How to get oil out of clothes: step by step, with expert tips

We asked laundry expert Dave Lambert, co-founder of cleaning firm Laundry Republic, for his advice, and worked with him to come up with this simple step-by-step guide for getting oil stains out of clothes at home.

• For more laundry advice, take a look at our roundup of the best tumble dryers or for a cheaper way to dry your clothes indoors, see our pick of the best heated airers.
• To tackle other stains, take a look at our pick of the best stain removers.

Step-by-step guide to getting oil stains out of clothing

You will need:

• Bicarbonate of soda or cornflour/cornstarch
• Washing up liquid
• Washing machine
• Laundry detergent (optional)

Step 1: Checking the Care Label

Check the care label on your garment. This will guide you on the best way – and the right temperature – to wash your item without causing any damage.

If it has a circle symbol on it, either with no letters inside it or with a P, F or A inside it, this means your garment is suitable for dry-cleaning, which is something you may want to consider. "Dry cleaning is the gold standard for removing oil," says laundry expert Dave Lambert, "since it has the ability to dissolve grease. And certainly, if your garment is marked 'dry clean only', don't attempt to clean it at home."

If you can clean your garment at home and you'd rather not spend money on dry cleaning or the care label has a circle with a cross through it (not suitable for dry cleaning), then move on to our next step.

Step 2: Absorbing Excess Oil

Try to soak up any excess oil.

To do this, laundry expert Dave recommends covering the stain with a layer of Bicarbonate of soda or cornflour (cornstarch) and then leaving it to sit for 15 to 30 minutes. This will hopefully absorb the excess oil and allow you to brush it off.

Step 3: Removing Excess Bicarbonate of Soda or Cornflour

Standing over the sink, shake any unabsorbed bicarbonate of soda or cornflour off your garment.

Step 4: Applying Washing Up Liquid

Next, you need to break down the oil with an emulsifier. Dave recommends using washing up liquid for this.

Drip or pour a small amount of washing up liquid onto the stain, rub it in gently and allow it to sit and soak in further for 15 to 30 minutes.

Step 5: Washing in the Machine

Now pop your garment into the washing machine and to wash it at the highest temperature recommend by the care label. Do not try and wash it in cold water, as this may cause the stain to set.

You may want to add a stain-removal agent, such as Vanish Oxi-Action, to the wash, too. Lisa Williams, Executive Housekeeper of The Grand hotel in York recommends doing this, "as it gets out oil stains not only from cotton fabrics but also from delicates like silk and wool". Take a look at our pick of the best washing powders, liquids and pods for more recommendations.

Step 6: Waiting for the Wash Cycle

Wait for the washing cycle to finish.

Step 7: Checking and Repeating

Once the wash cycle is done, check that the oil stain has gone. If the stain is still there, repeat Steps 2 to 6 again. Do not dry your garment until the stain has been completely removed.

Step 8: Drying the Garment

Hang your garment up to dry. If you're not able to dry it outdoors, try our ideas for How to dry your clothes indoors.

Top tips for removing oil stains from clothes

Hotel laundry expert Lisa Williams gave us these top tips for dealing with oil stains:

• Always blot your stain
• Take action as soon as possible. The longer you let oil sit on an item, the deeper it will seep into the fabric causing staining, so get blotting and washing as soon as possible.

Pic credit: Getty Images

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