# Removing grease stains from clothes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 4, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926 "2019-02-04T03:34:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Time\_Like\_Tears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Time\_Like\_Tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Like_Tears)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/21 "2019-02-04T20:45:46Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Chalk! > Cover both sides of the fabric, let it sit for several hours. If it’s bad you may have to do it twice. The chalk, which easily washes out, absorbs the grease out of the fabric. Your grandmother knew this method, I wager. This too! Same concept as the cornstarch, but what I have found is that it’s a lot less work to use cornstarch on soft stuff like clothes since it’s already powdered, and chalk is great when you get greasy spots on more rigid surfaces like your shoes. Perfect for canvas sneakers, even suede - just brush well after. ---
**Author:** ![OleOneEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f14d63/32.png) [@OleOneEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OleOneEye)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/22 "2019-02-04T22:18:06Z")
Anyone else use Murphy’s Oil Soap for this? ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/23 "2019-02-04T22:25:00Z")
Felsnaptha bar soap. Scrub, then wash. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/24 "2019-02-04T23:58:22Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Dawn dishwashing liquid. Put a few drops onto the stain, rub it in, get it wet, and then work it in again (throughly) with an old soft toothbrush (or get one from the dollar store for laundry purposes). Launder as normal. It’s always worked wonders for me. > > Shout, Spray n’ Wash, Tide pens and the like have never worked very well for me. Dawn rocks. Seconded on the Dawn. Handy since I can’t seem to eat anything without dropping some greasy thing on my shirt. Guess I need a bib. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/25 "2019-02-05T01:16:35Z")
> [@Periwinkle](#): > > I have had some luck soaking in OxiClean in warm water. For really stubborn stains, make a paste of OxiClean and water, apply to both sides of the fabric, and leave overnight. The gel works pretty well, too. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/26 "2019-02-05T01:26:33Z")
I have had great success with liquid dishwashing detergent and hot water. You saturate the stain in the detergent, scrub the hell out of it, and rinse with hot water, and then stick it in the hamper until wash day. I’ve been able to salvage many items of clothing this way. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/27 "2019-02-05T02:17:22Z")
Goop or GoJo, like others have said, are your best bet. Fast Orange is OK, but use the smooth kind, not the pumice stuff. The only side effect of Goop or GoJo is a telltale UV signature under a black light! ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/28 "2019-02-05T02:45:26Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Goop or GoJo, like others have said, are your best bet. Fast Orange is OK, but use the smooth kind, not the pumice stuff. The only side effect of Goop or GoJo is a telltale UV signature under a black light! Oh, wow, I didn’t know about the UV effect. That has the potential to be badly misinterpreted. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/29 "2019-02-05T18:34:42Z")
> [@pohjonen](#): > > Seconded on the Dawn. Handy since I can’t seem to eat anything without dropping some greasy thing on my shirt. Guess I need a bib. This is me. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926/30 "2019-02-05T20:01:18Z")
Another vote for Dawn. A couple of drops, rub it in good, leave it for a while to let it bond to the grease in the stain, then launder as normal. Don’t use too much, especially if you have a front-loading washer; too much foaming can cause problems with those. But it should only take a few drops. I’ve even successfully used Dawn on grease spots that have been through multiple wash and dry cycles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grease-stains-from-clothes/828926.md?page=1)