Grease stains are tough to get out of clothes. They can be especially hard to remove if you wash the garment right away. The longer you wait, the better your chances will be at removing grease stains.
Baking soda is one of the most versatile cleaning products you can have in your home. It can be used to clean everything from carpets to ovens and microwaves, to bathrooms and kitchens.
Baking soda also has some surprising uses around the house. You can use it as an abrasive cleaner for pots and pans, as well as a deodorizer in the refrigerator or garbage cans. You can even use baking soda to get stains out of clothes.
Can Baking Soda Remove Grease?
Yes, Baking soda is a great cleaning product that can be used to remove grease stains from your clothes.
The best way to use baking soda on clothing is by mixing it with water and rubbing it directly into the stain. Then, let the mixture sit for five minutes before washing as you normally would.
How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes with Baking Soda
Here’s how to get grease stains out of clothes with baking soda:
Blot the stain
Start by blotting the stain with a paper towel or cloth. This will help to soak up any excess grease or oil so that it doesn’t interfere with the baking soda’s ability to absorb it.
Sprinkle baking soda onto the stain
Sprinkle baking soda onto the stain until it is completely covered in powdery white crystals. Let the baking soda-covered stain sit for at least 10 minutes — up to 1 hour.
Use a toothbrush to rub the stain.
Take a clean toothbrush and gently rub baking soda directly into your clothing using gentle circular motions for about 30 seconds per area of discoloration until it disappears completely from sight.
Rinse
Rinse out your washcloth, sponge, or sponge mop in hot water and scrub at the stained area again until it’s removed from your clothing item completely.
Baking Soda and Water
Mix a paste of water and baking soda on a spoon or in a bowl. The paste should be thick enough that it doesn’t fall off the spoon when you lift it.
- Rub the paste onto the greasy stain until it’s evenly covered with the paste. You may need to blot some of the excess paste off with a paper towel so that it doesn’t drip onto other areas of your clothing or carpeting after you apply it.
- Let the mixture sit on the stain for about 30 minutes before washing as usual in cold water with detergent.
- If there are still some stubborn grease stains left after washing, repeat as needed until they’re gone.
Mix Baking Soda and Vinegar
The vinegar will help neutralize any remaining acid from the grease, which helps prevent the redeposition of the oil onto your clothing. Here’s what you do:
- Mix equal amounts of baking soda and vinegar together in a bowl. The mixture should form a thick paste when it is put together.
- Use your fingers to rub the mixture over the greasy stains on your clothes.
- Leave the mixture on your clothes for at least 30 minutes before washing them in cold water.
What Other Methods to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes?
Use Vinegar
White vinegar is an all-natural cleaner that you can use to remove grease stains from clothes. You can also use it to remove stains from carpets or upholstery.
To clean your clothes with vinegar, mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 4 cups of warm water in a bowl. Lay the stained clothing on top of the bowl and soak for 30 minutes before washing as usual.
This should remove most grease stains from your clothing. If the stain has not come out completely after soaking, try using a scrub brush or toothbrush to scrub the stain until it comes out completely.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is another natural cleaning agent that works well at removing grease stains from clothing.
Mix 3 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon dishwashing detergent and 1-quart warm water in a bowl or bucket before soaking your stained clothing in it for 30 minutes (or overnight). Wash as usual after soaking the clothing in this solution overnight.
WD 40
WD 40 is known as a lubricating oil that helps prevent rusting on metal parts, but it can also remove grease from fabric if sprayed directly onto the stain and allowed to dry before washing as usual.
Dishwashing Detergent
Use dishwashing detergent to remove grease from clothing. The detergent will help loosen up the stain. Once you’ve removed all the excess grease, launder with cold water and a laundry detergent designed for greasy clothes.
Baby Powder
Sprinkle baby powder on the stain and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Gently rub the baby powder into the stain until it disappears. Afterward, launder with warm water and a laundry detergent designed for greasy clothes.
Dawn Soap
Dawn dish soap is one of the best products for removing grease stains from fabric because it contains surfactants that lift greasy soils from fabric fibers and allow them to rinse away easily in cold water without leaving residue behind on your clothes.
Start by filling the sink with warm water and adding a few drops of dawn detergent. Add the stained garments and let them soak for at least 15 minutes before laundering normally in cold water with no other additives or softeners added.
Will Baking Soda and Vinegar Remove Grease?
Yes. Baking soda is great for removing grease and oil stains from clothing. So is vinegar. Adding a little vinegar to baking soda will make it more effective.
How Does Vinegar and Baking Soda Remove Grease Stains from Clothes?
Vinegar and baking soda together make a powerful combination for removing grease stains from clothing. The reason that they work so well together is that vinegar acts as a degreaser and grease cutter, while baking soda helps absorb the oil left behind by the grease stain.
How Does Baking Soda Remove Stains from Clothes?
Baking soda can also be used to remove stains from clothing without using vinegar. It works as an effective stain remover by absorbing excess moisture and odors from fabric fibers.
When baking soda comes in contact with a stain on your clothing, it will instantly begin to absorb any excess moisture or oil left over after washing your clothes in warm water with detergent or soap.
This leaves behind no residue or odor on your clothes at all, just fresh clean clothes.
