Is Grease Just Oil?
It’s easy to confuse grease with oil since grease itself is essentially created from oil, but they are not the same. Whereas oils typically reference liquids, the term “grease” often refers to a thickened form of oil that has been mixed with a semisolid substance, becoming more solid itself.
Why Grease & Oil Stains Can Be Hard to Remove
You might think your washing machine and usual laundry detergent are capable enough to get grease and oil stains out of your clothes. More often than not, you’re going to be disappointed.
While grease and oil might be slightly separate compounds, they are both difficult to get out of different fabrics because they are lipids. Since lipids are hydrophobic (essentially meaning they repel water), it’s hard for a normal wash cycle to get grease and oil stains out of clothes on the first wash—largely because grease and oil will cling more tightly to the fibers of the fabric.
Can You Remove Grease Stains After Washing and Drying?
Yes, you can remove grease stains after putting stained items through a full laundry cycle. Even if the greasy or oily stain has begun to set into the fabric, it can still be removed.
The question then becomes what you might look to use to get grease out of clothes. The basis is mixing water with a surfactant and agitation. What’s a surfactant? It’s a molecule that is present in laundry detergents and laundry additives that acts to help trap and remove soils on fabric. Detergents and additives are typically a blend of different surfactants.
How to Get Set-in Grease & Oil Stains Out of Clothes
Taking the time to pretreat your items is one of the most important steps you can take to get grease stains out of clothes. OxiClean™ Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray is the enzymatic option that allows you to treat set-in grease stains or more recent and unfortunate oil drips on clothes, then wash them up to seven days later.
1. Spray
Shake before use. Spray directly onto the greasy or oily stain or spot until saturated.
2. Wait
Let stand for 5 minutes or up to a week, depending on the severity of the stain. For fabrics prone to color change, do not let the spray stand longer than 5 minutes. For dried or set-in grease stains, allow spray to penetrate overnight or for up to a week.
3. Wash
Wash with detergent in the warmest water the fabric will accept.
Test OxiClean™ Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray on an inconspicuous area prior to use. Do not use on silk, silk blends, wool, wool blends, leather and fabrics labeled dry clean only.
Let’s face it: small and greasy stains are a common hassle. Think about how many times your kids wiped their hands on their shirt after eating a slice of pizza. Maybe you found stains on your jeans after stacking greasy boxes of chicken wings on your lap when heading to a watch party for a big game. And what about all those occasions when the cooking oil crackles and splashes in the pan and you suddenly find spots on your clothes?
OxiClean™ Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray tackles the toughest set-in stains you may not have noticed the first time around when washing clothes. That includes pesky grease stains. It’s tough on motor oil stains, too, so you can treat clothes after working in the garage or around the house. Plus, it comes in a 2 FL OZ. size you can keep in your gym bag or purse (items should not be worn when they are treated) so you can treat grease stains wherever and whenever they arise!
You might discover drips of grease on your shirt after cooking up a quick meal in your dorm room or chowing down on a greasy burger. In that case, you could also turn to OxiClean™ Laundry + Home Stain Remover Spray!
1. Spray
Spray directly onto the grease stain or spot until saturated.
2. Wait
Rub into the fabric and let stand for up to 10 minutes depending on the severity of the stain.
3. Wash
Wash as normal with your usual laundry detergent.
Test OxiClean™ Laundry + Home Stain Remover Spray on an inconspicuous area prior to use. Do not use on silk, silk blends, wool, wool blends, leather and fabrics labeled dry clean only.
OxiClean™ Laundry + Home Stain Remover Spray can help to treat grease and other stains so they’re easier to remove in the wash. It attacks tough dried-in stains to help keep your items looking fresh and ready to wear again in no time. Keep a spray bottle in your home so you can take action whenever laundry stains arise!
How to Get Grease & Oil Stains Out of White Clothes
Grease stains can look especially visible on white T-shirts and other white clothing. But a grease stain shouldn’t be the end of these items! OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover revives dingy whites and can help get grease and oil stains out of white clothes so they’re ready to go back into your rotation.
1. Mix
Mix 1 scoop of White Revive™ Powder or 1 capful of White Revive™ Liquid per gallon of the warmest water recommended by the garment care label. Mix until the product is fully dissolved. If using a White Revive™ Pak, add it to your water and allow it to fully dissolve.
