How to remove cooking oil from carpet

To remove oil stains from carpeting, cover the stain with baking soda or corn starch, and rub it in with an old toothbrush or scrub brush. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then use a vacuum to remove the baking soda or corn starch. Next, rub in a few drops of dish soap, then pour warm water over the stained area. Afterwards, blot with a clean cloth or sponge until all the soap is removed. Finally, air dry the carpet by hanging or laying it out in a well-ventilated area. For more tips, including how to remove oil stains with rubbing alcohol, scroll down.

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When hosting a dinner party, you can expect a few accidents in which guests drop pieces of food. When the night's over and it's time to clean up, you may find oil stains on your carpet, especially if your appetizers and salads contained olive oil. Even if you or your guests pick up any dropped lettuce or bruschetta, remnants of the oil will penetrate the carpet's fibers and leave behind a stain. Minimize the damage by blotting excess oil and using a grease-fighting detergent to remove any marks.

1. 1.

   Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on the stain, and let it sit for 15 minutes to absorb the oil. Run your fingers over the carpet to get the absorbent material deeper into the fibers, if necessary.

2. 2.

   Vacuum the carpet to suck up the baking soda or cornstarch. Repeat sprinkling the absorbent material and vacuuming, if necessary.

3. 3.

   Apply dry cleaning solvent to a white cloth. Dab the stain until it's gone or until the oil no longer transfers to the cloth.

4. 4.

   Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon of white distilled vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water in a bowl.

5. 5.

   Dip a cloth in the solution, and dab the stain until it's gone. Blot the area with a dry portion of the cloth or a towel to absorb the liquid.

   Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.

   Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

   Updated on 12/15/22

   
   

   The Spruce / Hilary Allison

   In This Article

   Expand

   • Before You Begin

   • Removing Stains From Washable Clothes

   • How to Remove Oil Stains on Upholstery

   • Additional Tips

   Back to Top

   Project Overview

   • Working Time: 15 - 45 mins
   • Total Time: 1 - 6 hrs
   • Skill Level: Beginner
   • Estimated Cost: $10 to 20

   Mishaps happen, and that butter you just put on your knife plops onto your shirt, or you find motor oil has mysteriously appeared on your clothing. Whatever kind of oil or grease stain it is—automotive oil, car door grease, cooking oil, butter, or margarine—while difficult to eliminate, the good news is that it is possible to remove. Some household products you likely already have on hand can help get rid of these types of oil stains. Try to remove the stain as soon as possible, as the longer it sits, the harder it is to remove. Whatever you do, don't rub or scrub oil stains, or you can embed them into the material fibers further, once again, making them difficult to remove. And, make sure that the stain is gone before putting that piece of clothing in the dryer, as the heat from the clothes dryer can set the stain in permanently.

   1:53

   How to Remove Oil Stains From Clothing, Once and For All

   Stain Type  Oil-basedDetergent Type Heavy-dutyWater Temperature  HotCycle TypeVaries depending on the type of fabric

   Before You Begin

   Check the care label on the clothing to see if it is washable or dry clean only to determine your next steps.

   We all know how frustrating it can be when a favorite piece of clothing gets a stain on it, but there are steps you should quickly take if can only be dry cleaned. So when that olive oil or a piece of sweet potato pie dribbles on your favorite dry clean only shirt or jacket, use a dull knife or the edge of a credit card to lift away the solids. Blot away as much of the oily liquid as possible with a dry white paper towel, a slice of white bread, or you can sprinkle the stain with cornstarch or talcum powder.

   If the oil stain is small, you may be able to remove it by spot treating it with a dry cleaning solvent. A stain removal pen will not be effective in removing oil. As soon as possible, head to the dry cleaner and point out and identify the stain.

   The 12 Best Laundry Stain Removers of 2022, Tested and Reviewed

   
   

   Featured Video

   What You'll Need

   Equipment / Tools

   Washable Clothes

   • Dull knife or spoon
   • Soft-bristle brush
   • Bowl (optional)

   Materials

   Washable Clothes

   • Cornstarch, baking soda, talcum powder, or piece of bread
   • Spray or gel stain remover
   • Heavy-duty laundry detergent
   • Hot Water

   Instructions

   How to Remove Oil Stains From Washable Clothes

   When any type of oily stain happens never rub or wipe it because that will push it deeper into the fibers of the fabric.

   1. Remove the Oily Solid and Sprinkle Powder

      • Gently lift away any solid matter (like that blob of butter) with the edge of a dull knife or spoon as soon as possible.
      • Sprinkle on some cornstarch, baby powder, baking soda, or even use a piece of bread to absorb as much of the oil as possible. It usually takes about fifteen minutes for the powder to absorb the oil.
      • Brush the powder away from the stain with a soft-bristle brush.

