Old Oil Stains: Place the garment flat on a surface that won't be damaged by water. Apply a few drops of dish detergent to the oil stain. Gently rub it into the stained area with your fingers.
How to remove stubborn oil stains from clothes
Dish Soap Hack for Removing Grease Stains: Removing an oil stain from clothing can be difficult, especially if it's already old. Sometimes, the stain appears light on the fabric, but doesn't completely disappear even after washing. Fortunately, this doesn't require expensive stain removers. Household dish detergent and liquid laundry detergent can be used to clean oil stains.
Do this work first
If you've just spilled oil on a garment, avoid rubbing it. First, gently blot up any excess oil with a paper towel or clean cloth. Rubbing can spread the oil further into the fabric fibers. Then, apply a small amount of dish detergent directly to the stained area.
How to remove stains with dish detergent
Place the garment flat on a surface that won't be damaged by water. Now, apply a few drops of dish detergent to the oil stain. Using your fingers, gently rub it into the stained area to help the detergent penetrate the fabric fibers and break down the oil.
Next, apply a little liquid laundry detergent to the stained area and gently rub it in with your fingers. The surfactants in dish detergent help break down oil and grease, while the surfactants and enzymes in laundry detergent can help lift the stain.
Now apply some water and brush.
Pour about half a teaspoon of water onto the stained area to lightly dampen it. Then, gently brush the stain with a small laundry brush or soft toothbrush. This will work the detergent and water into the fabric fibers and help remove any oil buildup. If the fabric is delicate, avoid rubbing too vigorously. Excessive rubbing can damage the fabric fibers.
Leave it on for a while instead of rinsing it off immediately.
After applying detergent, it's important to let the garment sit for a period of time. A fresh oil stain can be left in the detergent for about 15 to 30 minutes. If the stain has already been exposed to the heat of the dryer, it may need to be soaked for 12 to 24 hours. This gives the detergent more time to work on the stain.
After this, wash the clothes as usual.
After applying detergent to the stain and letting it sit for a few minutes, wash the garment according to the instructions on its care label. If the fabric allows for washing in warm or lukewarm water, this may help break down the oil stain more effectively. However, always check the garment's care label before choosing a temperature.
Do not put the clothes in the dryer immediately.
After washing, carefully examine the stain. If the oil stain is still visible, do not put the garment in the dryer. The heat of the dryer can set the stain further into the fabric, making it difficult to remove. In this case, air dry the garment and repeat the process if necessary. If the oil stain is old and has already been in the dryer, it may take more than one attempt to completely remove it. For delicate fabrics, be sure to test a small amount of detergent in an inconspicuous area before proceeding with the entire process. This way, next time you spill oil on your clothes, there's no need to panic. First, blot up the excess oil, then treat the stain with dish detergent and laundry detergent, and allow some time before washing. Most importantly, do not put the garment in the dryer until the stain is completely removed.
