How to Get Rid of Grease and Oil Stains on Your Favorite Dress
Grease and oil stains can be a huge pain, especially when they end up on your favorite dress. But don’t despair, there are several simple steps you can take to get rid of those stubborn stains without ruining the fabric.
Updated 20 Feb 2023
By Cyryl Wozniak
The first thing to do is determine what type of fabric your dress is made of. Different materials require different cleaning techniques, so it’s important to understand how best to proceed. For instance, dresses made from natural fibers like linen and cotton can be treated with a combination of liquid dish detergent and white vinegar.
Begin by diluting one tablespoon of the liquid dish detergent in one cup of warm water. Then, apply solution directly to the stained area and gently massage it into fabric with a soft cloth. Once detergent is fully absorbed, spray the area with the white vinegar, making sure to keep the dress as flat as possible to prevent it from stretching or shrinking.
Let the vinegar sit for 15 minutes before dabbing away any excess moisture. If the stain still remains, repeat this process until it’s gone. For tougher stains, you may need to use a specialized grease-cutting cleaner like WD-40 or an all-purpose cleaner.
If your dress is made from delicate fabrics like silk, you’ll want to avoid using any harsh chemicals. Instead, begin by blotting the stain with a clean, damp cloth and then rubbing the stained area with a gentle liquid laundry detergent.
Once the detergent is absorbed, rinse area with cold water and then dab away any excess moisture. If the stain persists, mix two tablespoons of ammonia with one cup of cold water and carefully apply it to the stained area. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes and then rinse with cold water before laundering as usual.
No matter what type of fabric you’re dealing with, always spot test a hidden area first to make sure the fabric won’t be damaged by the cleaning solution. And never put a stained dress in a hot dryer—this could cause the stain to permanently set into the fabric.
With a little patience and the right cleaning method, that pesky grease or oil stain on your favorite dress will be a thing of the past in no time!
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