How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes That Have Been Dried

Set-in grease stains are frustrating, and they’re hard to catch! Here’s how to get grease stains out of clothes that have been washed and dried.

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Grease/oil stains are my greatest laundry nemesis. They’re so sneaky! Other stains I usually catch before they go in the wash and can pre-treat as necessary. Not so with grease — they’re the ninjas of pesky stains.

They don’t announce their presence like most other stains. They’re not brightly colored like a spaghetti stain or obvious like a dirt stain.

Oh no, they ever-so-slightly darken a fabric so that you don’t even notice until it’s been washed and dried. Even then sometimes you don’t notice until you put it on.

Those crafty little grease stains. So frustrating.

But good news — they can be fixed! (Most of the time.)

And here’s how:

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Dish detergent (must be petroleum-based like Dawn, not all-natural or plant-based)
Scrub brush or old toothbrush

HOW TO GET GREASE STAINS OUT OF CLOTHES THAT HAVE BEEN DRIED

Dampen the area with water.
Cover the grease stain with liquid dish detergent. (I’ve also heard shampoo, bar soap, or Fels Naptha work.)
Use a scrub brush or old toothbrush to work the detergent into the stain.
Rinse the detergent with water.
Wash with laundry detergent in hottest water possible according to your clothing’s label.
Allow to air-dry. You want to make sure the stain is removed before putting it in the dryer.
Repeat the process as necessary until the stain is gone. OR proceed to the next method

FOR THE SUPER SET-IN GREASE STAINS

The method above will do the trick against most normal everyday grease stains. But if you’re facing a stubborn stain that remained untouched and unaffected by the above method, then it’s time to bring out the big guns.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

WD-40
Baking soda
Piece of cardboard
Dawn dish detergent
Scrub brush or old toothbrush

How to Remove Stubborn Grease Stains

Place your piece of cardboard underneath the stain area between the front and back of the shirt (pants, dress, etc.) This will prevent the WD-40 from bleeding to the other side, causing a whole new stain.
Carefully spray a little WD-40 onto the center of the stain. (It will spread.)
Sprinkle generously with baking soda.
Rub the baking soda well into the stain with your brush.
Brush off the lumps and repeat until all you have is a fine, dry dusting. (The lumps are caused by the baking soda absorbing the grease. No more lumps = no more grease)
Pour dish detergent onto the stain area and rub in with the brush.
Allow the detergent to sit for 30 minutes.
Wash as usual.
Air dry, again to make sure the oil stain is actually gone. They are next to impossible to spot when the clothing is wet.
Repeat the process, if necessary.