Apply it to the oil stain with a clean cloth and leave it to work for around 30 minutes before gently scrubbing it with an inexpensive soft-bristled brush, at Walmart. Rinse the garment and then wash it as usual. 

It's not something we have tried, but aloe vera gel is also said to help with removing oil stains when combined with water.

Inspect the stain after washing and repeat the laundry process if you need to before putting it in the dryer. Letting it dry before the stain is completely gone can set the stain in and make it harder to remove...

3. For dried oil stains

Harder, but still perfectly possible. Scrape off any excess dried oil with a spoon or blunt butter knife, and then follow cleaning professional Karina Toner's advice and create a paste by combining lemon juice and salt.

'Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Scrub the stain gently with a soft-bristled brush, then rinse with water and wash as usual,' says Karina.

You can also combine salt and lemon juice, says cleaning expert Karina Toner from Spekless Cleaning. 'Apply the paste to the stain, let it sit for up to an hour, and then scrub the stain gently before rinsing and washing as normal, she says. 

If you're dealing with dried-on makeup, there are a few options for removing makeup stains to try.

Karina Toner

Karina is the Operations Manager at Spekless Cleaning, a trusted maid service based in Washington D.C. The team has over five years of experience providing top-quality cleaning services for both residential and commercial clients. Karina oversees every aspect of the business, ensuring that every client gets the same top-notch service and a spotless clean every time.

FAQs

A final tip is to try try using chalk to get rid of oil stains or even cornstarch, at Walmart. 'You can also sprinkle cornstarch onto the stain and let it sit for several hours or overnight,' says Karina Toner. The cornstarch will absorb the oil from the stain. In the morning, simply brush off the cornstarch and wash the fabric.