Once you discover dried grease stains on your clothes, they can be unappealing to look at especially if they have set. Despite preventive measures, you might overlook some of these stains. Luckily, you can get rid of these stubborn stains using some household products.
Read further to learn ways on how to remove dried grease stains from clothing.
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Get rid of old and dried in grease stains on clothes
Old grease stains can be stubborn and to remove the dried in grease from clothing you need to first lift the stain with baking soda. Then pre-treat it with detergent and let it sit for 30 min. Then you can wash your clothes on its regular cycle.
Steps on how to remove dried grease stains from clothing
If you want to get rid of dried grease stains on your clothes, there are steps that you should follow to effectively remove them. Let us now take a look at the steps on how to remove dried grease stains from clothing.
Reviving the dried grease stain
- Insert cardboard beneath the stained area.
- Apply WD-40 on the stained area carefully.
Lifting the stain
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the stained area.
- Use an old toothbrush and spread the baking soda. The baking soda will soak up the oil that WD-40 revived. Brush the baking soda thoroughly into the fabric to absorb as much oil as possible.
- Continue brushing until you end up with clumpy chunks of baking soda and brush them away.
- Add more baking soda on the stained area and brush it into the fabric. You will the similar lumps as the last step, but they should be smaller this time.
- Repeat this procedure until there are no more chunks of baking soda.
Pre-treat the stain
- Pour liquid detergent directly on the stained area.
- Brush the detergent into the site using an old toothbrush. Leave it in place for 30 minutes or overnight.
Wash and dry normally
- Wash the stained garment based on the fabric care label.
- Before putting the garment into the dryer, check the site. If a trace of the stain lingers, add more liquid detergent on the site with a toothbrush and wash it again.
In case the stain lingers after drying, simply repeat the steps above until the stain is completely removed.
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How to get rid of grease stains from dry clean only fabrics
- When a blob of butter ends up on your favorite ‘dry clean only’ jacket, utilize a dull knife to lift away any lingering solids.
- Blot as much oily liquid as possible using paper towels or a slice of white bread. Another option is to sprinkle the stained area with talcum powder or cornstarch.
- For a small-sized grease stain, it can be removed with spot treatment using a dry cleaning solvent. Bring the garment to a dry cleaning service and identify the stain.
When using a home dry cleaning kit, deal with the stain using the included stain remover product before placing the garment in the dryer bag.
Does dish soap remove dried grease from clothes?
Grease is a lipid that makes it insoluble in water. This type of stain is hard to remove if compared to other stains. The key point for effective removal, especially dried grease is using a form of pre-treatment. Several household products at home can be used, including dish soap.
Baking soda works by drawing the stain out of the fabric while liquid dish soap breaks up the stain. The surfactants present in the dish soap are responsible for getting rid of the grease stains.
- Position the garment on a flat surface.
- Insert cardboard or old towel under the stained area.
- For a fresh stain, sprinkle baking soda on top of the grease. If the stain has set, add an ample amount of dish soap to completely saturate it. Leave it in place for 5-10 minutes.
- Utilize an old toothbrush to sweep the baking soda or dish soap into the stain. Scrape away the initial layer of baking soda and apply more.
- Repeat the procedure until the baking soda does not turn brown anymore.
- For a fresh stain, add the dish soap if the mark is still present. For a dried up stain, dust an adequate amount of baking soda over the dish soap to coat the site.
- Scrub again using a toothbrush.
- Allow the mixture to sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Launder the garment as usual, using the hottest water based on the fabric care label.
- Check the garment if the stain is completely removed before putting it in the dryer.
Can you remove grease stains on washed clothes?
It can be disheartening to pull a shirt or tablecloth out of the dryer with a lingering grease stain. When a fabric has been placed in a dryer, the heat will set the stain, making it hard to remove. Luckily, the stain can be removed with the help of the steps below.
- Check the fabric care label on the garment first. If it is “dry clean only” or has limitations such as “hand wash” or “gentle wash cycle”, do not proceed.
- Moisten the stained area with warm tap water.
- Pour a few drops of dish soap on the stained area. Rub the material together to work the dish soap into a lather.
- Set the garment aside for an hour or longer.
- Wipe away most of the soap on the fabric using a paper towel.
- Wash the garment in a cool or warm wash cycle according to the fabric care label. Do not forget to include your preferred laundry detergent.
- Air-dry the garment. Avoid putting it in the dryer since the heat can set any lingering stain further.
- Check the dry garment if the stain is completely removed.
If a trace lingers, repeat the cleaning process.
Does baking soda remove dried grease stains?
Baking soda is considered as an all-purpose cleaning solution. When it is mixed with water, it can be used to remove coffee and juice stains, tarnish, discoloration on stainless steel and stubborn grease. As an alkali substance, baking soda can effectively deal with grease.
- Combine 3 tablespoons of baking soda with a cup of water
- Dip a sponge into this mixture and scrub on light grease stains on hard surfaces such as the stovetop, countertops and even on pans and pots.
Final thoughts
Once you discover dried grease stains on your clothes, it is not yet time to throw it away or recycle it into a rag. You can still save your shirt by removing the dried stain. With the techniques discussed on how to remove dried grease stains from clothing, you can effectively remove the stain and your clothes will look good as new.
