How do you get bacon grease out of clothes

How do you get bacon grease out of clothes

Wondering how to remove grease stains? What about how to remove grease stains from cotton specifically?  Once the grease hits your clothing, you may be tempted to consider it a lost cause, but it's not! There is a way to get rid of grease stains (you can even try it if they're already set, but it's best if they're fresh).

Why Does Grease Cling to Clothing and Refuse to Come Out?
Because grease is a lipid and insoluble in water, it's more difficult to get out than most other stains. An average laundry cycle won't do the trick because grease grabs onto the fibers of the fabric. The answer - concentrated attention in the form of a pre-treatment (don't worry, it's not complicated or expensive)!

In this case, the baking soda draws the stain out and away from the fabric and the liquid dish soap breaks up what remains. Surfactants in the dish soap are the key when you need to remove grease stains. These affect the hydrogen bonds in the water in a way that allows it to cut through the grease stains and wash them right out.

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1 | What You’ll Need

  • Baking soda
  • A toothbrush
  • Dish soap
  • A piece of cardboard or dark towel you don't mind transferring the stain to

2 | What to Do

  1. Lay the article of clothing flat.
  2. Place the cardboard or old towel underneath the stain.
  3. If the stain is fresh and hasn't been through the washer and dryer yet, sprinkle baking soda on top of the grease. If it has set, pour enough dish soap onto the stain to cover it well. Leave the baking soda or dish soap on the clothing for about 5-10 minutes.
  4. Use a toothbrush to scrub the baking soda or dish soap into the stain, really working it in (be careful not to damage the fabric, though).
  5. If your stain is fresh, you'll notice the baking soda changing color. Scrape the first round of baking soda away and apply more.
  6. Repeat the process until the baking soda no longer turns brown.
  7. If your stain is fresh, now is the time to add dish detergent (if the stain is still there). If your stain is old, sprinkle enough baking soda onto the dish detergent to cover the stained area.
  8. Scrub again with the toothbrush.
  9. Let the mixture set for 10-15 minutes.
  10. Wash the clothing as you normally would, using the hottest water the fabric will allow. Some cotton clothing is prone to shrinking in hot water, so use your best judgment depending on the type of clothing that's stained. Mama's Laundry Talk has tips for selecting the best water temperature.
  11. Check to make sure the stain is gone before drying the garment.

3 | Expert Tips

Wear a protective apron when you're working with grease. This will protect your clothing and prevent more stains on your clothes!

Try to remove the grease stain as soon as you notice it. Letting it set will make it more difficult to remove the grease stains from the clothes.

Housecleaning Central suggests trying aloe vera on grease stains. Always try a stain removal method on a small section of the clothing first. Though baking soda and dishwashing liquid should be safe on cotton, it's always best to be sure.

If you have a huge mess on your hands and grease is on more than your clothes, Reader's Digest has some tips for removing grease stains from all sorts of surfaces.

4 | That was Easy

There's no longer any need to worry about how to remove grease stains--not even how to remove grease stains from cotton! Sure, it takes a little time, but the items you need are likely already in your home. Removing grease stains may have seemed hopeless before, but now you know it's possible to get that cotton garment looking brand new again!

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We've all been there: Despite your best attempts to stay clean and stain-free, cooking oil splatters on your sleeve or a slice of pizza plops in your lap. The good news is that your grease-stained garment isn't ruined forever. Learn how to get grease out of clothes quickly with this handy guide, which provides specific steps for how to remove grease stains from different types of fabrics. Several stain removal methods use household items you probably already have on hand, including cornstarch, baby powder, and regular liquid laundry detergent. Try these tricks to get grease and oil out of clothing and make your garments look good as new.

Alicia Long / BHG

How to Get Grease Out of Canvas Clothing

To treat a cooking oil stain on canvas, saturate the stained area with a heavy-duty liquid detergent, pretreatment spray, or a thin paste made from powdered detergent and water. Gently work into the stained area with your finger or a clean, white cloth, and let sit for a few minutes. Wash using the warmest water recommended for the fabric. Let the garment air-dry. Grease stains like cooking oil tend to disappear when wet, so make sure the stain is gone before placing it in a dryer, as heat from the dryer will set the stain. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone, then dry as directed on the garment label.

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Chenille

For washable chenille items, immediately apply cornstarch or baby powder (which act as absorbents) to the cooking oil stain. Allow the powder to sit on the stain for at least five minutes, then gently brush off. If the stain is small, this might be enough. If not, apply a stain pretreatment product according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wash the item according to the garment's label. Air-dry completely and check to make sure the stain is gone before placing the garment in a dryer.

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Corduroy Clothes

For washable corduroy items, immediately apply an absorbent such as cornstarch or baby powder to the cooking oil stain. Allow the absorbent to sit on the stain for at least five minutes, then gently brush off. If the stain is small, this might be enough. If not, apply a stain pretreatment product according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wash the item according to the garment label. Let the clothing air-dry and check to make sure the stain is gone before using a dryer.

