From crispy samosas and pakoras to savoury Chola bhaturas, Indians love oily and spicy food! However, all that extra care you have to avoid staining your clothes (or surroundings) while eating such food can be a nuisance! Even cooking oily food can mess up your kitchen, thanks to the unavoidable oil splatters. Oil and grease stains, especially on soft surfaces like clothes, carpets and rugs, can be really tricky to get rid of.
While a simple wash may fail to do the trick, too much rubbing and washing may hamper the fabric and colour of your garment! So how do you go about getting rid of these stubborn stains without causing any damage to the surface? Thankfully, there are several safe and easy ways to get rid of oil and grease stains.
10 Simple Ways To Remove Oil And Grease Stains
Wondering how to remove grease stains from clothes, sofas, carpets, cabinets, countertops, tables or other surfaces? These tried and tested remedies can help!
1. Baby Powder And Dishwashing Detergent
A simple solution to how to remove oil stains on clothes is by using baby powder and dishwashing detergent. This effective two-step process can help you get rid of even the toughest oil and grease stains with ease. In situations where you can’t change or wash your clothes immediately, this method can prove to be a quick fix. It will absorb the oil/ grease and help mitigate the stain, making it easier to wash it off. However, to remove the stain completely, you will need soap and water.
You Will Need:
- Baby powder
- Paper towel
- Neutral soap
Method:
- Use a paper towel to soak the excess oil from the cloth.
- Generously apply baby powder over the oil stain.
- Let it rest for about 30 minutes so that baby powder absorbs the oil or grease.
- Now dust off the baby powder using a spoon or a toothbrush.
- Pour a few drops of soap and water onto the stain.
- Use an old toothbrush and rub over the stain in circular motions.
- Wash the cloth as normal.
After washing the cloth, it is recommended that you let it air dry. A very hot mechanical dryer may cause the remaining oil or grease on the cloth.
2. Cornstarch
This common kitchen ingredient can be of great help when it comes to removing grease or oil stains from clothes, mats or carpets. The best part is, cornstarch is safe to use on all types of clothes and will not hamper the fabric.
You Will Need:
- Cornstarch
Method:
- Sprinkle cornstarch onto the stain.
- Let it sit for 40-50 minutes.
- Dust off the cornstarch. You will see that the stain has lightened significantly.
- To remove the stain completely, rub dish soap onto the stain and rub. Wash the dress and let it air dry.
Cornstarch can also help remove oil or grease stain from carpets. Simply put some cornstarch onto the stain and let it sit for several hours. Use a vacuum to clean up the cornstarch.
3. Vinegar
Wondering how to remove oil stains from wall, countertops and soft surfaces? Here’s how! Other than being used as an essential ingredient while cooking, vinegar is often a natural cleaning agent. This ingredient has powerful astringent properties and can cut through grease and grime, making it easier to get rid of stubborn oil and grease stains.
You Will Need:
- Vinegar
- Water
Method:
To remove oil stains from clothes:
- Prepare an oil stain remover solution by mixing 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water.
- Soak the stained cloth in it for a few minutes.
- Rinse the vinegar out of the cloth.
- Wash the cloth as usually and let it air dry.
To remove grease stains from your kitchen counter or table:
- Mix equal parts of white vinegar and green water.
- Dampen a wiping cloth in this solution.
- Now wipe the dirty surface with the cloth to get rid of stains and odours.
Since vinegar may affect the effectiveness of detergents by reducing their alkalinity, it is recommended that you do not add detergent or soap to the vinegar-water mix. Wash the cloth using determinant only when you have rinsed the vinegar out of the cloth. Also, check out other home hacks on how to remove colour stains from white clothes here. If you are wondering how to remove oil stains from paper, a vinegar-water solution may help!
4. Salt
The good old table salt is your best bet when it comes to removing oil or grease stains from fabrics that cannot be tossed in the washing machine. Sprinkling salt on fresh oil stains on garments helps absorb the oil and makes it easier to clean the garment later on.
You Will Need:
- Salt
- Rubbing alcohol
Method:
To remove stains from rugs, carpets and sofas:
- Add 1 part salt to 4 parts rubbing alcohol.
- Using a cloth, rub this mixture on the oil or grease stain. make sure you rub in the direction of its natural nap.
- After the stain is gone and the solution dries up, brush off or vacuum the excess salt.
