Oil and grease on fabric

Short answer: Grease does not dissolve in water. Put a little mild washing up liquid directly on the stain, leave it for ten minutes, and then wash the garment at 40 degrees.

Water alone does not work

Oil and grease repel water and stay in the fibre, even when you rinse thoroughly. You need something that binds grease and water together so the stain can be rinsed out. That is exactly what washing up liquid is made for. This applies to everything in women's bamboo joggers, where a cooking splash easily lands.

Washing up liquid is the simplest

Put a few drops of mild washing up liquid directly on the stain and work it in gently with a finger. Leave it for about ten minutes so it can surround the grease. Rinse from the inside with lukewarm water. Then wash as usual, including a men's bamboo tank top, where stains often land on the chest.

Start as soon as possible

A fresh grease stain sits mostly on the surface and is easier to remove. The longer it stays, the deeper the oil moves into the fibre. Blot off excess oil with kitchen paper, without rubbing, as soon as you notice it. That leaves less to treat when you get to the sink.

Powder on very fresh stains

On a very fresh stain, a little talc, cornflour or plain flour can soak up some of the oil. Sprinkle on a thin layer, leave it for fifteen minutes and brush it off gently. It will not remove the whole stain, but it makes it smaller before you move on to washing up liquid.

Wash at 40 degrees

After pretreatment, wash the garment at 40 degrees with similar colours. Turn it inside out first. A little warmth in the wash helps the detergent lift the last traces of grease. Always follow the care label and choose a programme that suits the fabric.

Do not dry until it is gone

Heat drives grease deeper into the fibre and can make the stain almost impossible to remove. Always check the stain before the garment goes in the dryer or onto a radiator. If a dark shadow remains, repeat the treatment. The same applies to bamboo sweatwear, where the fabric is thicker.

Why grease stains look dark

A grease stain often shows as a dark shadow, even when there is no colour in it. That is because the oil changes how light is reflected in the fabric. The fabric looks slightly darker and more see through where the oil sits. Once the grease is fully washed out, the shadow goes too.

When the stain is old

Old grease stains can often only be partly removed. Try covering the stain with washing up liquid and leaving it for an hour before washing again. Repeat a few times if you see progress. Avoid strong solvents that can damage the fabric, and be patient, as it often takes more than one round.

Frequently asked questions

Do talc or flour help

On very fresh stains, powder can soak up some of the oil before you treat the rest with washing up liquid. On older stains the effect is small.

Can old grease stains be removed

Often partly. The longer they have sat and the more heat they have had, the harder it gets. Repeated treatment with washing up liquid gives the best chance.

Why do grease stains look like dark shadows

Because the oil changes how light is reflected in the fabric. It looks darker where the oil sits, and the shadow disappears once the grease is washed out.