It doesn’t matter should you’re a dainty diner, or an enthusiastic eater: Grease will ultimately discover its method onto a bit of your clothes. Be it by bacon or a scrumptious French dressing, it’ll discover a method, and try to say your clothes for the darkish aspect of the closet. As a result of it may be so onerous to raise a grease stain — and everybody appears to have a recipe for what works greatest — I made a decision to place 5 in style strategies to the check. The excellent news is that one methodology actually stood out, and a really, very shut combo platter took second place. Let’s have a look.
How We Examined the Completely different Strategies
I examined 5 equally sizable splatters of bacon grease on a 100% cotton white gown shirt. I waited quarter-hour for every stain to set (I used that point to eat the bacon!), after which acquired to cleansing.
The rankings: Every methodology acquired a ranking of 1 to 5, with 5 being the perfect methodology general and one being the least favourite methodology. Together with the ranking, you’ll discover notes on how simple or tough the tactic was, how a lot elbow grease it took (pun supposed), and the way a lot time it took to take away.
Grease Cleansing Methodology: Hairspray
The strategy: Lay the dirty clothes on a paper towel and saturate the stain with hairspray. Let it sit for half-hour, then launder in sizzling water. Should you can nonetheless see the grease stain, spray once more and let sit for one more half-hour. Don’t dry the merchandise till the stain has been lifted.
The way it went: I saturated the stain with TRESemme non-aerosol hairspray and let it sit for about half-hour. In keeping with my analysis, I ought to have began to see the stain raise at that time. As a result of the realm was saturated, although, it was tough to inform if what I used to be seeing was grease or hairspray — so I went forward and laundered it in sizzling water. After eradicating it from the washer, it seemed as if the stain was utterly gone, however the cloth was moist (clearly), so it was truly onerous to inform. I went forward and tossed it within the dryer. Mistake! I used to be bummed to study that the stain hadn’t lifted a lot in any respect and I had set it into the material deeper. Out of all of the strategies examined, this was the least efficient.
I might see the way you may use this methodology should you’re out and about and want one thing to intercept the stain till you possibly can launder your clothes, however I wouldn’t advocate hairspray being your solely line of protection. Undoubtedly use dish cleaning soap, or a stain-fighting agent to identify deal with your garment earlier than laundering at dwelling. (Extra on this under.)
Grease Cleansing Methodology: Chalk
The strategy: Rub chalk over a grease spot and let it take in the oil, then brush the chalk off and launder. If stain persists, proceed rubbing chalk on the material till the stain lifts. The thought is that the chalk will take in the oils that maintain grime in.
The way it went: I undoubtedly noticed the chalk take in the grease (it turned brownish and acquired gross fairly rapidly), however I additionally seen that rubbing the chalk appeared to maneuver the stain round and make it greater. As soon as the shirt got here out of the washer, it seemed just like the stain had disappeared, however as soon as it was dry, the stain was clearly seen.
I’d use this methodology as a Band-Assist of types, to soak up the grease stain till I might take the clothes merchandise dwelling and correctly deal with it with a stain-fighting agent, however wouldn’t advocate chalk by itself to battle grease stains.
Grease Cleansing Methodology: Dish Cleaning soap
The strategy: Squeeze a dab of dish cleaning soap onto the stain and let it sit for quarter-hour or so. Place the stained garment within the washer and as soon as the cycle is completed, examine to make certain the stain has disappeared. Should you don’t see it, you possibly can switch the merchandise to the dryer; if the stain persists, repeat with extra dish cleaning soap.
The way it went: I dabbed the dish cleaning soap proper over the stain and let it sit for about half-hour earlier than popping it into the washer on sizzling. (Extra time is healthier than much less time, proper?). As soon as the cycle was completed, I held up the moist material and couldn’t see the stain anymore, so into the dryer it went! I pulled it out of the dryer with excessive hopes (dishwashing detergent is a degreaser, in any case!) and was dissatisfied to search out that the stain hadn’t utterly disappeared. It did work at eradicating fairly a little bit of it, however I believe it’s essential to first take in the grease with baking soda (see under), then deal with it with dish cleaning soap. (I used Daybreak dish cleaning soap, by the way in which!).
Grease Cleansing Methodology: Baking Soda
The strategy: Sprinkle baking soda on a contemporary stain and let it take in the grease for five to 10 minutes. Subsequent, use a brush (a toothbrush or a clear kitchen brush could be nice) and scrub the baking soda into the stain. As soon as the powder adjustments to a brown shade, scrape it off and repeat till the soda not adjustments shade and the stain is lifted.
The way it went: I sprinkled the baking soda on the stain in a pleasant little mound and let it sit undisturbed for about 10 minutes. I shook the surplus soda into the sink, grabbed my cleansing toothbrush, and began scrubbing. I undoubtedly noticed the baking soda flip a dingy brown shade, so I scraped all of it off, poured extra soda on the stain and let it sit for 15 extra minutes. After the second cross there was a lot baking soda pressed into the material that I actually couldn’t see a lot of the stain in any respect, so I went forward and popped it into the washer on sizzling.
When the shirt got here out of the wash I couldn’t see any of the stain in any respect, so I fortunately chucked it into the dryer, feeling victorious. As soon as out of the dryer it seemed just like the stain was utterly gone — till I took a photograph of it with my cellphone, then I might see the faintest ghost of the stain. I used to be nonetheless actually proud of this methodology, however suppose it may very well be perfected if utilized in mixture with Daybreak dish cleaning soap, after the baking soda step. It’s undoubtedly the perfect/least harsh methodology!
Grease Cleansing Methodology: Salt + Stain Remover
The strategy: Instantly sprinkle salt on the grease stain (it really works like baking soda to soak up the grease). After the salt absorbs the grease for a couple of minutes (or when you make it again dwelling), use Shout Superior Grease-Busting Foam as a spot remedy earlier than laundering the garment in sizzling water. As at all times, ensure the stain is gone earlier than drying the garment.
The way it went: In virtually each form of mild, the stain seemed prefer it’s utterly gone. Even when photographed there’s simply the slightest, faintest ghost form of the stain. This methodology labored only a bit higher than the baking soda methodology, though I’m undecided how efficient the salt actually was.
I appreciated this methodology a lot, I additionally tried it on a yellow dinner serviette. I seen that, as soon as once more, the grease got here out, but it surely emerged from the dryer trying a bit worn, which tells me that this remedy is fairly harsh. I’m giving this the very best ranking as a result of it did the job and I’d 100% use it once more. However solely on an all-white garment. I’d not advocate utilizing it on black, or something colourful.
Additionally, should you hesitate to make use of further chemical substances or merchandise in your family, go along with the Daybreak and baking soda combo.
Do you might have a technique you swear by for lifting grease stains out of clothes? Inform us about it within the feedback under.