- Wipe away the salt marks (if any) using a damp cloth.
To remove oil stains from clothes:
- Pour some salt on the stain.
- Let it sit for a few minutes.
- Gently brush off the salt. The salt will absorb the oil and grease and make it easier to get rid of the spot when you wash the garment.
5. Shampoo
If shampoo can be effective in getting rid of grease and excess oils from your hair, it can also help remove oil stains from your clothes! This pre-treating the oil stain with shampoo will make it easier to remove it completely when the garment is washed. While you can use any shampoo for this purpose, products designed for the oily scalp!
You Will Need:
- Shampoo
Method:
- Pour a few drops of your regular shampoo onto the stain.
- Rub the shampoo into the stain.
- Wash the garment as directed and let it air dry.
6. Lemon
Here is another solution to how to remove grease stains from clothes. Lemon contains natural acids that can be effective in cleaning oil and grease stains from garments, sofas, carpets, tables and countertops. It is an effective bleaching agent that can aid in lightening grease stains and lift out an oil stain from garments.
You Will Need:
- Lemon
- Damp cloth
Method:
- Cut the lemon into half.
- Now take a piece of lemon and use it to scrub away the grease or oil stain. Squeeze the lemon to release the juices.
- Keep rubbing until the stain is gone.
- Use a damp cloth to clean the residue.
You can create a powerful cleaning solution by mixing lemon juice with baking soda!
7. Paper Bag
Did you know that a simple brown paper bag can also be used for grease stain removal? This method comes handy when you have to remove oil or grease stains from wallpaper. Brown paper bags tend to absorb oil and can be used to remove grease stains from various surfaces.
You Will Need:
- Brown Paper bag
- Iron
Method:
- Hold the paper bag over the stain.
- Run a warm iron over the bag (while it is placed against the spot). This will draw the oil or grease into the paper.
- Reposition the paper bag as necessary so that the grease collects into fresh paper each time.
- Keep repeating the process until the spot disappears.
8. Baking Soda
This nontoxic ingredient is highly effective in absorbing grease and odours. You can also add baking soda to your dishwashing liquid. This will make it easier to clean greasy dishes by breaking down the grease. This is how to remove oil stains on clothes with the help of baking soda and liquid soap.
You Will Need
- Baking soda
- Liquid soap
Method:
To remove oil stains from clothes:
- Prepare a degreasing solution by mixing baking soda and a few drops of liquid soap.
- Rub the mixture onto the stain. Keep rubbing until the spot disappears.
- Rinse the area with warm water.
To remove oil stains from carpets and rugs:
- Sprinkle some baking soda on the stain.
- Let it sit for 5-6 hours (or overnight).
- Vacuum the area thoroughly.
Baking soda is one of the best solutions to how to remove old grease stains from clothes.
9. Dish Soap
Brands selling dishwashing bars, powders and liquids often lay a lot of emphasis on the grease-fighting power of their products. Dishwashing soaps are formulated to cut through grease and remove residues and stains. This also makes them effective in removing oil stains from clothes, carpets, kitchen counter, cabinets etc.
You Will Need:
- Dishwashing detergent
Method:
To remove oil and grease stains from clothes:
- Put some dishwashing liquid or powder over the stain.
- Rub well to remove the stains.
- Let it sit for a few minutes.
- Run the garment through the wash, preferably on cold.
For cleaning the kitchen after oil splatter:
- Prepare a cleaning mixture by adding some dish soap to warm water.
- Soak a sponge in this solution and use it to wipe counters, cabinets and appliances.
10. Aloe Vera Gel
Not only this ingredient works wonders for your hair and skin, it can also work as a safe and effective cleaning agent. Here is how to remove oil from clothes with the help of aloe vera gel!
You Will Need:
- Aloe vera gel
Method:
- Soak the stained garment in water and let it sit for some time.
- Take out the garment from water and apply aloe vera gel over the stain. Rub vigorously to remove the stains.
- Wash the garment as directed and let it air dry.
Why spend on pricey spot cleaners when you can use these remedies to get rid of stubborn stains. The right way to tackle grease and oil stains is to act swiftly. The more you wait to clean up the stain, the more stubborn it will get. When it is not possible to tackle the stain immediately, at least use a paper towel to dab out the extra oil from it. This way, it will be easier to wash out the stain later on. Read this article on how to remove holi colours.
