Best Laundry Detergent for Greasy Clothes

Grease and oil stains are among the toughest messes to remove from fabrics. Whether it’s a cooking oil splatter on your favorite apron or motor oil smudged on work clothes, these oily spots can cling stubbornly through a normal wash. We’ve all felt that sinking feeling seeing a dark grease blotch on a shirt. But don’t worry – in this guide, we’ll share the best methods to remove grease and oil from clothes at home, including how to pretreat stains, what detergent ingredients work best, proper wash settings, and when a load might need professional help. Let’s dive into why grease is so challenging and how to conquer it for good.

Why grease is tough on laundry

Grease is essentially fat or oil, which naturally repels water. Unlike a mud stain that water can dilute, an oil stain forms a hydrophobic bond with fabric fibers. This means that simply tossing greasy clothes in a normal cycle may not be enough – water alone slides right off the oil. Grease can also carry pigments (like the orange of cooking grease) that leave visible dark patches and rings on fabric. If not treated properly, those stains can “set” into the material, especially after drying, becoming even harder to remove.

Temperature matters here: at cooler temperatures, oils solidify, making them cling even tighter to cloth. Ever notice how bacon grease hardens when it cools? The same can happen in your wash if the water isn’t warm enough to loosen that oil. Greasy stains often survive a lukewarm laundry cycle, only to emerge as greasy shadows on clean clothes. No wonder tough stains like grease rank among the most frustrating laundry problems for many households – about one in four Americans say stubborn clothing stains are their most dreaded cleaning challenge. It’s a common issue, and it’s exactly why we’re so “clean-obsessed” about finding a solution.

What makes a detergent great for grease

When it comes to battling oil stains, not all detergents are created equal. The best laundry detergent for greasy clothes is one packed with powerful surfactants (and often enzymes) that specifically target oils. Surfactants are the workhorses in detergent that surround and lift oil particles, allowing water to wash them away. A high-quality laundry detergent for oil stains will have a robust surfactant blend to break up grease. Many heavy-duty detergents also include enzymes like lipase, which breaks down fat molecules. These enzymes literally digest the oils, making stains easier to wash out.

Another feature of a great grease-fighting detergent is having some degreasing boosters. Oxygen bleach or baking soda additives can help deodorize and lift out oily residue. Some products are even marketed as a specialty laundry degreaser for clothes – essentially extra-strong detergents or additives formulated for mechanics’ uniforms or restaurant linens laden with grease. While those can be effective, for most home use a top-performing regular detergent will do the trick.

A key tip: avoid simply dumping extra detergent in as a cure-all. Using more detergent than directed won’t necessarily dissolve more grease – in fact, excess soap can just deposit residue in your clothes or washer. (About 71% of people have noticed those white detergent streaks when they overpour.) It’s better to use the right type of detergent rather than too much of a mediocre one. In short, a great detergent for grease will emulsify oils, attack them with enzymes, and rinse clean without sticky leftovers. In the next section, we’ll highlight a few such detergents that cleaning experts swear by.

Top recommended detergents for greasy clothes

Based on expert testing and real-world results, here are some of the top detergents that cut through oil and grease:

• Tide Hygienic Clean (or Tide Heavy Duty) – Tide’s heavy-duty formulas are famous for a reason. They contain a mix of surfactants and enzymes that excel at breaking down body oils and cooking grease. In fact, Good Housekeeping’s cleaning lab tests gave Tide Hygienic Clean Power Pods high marks for penetrating fibers to dissolve hidden oils. This detergent is a great choice for families dealing with frequent grease stains or anyone who needs a reliable deep clean for grimy garments.
• Persil ProClean Stain Fighter – Persil is another powerhouse when it comes to stain removal. Persil’s liquid detergents consistently rank at the top for getting out tough stains, including grease and oil. They’re packed with enzymes (Persil formulas often contain multiple enzyme types) and strong surfactants. Many users find Persil excellent for greasy work clothes or food stains, and it’s known for performing well even in cool water. It’s a go-to if you want a laundry detergent for oil stains that doesn’t compromise on fabric care.
• Specialty “workwear” detergents – If you’re washing clothes that are regularly soaked in motor oil or kitchen grease (think mechanic overalls or chef uniforms), you might consider a specialty product. Brands like Zep, Lestoil or other industrial laundry soaps are formulated as intense laundry degreaser solutions. For example, some folks swear by a small dose of Lestoil in the wash to break down heavy oil stains (just be sure to rinse thoroughly as it has a strong odor). These solutions are powerful on grease, though you’ll want to follow the instructions carefully. For everyday greasy spills, a quality household detergent like the two above is usually sufficient – save the industrial stuff for the truly caked-on grime.