      These steps will make stain removal in the laundry room much easier.

      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

   2. Pretreat the Stain

      Head to the laundry room as soon as possible, and pretreat the stain with a solvent-based spray or gel stain remover.
      

      Allow the stain remover to work on the stain for at least 15 to 30 minutes. This will allow the enzymes to break apart the oil molecules, making them easier to flush out of the fabric fibers.

      Tip

      If you don't have a solvent-based stain remover, apply a heavy-duty liquid detergent like Tide or Persil directly to the stain and work it in with a soft-bristled brush like an old toothbrush or by gently rubbing the fabric together with your fingers. If you only have powdered detergent, make a paste with a bit of warm water and apply that to the stain.

      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

   3. Wash the Clothing

      Wash the garment as usual in the hottest water recommended for the fabric along with the recommended amount of detergent for a regular load of laundry.
      

      Tip

      If the fabric is a synthetic like polyester that wouldn't normally be washed in hot water, stretch the pretreated stained area of the fabric over a bowl and pour a steady stream of hot water directly onto the stain and then wash in cold or warm water.

      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

   4. Check the Stained Area

      Inspect the stained area of the garment before drying and repeat the treatment if necessary.

      Warning

      Never place an oil-stained garment in a dryer, as the high heat will make the oil even more difficult to remove. Repeat the cleaning steps if necessary.

      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

      How to Remove Oil Stains on Upholstery

      The same cleaning techniques and products recommended for carpet can be used to remove oil stains from upholstery. If you use the wet cleaning steps, be careful not to over-wet the fabric because excess moisture in the cushions can cause a problem.

      Before cleaning any furniture, always follow the manufacturer's care label on cleaning upholstery. This tag can be found under the sofa cushions or fabric skirt with letter codes that indicate how to clean the furniture.

      If the upholstery is silk or vintage, sprinkle with cornstarch and call a professional before attempting to remove the stain or if you need more stain removal tips.

   5. Remove Oily Solids

      Treat the stain promptly by lifting away any oily solids from the fibers using a dull knife.

      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

   6. Powder and Vacuum

      • Sprinkle the stain with cornstarch, baking soda, or talcum powder to absorb the oil.
      • Work the powder into the carpet with a soft-bristled brush.
      • Allow the absorbing powder to sit on the stain for at least fifteen minutes.
      • Vacuum to remove the powder. 
      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

   7. Treat Stain With Dry Cleaning Solvent Option

      Blot the stain with a dry cleaning solvent (making sure to follow the product instructions) and a clean white cloth or paper towel. Keep blotting until no more oil is transferred from the carpet to the cloth or paper towel.

      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

   8. Treat Stain With a Cleaning Solution Option

      If you do not have a dry cleaning solvent or carpet cleaning product you can mix up a cleaning solution yourself.

      • Mix one tablespoon of hand dishwashing detergent in two cups of hot water.
      • Add one tablespoon of household ammonia.
      • Wet the stain with a sponge or soft-bristled brush dipped in the cleaning solution, then blot with a dry paper towel until the stain is removed. 

      Warning

      Check the label when mixing ammonia with another detergent, to make sure that chlorine bleach is not an ingredient. Never mix ammonia and bleach together as the combination produces a toxic gas.
      

      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

   9. Rinse and Blot

      Rinse the area with a cloth dipped in plain water to completely remove any soapy residue. Blot dry with a clean cloth. Repeat the cleaning steps until no more stain remains.

      Tip

      Rinse the area very well as any residue left in the carpet or upholstery will actually attract more dirt.

      
      

      The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

   Additional Tips for Handling Oil Stains

   If the oil stain on clothing is older, or got missed and went through the washer before you noticed it, there is still a possibility it can be removed. This process should be used only on cotton fabrics.

   How do you get cooking oil out of carpet?

   The best way to extract oil is to spread a thick coat of baking soda across the area where the stain can be seen and leave it there until the sides form a dry crust. Then, vacuum up the residue. The stain will hopefully be much lighter, or gone altogether.

   Does cooking oil stain carpet?

   Even if you or your guests pick up any dropped lettuce or bruschetta, remnants of the oil will penetrate the carpet's fibers and leave behind a stain. Minimize the damage by blotting excess oil and using a grease-fighting detergent to remove any marks.

   Does vegetable oil come out of carpet?

   Vacuum or blot up the excess. Apply detergent water to the stained area without soaking the carpet and let it stand for 5 minutes. Blot or gently stroke the carpet pile. Rinse the carpet by applying warm water without soaking the carpet.

   Can cooking oil stains be removed?

   Using baking soda to remove cooking oil stains Sprinkle baking soda over the afflicted region. Scrub with an old, clean toothbrush after letting the baking soda sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Baking soda will absorb the oil, making it much simpler to remove the stain that is left behind.