2. Soak
Submerge tough stains, heavily soiled clothing, or dingy whites and soak for 6 hours.
3. Wash
Wash as normal with detergent and OxiClean™. If using White Revive™ Powder, fill scoop to line 2. If using White Revive™ Liquid, fill cap to bar B for regular loads. For large loads or extra whitening, use more. For a HE (High Efficiency) washer, add with your detergent into dispenser to every load.
Test OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover on an inconspicuous area prior to use. Do not use on wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather, or fabrics labeled dry clean only. Do not heat or boil. Do not mix powder with detergent in the dispenser. Do not store solution in a sealed container. Always follow the manufacturer’s garment care instructions.
You may find yourself needing to revive grease-stained sheets after accidentally spilling some onion rings in bed. Maybe you stained your white dress shirt when stopping for a late-night cheeseburger. Don’t let those stains frustrate you.
White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover can revive soiled or dingy white clothing and help restore its brightness; this laundry booster even helps to revive white canvas and mesh sneakers! White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover also provides 40 percent more whitening power than chlorine bleach per load. See how the chlorine-free stain remover, which is safe for all colors, can help remove tough stains from your white laundry items!
How to Remove Grease & Oil Stains from Upholstery
Did you accidentally wipe your sweaty and greasy hands on the couch? Are there stains all over your kiddo’s car seat after you treated them to some buttered popcorn? It may seem even more difficult to get rid of upholstery stains. But OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover and OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Versatile Odor & Stain Remover can help get grease and oil stains off water-washable upholstery so you can keep your items looking clean.
1. Remove
Remove excess grease or oil before treating the area.
2. Mix
If you’re using OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover, fill the scoop to Line 1 and add to 16 ounces of water to make a solution. If you’re using OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Versatile Odor & Stain Remover, fill scoop to Line A per 16oz. of water. Mix until fully dissolved.
3. Blot
Do not apply the solution directly onto the upholstery stain. Instead, apply it to a clean white towel, and use it to blot the stain. Continue applying solution to the cloth and the cloth to the upholstery until the stain is no longer visible. Then, dampen a second clean white towel with water and blot the area to rinse.
Only use OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover or Oxiclean™ Odor Blasters™ Versatile Odor & Stain Remover solution on water-washable upholstery. Always test OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover and Oxiclean™ Odor Blasters™ Versatile Odor & Stain Remover on an inconspicuous area first. Rinse, and allow it to dry. Safe on colorfast fabrics only. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the item for water temperature and cleaning. Do not use on wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather or on fabrics labeled dry-clean only. When making a solution, do not heat or boil. Do not store in a sealed container.
OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover and Oxiclean™ Odor Blasters™ Versatile Odor & Stain Remover don’t just clean indoor upholstery. They can also help give your patio a refresh by cleaning water-washable patio furniture. That means you can treat greasy stains on your mesh or fabric outdoor furniture after hosting friends and family for a Fourth of July barbecue!
Do You Wash Grease Stains in Cold or Hot Water?
Hot water typically works best in helping to remove grease and oil stains from clothes and other laundry items. Since grease and oil are semi-solid at room temperature, hot water helps loosen, liquify, and dissolve them so they’re easier to remove.
Nevertheless, it’s essential to check for the proper washing temperature on your items’ fabric care labels.
Why Do I Have Grease Stains on My Clothes After Washing?
If you have fresh, greasy stains on your clothes after washing, you might need to clean your washing machine. Laundry detergent buildup and (if you use it) fabric softener can accumulate in the washer or dryer with consistent usage. This can lead to splotchy, grease-looking stains on your clothes over time.
Need to give your washing machine a refresh? Try OxiClean™ Washing Machine Cleaner with Odor Blasters™ to help loosen and remove detergent residue so your washer can do its job without any lingering impact on your fabrics.
Grease and Oil Stains Have Met Their Match in OxiClean™!
When grease and oil stains threaten the integrity of your clothes and household items, OxiClean™ stain removers are up to the task! Find out how to use OxiClean™ daily so you can keep your whole home looking fresh and get rid of annoying grit and grime.