Tips for pre-soaking and stain removal

Pretreating is your best friend when dealing with grease spots. Before you even run the washer, take a moment to address the stain directly. Start by gently removing any excess grease from the fabric – lay the garment flat and blot with a paper towel or clean rag to soak up what you can (avoid rubbing hard, as that spreads the oil). Next, apply a small amount of a degreasing agent to the stain. A few options work well here: you can use a dab of liquid laundry detergent, a dedicated stain remover, or the classic trick – a few drops of plain dish soap. (Dish soap is formulated to cut grease on plates, and it works wonders on fabric too. Cleaning experts at The Spruce even recommend blue dishwashing liquid for oily stains.) Work the detergent or soap gently into the stain with your fingers or a soft brush, just enough to saturate the spot.

After pretreating, let the garment sit for about 10–15 minutes to give the cleaner time to break down the grease. For especially stubborn stains, it can help to pre-soak greasy laundry in warm water. Fill a basin or sink with warm (not hot) water and mix in a bit of detergent or washing soda, then submerge the stained clothes for 30 minutes to an hour. This soak allows the cleaning agents to penetrate deeply. Some people also sprinkle baking soda on fresh grease stains to absorb oil before washing – that can be a handy trick for things like butter or salad dressing spills.

Once you’ve pretreated and soaked, wash the clothes as usual (more on ideal settings in the next section). When that load is done, resist the urge to toss items straight into the dryer. First, check if the grease stain is gone. If any hint of stain remains, do not machine-dry the item yet – heat can set the stain permanently. Instead, repeat the pretreat steps or try a different stain remover and wash again. If the stain is gone or very faint, air-dry the garment the first time. This way, if a shadow of the grease spot still appears, you haven’t “baked” it in and you can treat it again. Patience is key: it’s better to pretreat and wash twice than to live with a set-in stain.

One more note on home remedies: using vinegar in laundry is a popular natural tip for odor removal and mild stain fighting. Vinegar (white distilled) can help neutralize smells and break up some residues, but it’s not a powerful degreaser on its own. By all means, use a vinegar rinse to freshen clothes or to tackle light stains (it’s great on yellow armpit stains or mildew smells). Just don’t rely on vinegar to magically lift a large grease splotch – you’ll get far better results with actual detergents or dish soap for the oily stuff. (If you’re curious about all of vinegar’s laundry benefits, check out our guide on using vinegar in laundry for more info.)

Best water temperature and cycles for grease stains

The temperature of your wash can make a big difference in degreasing. Generally, hot water is the most effective at dissolving oils – think of how a greasy pan cleans up faster with hot water. For truly greasy garments, running a hot water laundry cycle for grease stains can significantly boost cleaning power. If the fabric is durable (like cotton work shirts, denim, or poly blends) and the care label allows it, opt for the warmest water setting that’s safe. Hot water helps re-liquefy hardened oils and allows the detergent to grab onto the grease. Even a “warm” cycle (around 90°F to 110°F) is more effective on oil than cold.

Of course, fabric care comes first. Always check the clothing’s care label. Delicate synthetics, wool, or bright colored garments might require cold or gentle wash, so you’ll have to rely more on a good detergent and pretreatment in those cases. If you can’t use hot water, consider extending the wash time (many machines have a heavy duty or soak cycle that gives stains extra time to loosen up). You can also pause the machine mid-cycle to let clothes soak in the soapy water for 20 minutes, then resume washing. This mimics a pre-soak and improves results when using cooler water.

