← All articles
Stain Removal

How to Remove Oil Stains from Clothes (Any Fabric)

18 April 2025·5 min read

A step-by-step method to remove fresh and dried oil or grease stains from clothes — plus what to do with delicate fabrics.

Oil and grease stains are stubborn because oil repels water, so a normal wash just spreads them. Here is a method that actually works on oil stains on clothes — and when to stop and call a professional.

Act fast, but do not rub

Blot up excess oil with a paper towel. Do not rub — that pushes oil deeper into the fibres. The sooner you treat it, the better your odds.

The step-by-step method

  1. Lift the excess. Blot gently; scrape off any solid grease with a blunt edge.
  2. Absorb. Cover the stain with cornflour, talcum powder or baking soda and leave for 15–30 minutes to draw out the oil.
  3. Brush it off. Remove the powder.
  4. Apply dish soap. Dish soap is designed to cut grease. Work a small amount into the stain with your fingers or a soft brush.
  5. Rinse with warm water (check the care label first) and check the stain in good light.
  6. Wash as usual, but air-dry — heat from a dryer sets any remaining oil permanently.

Dried or old oil stains

Old stains are harder but not hopeless. Repeat the dish-soap step, or pre-treat with a stain remover before washing. It may take two rounds.

When to stop and get help

For silk, wool, leather, suede or anything labelled "dry clean only," do not experiment — water and household cleaners can ruin them. Blot, then get it to a professional quickly.

Rule of thumb: the more you value the garment, the sooner you should hand it to a specialist.

Our dry cleaning team handles oil and grease on delicate fabrics every day. Book a pickup and we will take it from there.

Let us handle the hard part.

Free doorstep pickup and delivery across Chandigarh & Mohali, with expert fabric care and order tracking.

Book a pickup →