How I remove grease stains from clothing using just two household ingredients — it works for me every time
And despite trying to avoid the mishap in the first place — I always wear an apron when I'm cooking — I still managed to get oil and grease marks on my clothing.
However, besides various attempts using 'miracle' off-the-shelf laundry sprays that don't always work, I've discovered my own cure. What's more, this stain-removing solution uses two kitchen staples that you probably already have on hand.
I recently spotted some grease marks on my favorite pair of shorts, so before putting them in the wash, I sprayed the oily spots with a laundry stain remover. However, much to my annoyance, when I removed the item from the wash, the stain remover hadn't budged the stain one iota.
Being part of the Homes team at Tom's Guide means I'm all for trying out laundry hacks, so even though the item had gone through one wash cycle, and I assumed the stain was set in, I didn't give up. Instead, I tried another stain-removing hack, and I'm so pleased I did.
Using just two trusted and inexpensive household ingredients, I was able to remove the stain and extend the life of my favorite pair of shorts, instead of discarding them to my 'gardening clothes pile.'
What you'll need:
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Method
Experience 50% less scrubbing with Dawn Ultra dish soap compared to Dawn Non-concentrated. It can be used beyond the kitchen sink, and is a versatile liquid soap that can pre-treat laundry stains, clean greasy tools, car wheels and fight grease and grime around the home.
You've all seen how dish soap can break down the grease on dirty dishes; well, it does exactly the same on clothing. Dish soap acts as a degreaser, breaking down grease by attaching to the oil.
The second part of the equation is baking soda, which is an absorbent and soaks up excess oil. When combined with dish soap they work as a degreasing powerhouse.
I used Fairy Max Power dish soap, but if you're in the U.S., a good alternative is Dawn dish soap, $3.94 at Amazonfor 22 fl oz, as it's recommended as one of the best dish soaps to remove tough stains.
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