How to Get Grease Out of Cotton Clothing

To treat a cooking oil stain on cotton, saturate the stained area with a heavy-duty liquid detergent, pretreatment spray, or a thin paste made from powdered detergent and water. Gently work into the stained area with your finger or a clean, white cloth, and let sit for a few minutes. Wash using the warmest water recommended for the fabric. Air-dry the garment, as grease stains can seem to disappear when wet, and heat from the dryer will set the stain. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone, then dry as directed on the garment label.

Jacob Fox

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Leather

Gently blot to remove excess oil. Quality saddle soap should remove any residue. If it doesn't, try rubbing with an absorbent powder, such as cornstarch or baking powder. Let sit a few hours or overnight. Brush the powder off; repeat if necessary. Finish with a leather cleaner and conditioner. Note: Follow the manufacturer's instructions on both the saddle soap and leather cleaner for the best results.

How to Get Grease Out of Linen Clothes

To remove grease stains from linen, saturate the stained area with a heavy-duty liquid detergent, pretreatment spray, or thin paste made from powdered detergent and water. Gently work into the stained area with your finger or a clean, white cloth. Wash using the warmest water recommended for the fabric. Air-dry, because grease stains seem to disappear when wet, and heat from the dryer will set the stain. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.

Alicia Long / BHG

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Nylon, Polyester, Spandex, or Lycra

You can follow the same steps to get grease out of clothing made of nylon, polyester, spandex, or Lycra. Use a pretreatment product specifically made for oily stains, or rub liquid detergent into the stained area. Wash the garment using the warmest water recommended for the clothing. Air-dry, and repeat if stain remains. Once the stain has disappeared, dry as directed.

Food grease stains on nylon and polyester are more easily removed the sooner you can treat them. As soon as possible, apply an aerosol pretreatment laundry stain remover for at least one minute before washing. If the stain is set in, you might want to rub the food grease area with liquid detergent, too. Wash using the hottest temperature of water recommended on the clothing care label, then air-dry, and inspect the area carefully. For any remaining stain, wash using liquid chlorine bleach (whites) or color-safe bleach (colors). Air-dry, and repeat as needed.

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Silk

Blot away as much oil as possible. Apply an absorbent powder, such as cornstarch or baking powder, and let sit overnight. Gently brush off, and reapply if necessary. If the stain persists, dab on a small amount of clear, grease-cutting dish detergent. Let sit for at least an hour. Dab with water to remove. Blot dry.

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Suede

Blot the excess oil on the suede. Dip a cloth into ground cornmeal, and rub into stain using a circular motion. When dry, gently brush off powder with a wire brush. Repeat if necessary. If stain persists, test lemon juice in an inconspicuous place. If the suede looks fine, rub the stain with lemon juice, and hold it in the steam from a boiling teakettle for a few minutes. Brush with a wire brush.

Jay Wilde

How to Get Grease Out of Velvet

For washable velvet items, immediately apply cornstarch or baby powder (absorbents) to the cooking oil stain. Allow the absorbent to sit on the stain for at least five minutes, then gently brush off. If the stain is small, this might be enough. If not, apply a stain pretreatment product according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wash the item according to the garment label. Air-dry. Grease stains, such as cooking oil, seem to disappear when wet, so check to make sure the stain is gone before placing it in a dryer because the heat from a dryer can set the stain.

How to Get Grease Out of Wool

Gently scrape off as much cooking oil as you can. Then apply an absorbent substance, such as cornstarch or baking soda, to the surface of the wool, and let sit for at least an hour. Gently brush off, and reapply if needed. If stain remains, wet the area carefully with cool, sudsy water spiked with a little vinegar. Blot with clear water and blot dry. If stain still remains, try a consumer dry-cleaning solvent, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Does bacon grease wash out of clothes?

You can apply a solution of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. Mix both in small, equal parts and spray some on the stain. Allow the solution to sit for about 15 minutes before you launder. You should get rid of the stain totally before washing the clothes.

How do you get dried grease out of clothes?

Lay your clothing flat..
Place an old towel or cardboard under the stain..
Sprinkle baking soda on top of the grease..
Let the baking soda sit for about 10 minutes while watching for it to change color as it soaks up the stain..
Scrape off the baking soda..
Wash clothing with hot water..

Does vinegar get grease out of clothes?

Clothing. Richardson says it can be “very frustrating” to get grease stains out of clothing — but there is a simple trick. “Use a solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water on the stain. Apply liberally and then treat with laundry soap and water.

How do you get baking grease out of clothes?

Blot away as much oil as possible. Apply an absorbent powder, such as cornstarch or baking powder, and let sit overnight. Gently brush off, and reapply if necessary. If the stain persists, dab on a small amount of clear, grease-cutting dish detergent.