How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

A grease stain does not have to mean the end of your favourite top. To get grease stains out of clothes, scrape off any extra grease, cover the stain with bicarbonate of soda or washing-up liquid, rub it in gently, leave it for 20–30 minutes, then wash on the warmest setting the care label allows. This works on butter, oil, cooking fat and even old stains that have been sitting for a while.

Grease is one of the most common stains in any busy kitchen, and it is also one of the easiest to fix if you treat it quickly. The trick is to break the fat down before it gets a chance to set. Below is the full step-by-step method that actually works, plus what to do with stubborn stains that have already been washed and dried.

What You Need to Remove Grease Stains

You probably have everything you need already. Gather these before you start:

• Washing-up liquid (Fairy or any basic brand works well)
• Bicarbonate of soda (available at Tesco, Asda or Wilko for under £2)
• An old toothbrush or soft cloth
• Your normal laundry detergent (Persil, Ariel or similar)
• A stain remover like Vanish for tough or old stains
• Kitchen roll or a clean dry cloth

Washing-up liquid is the real hero here. It is made to cut through fat on plates, and it does the same job on fabric. Dish soap brands like Fairy are designed for this, which is why they work better on grease than ordinary hand soap.

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes: Step-by-Step

Follow these steps in order. The whole process takes about 30 minutes of hands-on time, plus a normal wash cycle.

1. Act fast and blot first. Use kitchen roll or a clean cloth to press down on the stain and soak up as much loose grease as you can. Do not rub, because rubbing spreads the grease deeper into the fabric.
2. Scrape off any solid fat. If the grease has cooled and gone solid, gently lift it away with a spoon or a blunt knife. Get as much of the bulk off as you can before you touch it with water.
3. Cover the stain with washing-up liquid. Squirt a small amount of Fairy or any washing-up liquid directly onto the stain. Use just enough to cover it, a 10p-sized blob is usually plenty for one mark.
4. Work it in gently. Rub the washing-up liquid into the stain with your fingers or an old toothbrush, using small circles. Work from the outside of the stain inwards so you do not spread it. Leave it to sit for 20–30 minutes so it can break the grease down.
5. Alternatively, use bicarbonate of soda first. If the stain is fresh and still wet with oil, pour a thick layer of bicarbonate of soda over it and leave it for 15 minutes. The powder soaks the oil up out of the fabric. Brush the powder off, then follow with the washing-up liquid step above.
6. Rinse with warm water. Hold the stained area under a warm tap (not hot) and rinse the washing-up liquid out. Check the stain. If it has faded a lot, that is a good sign.
7. Wash on the warmest setting the label allows. Put the garment in the machine with your normal detergent on the warmest temperature the care label permits. Warm water helps dissolve grease, while cold water can leave it behind.
8. Check before you dry. This is the most important step. Look at the stain while the garment is still wet. If any mark remains, repeat the process. Never put it in the tumble dryer until the stain is fully gone, because heat sets grease permanently.

For most fresh stains, one round of this method is enough. Older stains may need two rounds.

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes After Washing

Realised the stain is still there after a full wash? Do not panic, you can still fix it, as long as you have not tumble dried the garment. Heat from the dryer bakes the grease into the fibres and makes it far harder to shift.

For a stain that has already been through the wash, go straight to a stronger treatment. Apply Vanish stain remover gel or a similar pre-treatment to the dry stain, rub it in with a toothbrush, and leave it for at least 30 minutes. Then wash again on the warmest setting the label allows. Repeat if needed. In most cases, two or three rounds will clear even a stain that has been washed before.

If the stain has been through the tumble dryer, try the same method but soak the stain in warm water with a scoop of Vanish powder for an hour before washing. Results are less guaranteed once heat has set the grease, but it is still worth a try before you give up on the garment.

How to Remove Grease Stains from Delicate Fabrics

Silk, wool and cashmere need a gentler hand. Skip the toothbrush and skip the warm wash. Instead, blot the stain, cover it with bicarbonate of soda for 20 minutes to draw the oil out, then brush the powder away. Follow with a tiny amount of washing-up liquid worked in with your fingertips, rinse in cool water, and hand wash or wash on a delicate cycle. Always check the care label first, and when in doubt, take expensive delicate items to a dry cleaner.

Top Tips

• Never use hot water first. Hot water sounds like the answer, but on a fresh grease stain it can push the grease deeper into the fibres before you have broken it down. Treat first, then wash warm.
• Dish soap before detergent. Washing-up liquid is better at cutting grease than laundry detergent, so always do the pre-treatment step rather than just throwing the item in the wash.
• Talcum powder or cornflour work too. If you have no bicarbonate of soda, any fine absorbent powder will help pull fresh oil out of fabric.
• Test on a hidden spot first. On coloured or patterned clothes, dab a little washing-up liquid on an inside seam first to check the colour does not lift.
• Treat stains inside out. Working from the back of the fabric pushes the grease out the way it came in, rather than driving it further through.
• Keep Vanish in the house. A tub of Vanish Oxi Action or similar stain powder costs around £4–5 at supermarkets and rescues loads of stained clothes over the year.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Rubbing the stain instead of blotting, which spreads the grease over a bigger area.
• Using hot water on the stain before treating it, which can set it.
• Skipping the check before tumble drying, heat locks the stain in permanently.
• Using bleach on grease stains, it does not dissolve grease and can damage coloured fabrics.
• Waiting days to treat it. The longer grease sits, the harder it is to remove, so act the same day if you can.

FAQs

Does washing-up liquid really remove grease stains from clothes?

Yes. Washing-up liquid like Fairy is made to cut through fat, and it does the same job on fabric. Apply it to the stain, leave it for 20–30 minutes, then wash normally. It is one of the most reliable home remedies for grease stains.

Can you remove a grease stain after it has been washed and dried?

It is much harder once heat has set the stain, especially tumble dryer heat. Soak the garment in warm water with a stain remover for an hour, then rewash. It is worth trying, but some heat-set stains will not fully disappear.

Will bicarbonate of soda get grease out of clothes?

Yes, it works best on fresh, oily stains. The powder absorbs the oil out of the fabric. Cover the stain with a thick layer, leave it for 15 minutes, brush it off, then treat with washing-up liquid and wash as normal.

What temperature should I wash grease-stained clothes at?

Use the warmest temperature the care label allows, usually 40°C works well for grease. Warm water helps melt and dissolve the fat. Always check the stain is gone before tumble drying.

Conclusion

Getting grease stains out of clothes is simple once you know the order: blot, treat with washing-up liquid or bicarbonate of soda, wash warm, and check before drying. Keep a bottle of stain remover in the cupboard and you will never have to throw away a greasy top again.

For more stain advice, see the Which? guide to removing common stains and Cleanipedia UK’s grease stain removal tips.