Motor oil & greaseon leather & suede
Do NOT soak it or scrub with water — leather gets a permanent water ring and stiffens. Use the bare minimum of moisture.
Phase 1: Immediate first aid
Use what you have right now. Nothing to buy.
Blot & isolate
Scrape off any excess with the edge of a spoon. Cover the mark thickly with cornflour or bicarbonate of soda and leave 15–30 minutes to soak up the oil, then brush off. On leather: blot only, using as little liquid as possible.
Pantry pre-treatment
You need
30 ml Cornflour
Cornflour: The fine white powder for thickening sauces — not cornmeal.
Called something else where you are?
- Cornflour
- 🇺🇸 🇨🇦Cornstarch🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇳🇿Cornflour🇩🇪Speisestärke🇫🇷Fécule de maïs (Maïzena)🇪🇸Maicena
Method
Cover the mark in a thick layer and leave it overnight to draw the oil out. Brush off gently (suede brush or soft toothbrush) and repeat if needed. No water.
Final flush & wash
Wipe with a barely damp cloth to lift any residue, then let it air-dry naturally — no hairdryer. Condition smooth leather once dry. Suede: brush the nap back up when dry.
Phase 2: Deep restoration
If a faint shadow remains after the initial rinse, or for fabrics that cannot tolerate water agitation:
Residual ghost-ring or dry-clean-only fibre?
Normal washing often won't shift the last trace of a set-in stain. Treat it with a targeted spotter before it goes anywhere near tumble-dryer heat — heat locks in whatever is left.
AlbaChem Dry Spotter
Solvent-based spotter for grease, oil, wax, make-up and ink. Works without water, so it suits fabrics that can’t be wet-cleaned.
Apply a few drops with a cotton bud, tamp gently, then flush as the label directs. Patch-test first.
- Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils
- Vanish Oxi Action
Most oxygen stain removers aren't safe on silk, wool or leather — check the label, or go to a professional.
Build your laundry first-aid kit
Top 3 essential spotters for next time — one for each stain family.
- AlbaChem Dry SpotterGrease, oil, wax, make-up, ink
- Alba-ProBlood, urine, grass, chocolate
- Alba-TanWine, coffee, tea, tomato, curry
Always patch-test on a hidden area first. Never mix bleach, ammonia, vinegar or peroxide together. For valuables, see a professional cleaner.