How do I get grease and oil out of an apron or uniform?
Sources last checked
Fryer oil spattered your apron at the line during the lunch rush.
The short answer
Grease needs the hottest water the cloth can take. Cold water can leave it yellow. (American Cleaning Institute; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)
Do this now
- Blot off the extra oil. Never rub it. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)
- Cover it with cornstarch or talc. Let it soak up the grease. Brush it off. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; University of Georgia Extension; New Mexico State University Extension)
The water
- Wash it in the hottest water the cloth can take. (American Cleaning Institute; New Mexico State University Extension)
What to use
- Work in a prewash stain remover or liquid detergent. (American Cleaning Institute; American Cleaning Institute)
Before the dryer
- Look at the spot before the dryer. Heat sets it. (American Cleaning Institute; New Mexico State University Extension)
Never do this
- Never wash a greasy apron in cold water. It can leave a yellow mark. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)
When to give up
- Keep it out of the dryer if it is still greasy. Some stains do not come out. (American Cleaning Institute; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)
Check the care tag first. Test any stain remover on a hidden spot. A stain that sets in the dryer is much harder to move, so look before you dry.
The words of the sources
Each step above, quoted from the page it comes from.
“Launder using hottest water safe for fabric.”
“or by using cold water for oily soil”
“Blot or scrape excess liquid or solid matter from the surface”
“Do not rub as this may roughen the fabric, damage the fibers”
“talc or cornstarch may be used to absorb much of the stain”
“Use talcum powder to absorb as much grease as possible. Brush thoroughly.”
“Cornstarch or cornmeal”
“Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or liquid detergent booster.”
“Butter Pretreat with a prewash stain remover”
“hottest water safe for the fabric—very hot for cotton and linen”
“Do not put it in the dryer until the stain is removed.”
“Heat sets stains. Do not press a stained fabric or dry it in the dryer.”
“not all stains can be removed”
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change and your local health department has the final say. Check with them before you open or change how you work. CleanCleaver is a food safety app, not a laundry authority: follow your garment's care tag.