The Easiest Way To Clean Grease Stains From Your Laundry Is Hiding In Your Kitchen

No matter how careful you are, accidents do happen. Dropping oil or oil-based products on a brand-new outfit or a piece of furniture is one of those unfortunate situations. That's because grease stains are notoriously difficult to remove, as oil is hydrophobic, which means it won't mix with water or get washed away easily. Once it have set into the fabric, it becomes even more stubborn. Luckily, if you don't have spot cleaners or pre-treatment sprays at your disposal, the next best thing might be hiding in your kitchen — artificial sweeteners. These can help spot clean difficult-to-wash fabrics by lifting the oily substance and preventing it from spreading or setting in. 

This likely works because, like other powdery substances, the particles in artificial sweeteners have a large surface area, allowing them to absorb oil. You might have come across the advice to use baking soda or salt for the same reason. However, salt and baking soda are both abrasive substances that are not suitable for use on delicate fabrics. Baking soda can also cause discoloration, and salt can even damage the washing machine. As long as you use artificial sweeteners with no added colors on a fresh oil stain and follow up with a full wash afterward, you can rest assured that your fabrics will be safe and clean.

Before we get into the process of removing grease stains, it's important to understand that artificial sweeteners are only the first step. Using a soap or degreaser afterward is essential to remove the stain entirely. Now that we have that out of the way, you'll need to act fast to prevent permanent staining. The first thing to do is blot the stain with a napkin or an absorbent fabric to remove excess oil. (You don't want to aggressively rub the material, as it can push the oil deeper and make it more difficult to clean.) Then, cover the stain with artificial sweetener and leave it for 15 to 30 minutes. You can then brush off or gently wipe away the powder. 

When that is done, massage a few drops of liquid soap, dish soap, or even shampoo on the stain. It might seem like an uncommon use for shampoo, but all types of soapy substances have the ability to surround and pull oil from fabric and push it towards water, removing stains. Before you throw the stained material into the washing machine, check your laundry's care label and ensure that your cleaning efforts are moving in the right direction. Cold water can cause grease stains to solidify and become much more difficult to remove from fabric. Additionally, drying your garment — subjecting it to heat — without initial stain removal is one of the worst laundry mistakes that will set the oil and cause permanent staining. Put the item into the washing machine on the warmest setting recommended by the label when possible.