How To Get Grease Out Of Fabric

3 Incredibly Easy (and Effective!) Ways to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes

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As you know by now, we are officially in burger season. And that means every last one of us is bound to end up with a grease stain or three on our favorite summer pieces. It's a dance you're familiar with: Overjoyed with excitement, you take a bite into a fresh-off-the-grill burger that's stacked high with all sorts of fixings. You get a mouthful. And, out the opposite end, drips some grease. Right onto your best summer dress! But it's not like you're gonna stop eating burgers.

The good news is that you don't have to. And you don't have to resort to wearing a poncho, either. Because there are three very simple tricks to getting grease stains out of clothing.

(Image credit: Erika Tracy)

Our Favorite Method for Getting Grease Stains Out of Clothes: Dish Soap

This method makes perfect sense when you think about it. Liquid dish soap was designed to cut through grease, so what's stopping it from cutting through grease on a shirt versus a baking sheet? Nothing! Just squirt a bit of dish soap right onto the stain and let it sit for a little while before washing. Once the wash cycle is done, check for the stain. If you don't see it (you likely won't!), you're clear to send the item through the dryer. Bonus: This trick even works for old stains. Ones that have been washed and dried repeatedly!

We've had great success with this method, but in case you want others, here goes.

Credit: Ghazalle Badiozamani/Kitchn

Method 2: Baking soda

If the stain is fresh — like, just-happened-kind-of-fresh — baking soda can its part to absorb and lift the stain. Just sprinkle the baking soda on top of the grease and wait for five to 10 minutes. Then, use a brush to scrub the baking soda into the stain. The baking soda will change color (read: turn brown). Once it's all brown, scrape the baking soda away and repeat until the stain is lifted and the baking soda no longer changes color. You can then do the dish soap trick from above to be extra thorough.

Method 3: Salt + Stain remover

Consider adding a can of Shout Advanced Grease-Busting Foam to your laundry line up. Buy it now and you'll have it on hand when an emergency strikes. While you're eating, sprinkle the stain with salt (it works like baking soda to absorb and lift the stain). When you can do the laundry, spray the stain with this foam wash the garment in the hottest water that's safe for the fabric and make sure the stain is gone before you dry the item.

Do you have any sure-fire tricks for removing food and grease stains from clothing?

Lisa Freedman

Lifestyle Director

Lisa Freedman is the Lifestyle Director at The Kitchn. She has never met a cheese or a washi tape she didn't like. She lives in New York state with her husband and their pup, Millie.

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