How to Remove Grease Stains: The Complete Guide

Absorb first, then treat — never wet it first.

Before You Wash

Sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or chalk powder directly onto the stain and leave for 20–30 minutes to absorb the oil. Brush away gently. Don't add water at this stage — water and oil don't mix, and wetting the stain first just makes it spread.

How to Wash

Apply Spill That detergent (undiluted) directly to the stain and let it penetrate for 10 minutes. Wash at the highest safe temperature for that fabric. Crucially — check the stain before tumble drying. Heat sets grease permanently. If any trace remains, treat again before the dryer.

Pro Tip

Dish soap cuts oil like nothing else — apply it directly before your regular detergent wash on fresh grease stains. It's formulated specifically to break down fats and works brilliantly as a pre-treatment.

Why Grease Stains Are So Stubborn

Grease and oil are hydrophobic — they repel water. Standard washing without pre-treatment just moves the oil around rather than removing it. The key is surfactant chemistry: detergent molecules have a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (oil-loving) tail, which is how they lift oil away from fibres.

The absorption step (baking soda, cornstarch) pulls out the bulk of the oil mechanically before chemistry takes over. Skip it and you're just fighting grease with water — an uphill battle.