The Beauty Essential That Can Get Fresh Grease Stains Out Of Your Clothes

Nearly starving, you take a big bite of your favorite food and immediately feel it, grease trickling down your chin and making a mark on your favorite shirt. We've all been there, and while you might think it's the end for your grease-covered clothing, don't toss it just yet. Oily splotches may be some of the toughest laundry stains to get out, but it's not impossible to remove them. One of your go-to beauty essentials might hold the key to refreshing your garment — whether the grease is from a piping hot piece of pizza or an afternoon spent working in the garage. The product? Dry shampoo.

Dry shampoo gained popularity for its ability to absorb excess oil from a person's scalp and hair, extending the time needed between hair washes. Thanks to some of its ingredients, including cornstarch, talc, tapioca starch, and arrowroot powder, it can also soak up grease from fabric. But, for it to be effective, it's best to use it as soon as possible. It's also important to use non-tinted dry shampoo, as tinted products could potentially stain your light colored clothing items.

Grease stains that have already made it through the washer and dryer are much harder to get rid of, as heat from the dryer can set in the stain. In fact, using the dryer is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when washing stained clothing. The good news is, fresh grease stains are usually manageable, and your first stop for grease removal should be your dry shampoo. Start by laying your garment on a flat surface, and spray dry shampoo on the stain until it's covered with powder. Then, let it sit for at least an hour, but ideally a few hours, so that the ingredients in the dry shampoo have time to absorb the oil. After you've given the dry shampoo ample time to soak up the stain, use a spoon or butter knife to knock the excess dry shampoo into the trash. If the oil stain appears to be gone, wash and dry as usual.

If there are still some remnants of grease left on the garment, kick up your grease-fighting game with another household essential: dish soap. Apply a drop or two of dish soap to the stain, rub it in with your fingers, and then launder the item as usual. Make sure the stain is gone before placing the clothing in the dryer. If it's not gone, you can repeat this process or try another grease-soaking hack, like this bathroom essential that easily removes grease from clothing.