How Do I Get Rid of a Grease Stain?
A bad enough grease stain may seem like the end of your favorite shirt. These discolored splotches can make even the most resilient garment end up on the pile of clothes to never be worn again and send you back out to the store to find a replacement. But wait – you don’t need to give up so easily! Here are a few techniques to get that stain out and you back in to your favorite clothes.
Dish Soap and Ammonia:
- Dish detergent, shampoo, or laundry bar soap can all work in this method. First, make you’re your clothing won’t be stained or damaged by your chosen cleaner before covering the stain with the product.
- Next, add just enough ammonia to dampen the area, and gently rub it into the detergent. If the stain has set, you may need to grab a brush for this step.
- After you’ve cleaned off the cleaner and ammonia, rinse the spot with white vinegar. For especially nasty stains, you may need to repeat this step once or twice.
- Run your article of clothing through the washing machine. If you aren’t satisfied with the result, simply repeat the first three steps until the stain is gone.
Dish Soap and Hot Water:
- Turn your article of clothing inside out so you can rub the dish soap on the backside of the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes once you’re done.
- Run a high-pressure stream of hot water over the stain for 20 seconds. You can use your sink, bathtub, or shower depending on which has the highest pressure.
- Use a paper towel to blot the stain. Be careful not to rub, because that will only make the stain worse.
- If these steps don’t work, repeat the steps, but use a brush to rub the dish soap in. Once you’re satisfied, run your article of clothing through the dishwasher.
Absorbent and Dry Spotter:
- This works best for fresh stains. First, blot the stain with a paper towel to get up as much of the grease as you can.
- Cover the stain with an absorbent like salt, talcum powder, baking powder, cornstarch, or cornmeal. Let it sit until you don’t see it absorbing any more of the grease, and brush the stain with a stiff bristled brush.
- If you can still see the stain, use a dry-cleaning solvent or spot lifter with a damp sponge or cloth.
- Add some dry spotter to the stain.
- The last step is to clean off the area with another round of dry-cleaning solvent, let it dry, and run it through the wash.
Sometimes a stain can be too much to handle on your own. When you find that you need some help, call in The Maids for backup. You can visit our website for a free price estimate, or give us a call at (972) 471-9509. With locations in more than 90 cities across North America, getting everything clean is only a phone call away.
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