Whether it’s from butter, barbeque sauce or fried chicken, grease can wreck havoc on clothing, upholstery, and other materials. In my last post I addressed the importance of tackling a grease stain as soon as possible to lessen the chances of it permanently damaging fabric. In addition to pretreating the grease with laundry detergent, there are other ways to reduce its harsh affect on your favorite materials:
Dishwashing Soap: Liquid dishwashing soaps, such as Dawn are excellent in the fight against grease stains. The soaps are specially formulated with grease fighting ingredients that emulsify grease bonds, so that water can wash away the stain. Simply apply a few drops of the liquid dishwashing soap directly to the stain and work it in with your fingertips or a soft bristle toothbrush. Let it sit for about an hour, and then launder as usual.
WD-40: The popular multi-purpose product that protects metal from rust and corrosion and fixes squeaky door hinges, also helps remove grease stains from fabric. Like Dawn dishwashing soap, WD-40 is an emulsifier, which helps lift oil from clothing. It is especially effective on dried butter stains. Simply spray some WD-40 on the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes. After about 15 minutes you should notice the dried butter start to emulsify. Once that happens, you can place the garment into the washing machine using the hottest water the item can stand.
Regardless of the cleaning method you employ, it’s important to examine the stained item as soon as you remove it from the washing machine. Some grease stains are difficult to detect when the garment is wet. It’s never a good idea to place a wet stained item into the dryer, as the stain will be almost impossible to remove once it is baked into the fabric.