How to Remove Oil Stains From Clothes and Tablecloths This Thanksgiving

You’re cooking a tasty meal this Thanksgiving and suddenly, you notice a cooking oil stain on your clothes. We’ve all been there. The kitchen does get messy, and if aprons aren’t available to use, cooking oil can spill on our clothes accidentally. You may feel frustrated, but the good news is that we’ve prepared some useful tips on how to remove cooking oil stains! For washable items, lift off excess food, blot the oil, pretreat with a suitable detergent and wash according to the care label. Check the stain before drying.

Butter splashes, turkey grease and gravy can leave different marks, so they need slightly different treatment. Your tablecloth might also collect red wine, cranberry sauce and candle wax before dinner is over. Start with the clothing advice below, then use the tablecloth section to prepare for dinner and clean up afterwards.

How to Remove Oil Stains from Clothes

For cooking oil stains, check whether the garment is washable and which temperatures it can tolerate. In an American Cleaning Institute survey, 35 per cent of US adults said they always read clothing care instructions, while 42 per cent read them only occasionally.

1. Gently lift away any food with a spoon, then blot the excess oil with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Avoid rubbing, as the action can spread the stain and push the oil further into the fabric.
2. Place a clean, absorbent towel behind the stained area to prevent the oil from transferring to another part of the garment during treatment.
3. Choose a liquid laundry detergent or prewash stain remover suitable for the fabric and test it on a hidden area first. If it does not affect the fabric or colour, apply it to the stain and leave it on for the time recommended on the product label.
4. Wash the garment with laundry detergent, using the recommended cycle and the warmest water temperature permitted by its care label.
5. Check the stained area after washing. If the mark remains, repeat the treatment and wash again. Let the garment air-dry so you can check for any remaining oily patch before using a tumble dryer.

Oil does not dissolve readily in water, so rinsing the stain alone may not remove it. Laundry detergent helps loosen the oily residue so it can wash out of the fabric.

How Do You Get Grease, Butter and Turkey Fat Out of Clothes?

Butter and turkey grease need the same approach as cooking oil: remove solid food, blot, pretreat and wash as labelled. Lift off butter or meat rather than wiping it across the fabric. If you are wondering how to get grease out of clothes during dinner, blot and change when practical. Finish eating before washing, but avoid leaving the stain untreated for days.

How Do You Get Gravy Out of Clothes?

Gravy can contain fat, stock, starch and cream. To get gravy out of clothes, remove the excess and treat the remaining mark before washing.

1. Lift away excess gravy with a spoon.
2. If the garment is washable, gently flush the back of the stain with cool water.
3. Apply a suitable liquid laundry detergent or prewash stain remover. Work it in gently and follow the product’s instructions.
4. Wash according to the care label, then inspect before drying.

If a brown mark remains, repeat treatment before drying. Removing the greasy patch may not remove the whole spill. (Sources: Tide and American Cleaning Institute, undated.)

How Should You Adjust Stain Removal for Different Fabrics?

The care label takes priority. A cotton apron and a silk blouse may share a spill without being suitable for the same treatment.

Fabric or item	Start here	Take care with
Washable cotton or linen	Pretreat, then use the permitted wash cycle and temperature.	Prints, embroidery and shrinkage instructions.
Polyester or blends	Use a suitable detergent or stain remover, then wash as labelled.	Excessive washing, drying or ironing heat.
Washable wool or silk	Choose a product specifically suitable for the fibre.	Strong detergents, vigorous rubbing and bleach.
Items labelled dry clean only	Gently lift and blot excess residue, then seek professional care.	Soaking or experimenting with household treatments.

Woolmark recommends a mild, neutral detergent for wool, avoiding heavy-duty detergents, biological detergents containing enzymes and bleach. For items labelled ‘dry-clean only’, consider Laundryheap’s dry cleaning service. Tell the cleaner what spilt and which treatments you tried.

Can You Remove Oil Stains After Washing and Drying?

Sometimes, although older or heat-dried, stains can be harder to remove. Success depends on the fabric, oil and previous treatment. Pretreat washable items again with a suitable stain remover or liquid detergent. Soak only if the fabric and product instructions permit it, then rewash and air-dry for inspection.

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Increasing the wash temperature beyond the care label’s limit.
• Scrubbing harder when a stain does not move.
• Ironing or tumble-drying a mark before you have removed it.
• Adding more product than the instructions recommend.

If the mark persists, seek advice before another treatment damages the fabric.

How Do You Prep and Protect a Thanksgiving Tablecloth?

Check your Thanksgiving tablecloth for old marks and wash if needed. Iron only after stains have gone, using the correct setting. Use our four spill zones check to protect the areas most likely to get messy:

• Serving: Put a small plate under the gravy boat to catch drips.
• Eating: Use placemats and keep napkins within reach.
• Drinking: Ensure glasses have enough space away from elbows and serving dishes.
• Candles: Choose stable holders with a base that catches wax, or use flameless candles.

Keep a clean white cloth nearby for blotting.

How Do You Remove Gravy, Wine, Cranberry and Wax From a Tablecloth?

These methods suit washable tablecloths. Choose products and temperatures according to the care label.

Spill	First action	Next step
Gravy or grease	Lift solids and blot excess liquid.	Follow the relevant clothing method above.
Red wine	Blot, then sponge or rinse with cool water.	Pretreat with a suitable stain remover or liquid detergent, then wash.
Cranberry sauce	Lift the sauce and flush with cold water.	Treat promptly with a suitable stain remover and wash as labelled.
Candle wax	Let it harden, then gently lift the surface wax.	Remove remaining wax before treating oily residue.

How Do You Wash, Dry and Store the Tablecloth Afterwards?

Remove food, check the whole cloth and pretreat each stain separately. Wash as labelled, leaving room in the drum for it to move. Inspect before drying. Follow the drying instructions and, where permitted, press while slightly damp for easier crease removal. Dry completely before storage. Fold loosely or roll, then store somewhere dry with a breathable cotton cover. In humid conditions, check the cupboard stays dry too.

Many linen tablecloths are washable, but the manufacturer’s instructions decide the method. Delicate embroidery, worn fabric or an heirloom cloth may need specialist handling. Before assuming that dry cleaning is the safest option, check the care label. Knowing how to remove oil stains from clothes helps you tackle spills before they become a bigger laundry job. Careful pretreatment, the right wash and a final stain check help protect your clothes and table linen.

Ready to hand over the laundry after hosting? Visit Laundryheap to find laundry and dry cleaning near you, check local services and prices, and schedule a collection. To learn more about Laundryheap, visit our website or download the free Laundryheap app on iOS or Android!