How do I remove heat-set fatty stains?

Ann Farley
by Ann Farley

I’m pretty sloppy when it comes to food, esp. ice cream. I have squirted these stains with Shout, washed with Oxyclean, then washed and put them in the dryer. None of these worked. Is this hopeless?

  5 answers
  • It is now since you placed them in the dryer. Never put an item in the dryer until you know the stain has been completely removed. Heat sets the stain. When I eat something messy, I use an old dish towel as a bib.

  • Hi, Ann!

    Here’s something to try: use Dawn dishwashing liquid. It is made to cut grease and might work! I used it to remove a grease spot on one of my tops and it worked perfectly! I hope this helps!

  • Ann Farley Ann Farley on Jul 30, 2019

    Thanks. I’ll try it.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jul 30, 2019

    They may be set in from the dryer, but it wouldn't hurt to try again. Put full strength tide or dawn dishwashing liquid on the spots and let sit for a while, scrub it in and try rinsing it in water real well. Let it air dry and see if they stains are gone or less, repeat as necessary if it is helping. Do not use the dryer until you know the stains are gone if it is lessening the stains, the heat will set them in more. If I treat something in the laundry with greasy spots, I always hang them to dry to make sure the stains are gone when it is dry so that they are not heat set and I can treat again if needed. I hope you are successful in getting rid of the stains!

    • Ann Farley Ann Farley on Aug 04, 2019

      Thanks! It worked for one t-shirt, not another, but I can’t identify the stain either. One thing I can do is paint on top of it!

  • Ron Miller Ron Miller on Dec 14, 2020

    Fell's Napa bar soap takes out most stains even after putting in the dryer