As for washer cycles, a heavier or longer cycle can help with grease if the fabric can tolerate it. The “heavy duty” cycle typically uses a longer agitation and wash period, which is useful for work clothes with oil or any set-in grime. Just avoid using high heat and harsh cycles on delicates – for a silk blouse with a grease spot, you’d stick to lukewarm water and a gentle cycle (or even hand wash with a gentle detergent) to protect the fabric.

One extra tip: use an extra rinse cycle when washing greasy clothes. Oils and the extra detergent used to fight them can leave residue. An extra rinse ensures all that grime and soap gets fully washed out, preventing that faint oily odor from lingering. In fact, after cleaning a particularly greasy load, it’s smart to give your washing machine a little TLC. Grease can sometimes stick around in the drum or drain of your washer. Run an empty hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner (or even just white vinegar or a bit of bleach) to flush out any residual oil. This prevents any transfer of grease to the next load and keeps your washer smelling fresh (we have a full article on how to keep your washer clean if you need tips). Your machine works hard on these dirty loads, so cleaning it occasionally is a good habit.

When to call in the pros

Sometimes, a grease-stained load is above and beyond what a home setup can handle. Maybe you spilled an entire pot of fryer oil on your jeans, or you have a heap of auto-shop rags soaked in motor oil – these are scenarios where calling in professional help can save your clothes (and your sanity). One telltale sign is if you’ve tried washing an item twice and the stain or oily odor is still clinging on. Rather than risk ruining the fabric with aggressive at-home methods, it might be time to let the experts take a crack at it.

Professional laundry services and dry cleaners deal with tough stains every day. They have high-capacity machines, specialized cleaning agents, and the experience to treat fabrics correctly. For instance, our team at Spincycle has seen every stain under the sun – we’re experienced in treating stains and following garment care instructions to the letter. We even use ozone-sanitized processes for an extra level of odor and germ elimination, something home washers can’t do. Grease stains in particular can benefit from commercial-grade treatment. Our industrial machines (we have some of Chicago’s largest 14-load washers) can handle heavily soiled items with ease, using advanced cycles that ensure a deep clean without damaging the fabric. Plus, we take the time to pretreat and re-treat as needed, so that tricky stains come out right.

You should also consider the fabric and item type. Delicate silk blouse with a grease spot from a salad dressing spill? That’s a good candidate for the dry cleaner, since solvents in dry cleaning can dissolve oils without water and agitation that might harm the silk. Expensive suit or “dry clean only” dress with an oil stain should bypass the home experiments and go straight to the pros. And if an item is sentimental or expensive, it’s often worth getting professional input before the stain sets.

Then there’s the convenience factor. Tackling grease stains at home can turn into a marathon of pretreating, scrubbing, soaking, and multiple wash cycles – all while you’re hoping the stain comes out. It costs time and effort. Busy households (and let’s face it, that’s most of us) might find it easier to hand off a particularly greasy load to a wash & fold service and reclaim those hours. After all, laundry already takes around 4-5 hours a week for the average family; you have better things to do than fight the same stain over and over. We get it – life in the city is hectic enough without laundry battles.

In fact, just as oversized bedding sometimes needs special treatment (if you’ve ever wondered, here’s how to wash a comforter the right way for best results), heavily greasy clothes occasionally need a trip to a professional machine. The takeaway is simple: don’t hesitate to call in help when you need it. There’s a reason neighbors rely on our friendly, neighbor-approved team at Spincycle for challenges like these. We’re happy to take the toughest loads off your hands, treat them with the appropriate methods, and return your clothes looking fresh and grease-free. Sometimes the best method to remove grease is to let someone else handle the dirty work, so you can get back to your day grease-spot free.

Grease stains might be tough, but they’re not invincible. With the right detergent, a smart approach to pretreating, and the optimal wash routine, you can rescue your clothes from oily disaster. And when in doubt, your local laundry pros are just a call or click away to help tackle those extra-greasy challenges. Clean clothes – even the greasy ones – are completely within reach, so you can wear your favorite outfits with confidence again.