Motor oil & greaseon polyester & synthetics
Do NOT put water on it first — water spreads grease and drives it deeper. Absorb first, then degrease.
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 cornstarch or baking soda and leave 15–30 minutes to soak up the oil, then brush off.
Pantry pre-treatment
You need
1 tbsp Liquid Dish Soap (e.g. Dawn)
Called something else where you are?
- Liquid Dish Soap (e.g. Dawn)
- 🇺🇸 🇨🇦Liquid Dish Soap (e.g. Dawn)🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇳🇿Washing-up Liquid (e.g. Fairy)🇩🇪Spülmittel🇫🇷Liquide vaisselle🇪🇸Lavavajillas líquido
Method
Work the neat dish soap into the mark with a fingertip or soft toothbrush. Leave 15 minutes so it can break down the grease.
Final flush & wash
Rinse with warm water, then wash on a synthetics cycle. Air-dry and check — synthetics hold oily residue that heat will set.
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 fiber?
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 dryer heat — heat locks in whatever is left.
AlbaChem Dry Spotter
Solvent-based spotter for grease, oil, wax, makeup 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.
- Carbona Stain Devils
Pick the formula labelled for this stain type — the range is split by stain.
Build your laundry first-aid kit
Top 3 essential spotters for next time — one for each stain family.
- AlbaChem Dry SpotterGrease, oil, wax, makeup, 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.