March 16, 2026, 4:25 am | Read time: 4 minutes
When cooking, grease splatters cause pain on the skin and stains on clothing. The difference: The pain fades, but the grease stains remain. At least that’s the case if you don’t know which home remedies are particularly effective at removing grease stains.
Removing grease stains can be tedious. If you don’t proceed correctly or use the wrong cleaning agents, the stain will remain even after a wash cycle in the washing machine. myHOMEBOOK offers useful tips for successfully removing grease stains from laundry.
Why Are Grease Stains So Stubborn?
When cleaning clothes and other textiles, grease stains are among the more stubborn types of stains. But why is that? myHOMEBOOK asked an expert. “Very stubborn grease stains are caused by polyunsaturated cooking oils, such as linseed oil, if they are not removed immediately,” explains Dr. Bernd Glassl from the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW). The oil reacts with oxygen in the air, forming layers of cross-linked oil molecules.
Fresh Grease Stains–First Aid Tips
“Like all stains, grease stains are easier to remove the fresher they are,” says the expert. From cooking and baking experiences, you might already know: Fat and water cannot naturally mix. Fat is hydrophobic, meaning water-repellent. It requires an emulsifier to dissolve it. If it’s a fresh grease stain, water alone is not enough to remove it from the fabric. On the contrary, water can even set the stain, making removal more challenging.
If it’s a fresh grease stain, you should proceed as follows:
- Gently dab excess grease with a paper towel.
- Apply a few drops of dish soap to the stain. To avoid creating additional stains, use a colorless dish soap.
- Gently work the soap in with your fingers and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Then rinse with warm water.
- Finally, wash the garment in the washing machine as usual.
5 Home Remedies to Remove Sweat Stains
Tips for Removing Fresh and Dried Coffee Stains
Home Remedies That Remove Grease Stains
Absorb Grease
To absorb the grease, you can use various home remedies. Cornstarch, baking powder, baby powder, or flour are ideal for binding the grease. This way, you can prevent it from penetrating deeper into the fibers.
Remove Grease Stain
To remove grease stains from clothing, an emulsifier is needed. This is an agent that allows non-mixable liquids to combine. In cleaning, these are particularly fat-dissolving soaps. Gall soap is especially suitable. The natural soap consists of curd soap and ox bile. The enzymes in the bile make it particularly effective at dissolving grease stains. Since it is made from natural ingredients, it is also particularly environmentally friendly.
To remove grease stains with gall soap, first moisten the area. Then you can work the soap in spot by spot. Rinse with clear water afterward and wash in the washing machine as usual to remove all soap residues.
Alternatively, you can also use vinegar. This is also an effective grease stain remover. The acid breaks down the fat deposits in the fibers. Simply apply the diluted liquid to the stain and let it sit briefly. For stubborn stains, a soak bath is also suitable. Then wash in the washing machine.
Remove Old Grease Stains from Clothing
Sometimes you don’t have the time or opportunity to remove a grease stain from clothing immediately. Older grease stains are particularly tricky to clean. Due to chemical reactions, fat bonds firmly with the fabric over time. But even such stains are not entirely hopeless in many cases. The general rule is: The older and more stubborn the stain, the longer the cleaning agent should be allowed to work.
Additionally, you can use stronger cleaning agents, such as oxygen bleach. The agent is particularly powerful due to the active oxygen. Compared to chlorine bleach, it is gentler on fibers and the environment. Oxygen bleach can effectively remove grease stains from white clothing. For colored or dark fabrics, the agent should be used sparingly. Also, pay attention to the type of textile. The agent is not suitable for wool, silk, and leather.
My Experience
“Regarding the removal of stubborn stains, oxygen bleach is a real secret weapon. Simply dissolve the powder in warm water and let the fabric soak. I just let my T-shirts float in the water bath overnight. Then washed in the washing machine. The best part is that you don’t have to scrub or work hard. The agent does its thing all by itself. All you need is a little patience.”
Old grease stains can also be treated with blotting paper and an iron. Place the paper on the stain and iron with a hot iron (low to medium temperature). The heat liquefies the fat, and the paper draws it out of the fibers.