Cooking is a messy business that usually involves a few splashes and spills here and there, especially if you’re using oil. As the oil heats up in the pan it can easily spatter onto your clothes leaving a unsightly greasy stains that are tricky to remove. Oil and grease are particularly troublesome when they get onto your clothes as they soak into the fabric fibres, leaving dark and discoloured marks on your outfit. While the natural response would be to throw the dirtied garment straight into the washing machine, unfortunately a quick wash cycle alone won’t solve the problem.
Instead, you need to draw the oil and grease out of your clothes first, especially before it’s exposed to hot water as high temperatures can set the stain if it’s not treated properly beforehand. So before turning to your washing machine, cleaning experts recommend using a cheap item in your kitchen to soak the stain – and that’s where dish soap comes in.
According to experts, applying dish soap directly to the greasy stain and gently rubbing it in (either by hand or using a soft-bristled brush) will do the trick.
Simply allow the soap to to sit for a while before rinsing your garment in cold water and then putting it in the washing machine for a rinse and wash.
You can pick up an off-brand bottle of liquid dish soap for just 55p at Asda, so it’s a really cheap and effective way to banish pesky stains from your wardobe.
Engineering and technology company Bosch says: “Dish soap is another secret weapon when removing oil stains from clothes. It should come as no surprise that the soap we use on dishes is formulated to cut through food grease – that’s its job, after all.
“Once you’ve blotted your stain, apply a little liquid dish soap and rub it in gently as a pre-wash treatment. This is where you could also use your old, dry toothbrush to help loosen up any oil that remains. Let the dish soap sit for around five minutes before rinsing. Then throw your garment into the washing machine.”
If dish soap fails to do the trick, experts say blotting the stain with a paper towel and then applying baking soda is also effective, although it’s suggested that the powdery kitchen substance is left to work its magic for 24 hours – so this is a good option for really tough stains.
Households are urged not to put oil-stained clothes in the tumble dryer after washing, as this can risk setting the stain. As such, it’s best to stick to air-drying so you can check the problem area and give it another wash if needed.
Bosch adds: “Don’t put oil-stained clothes in the tumble dryer! You can’t always see if an oil stain has come out while your garment is still wet. That’s because oil stains often look the same as a damp patch, making your fabric a shade or two darker than usual.
“It’s best to air-dry potentially oil-stained garments so you can keep an eye on the marked area and avoid setting the stain.”