Cleaning

How to Remove Gravy and Grease Stains From Fabric

Remove gravy and grease from clothes and tablecloths with a scrape, a blot, a dab of dish soap and a careful wash, plus the supplies to keep handy.

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Last updated: October 19, 2026 · By
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Short answerScrape off the gravy, blot the grease with a paper towel, rub a button-sized dab of dish soap into the stain, let it sit for a few minutes and wash as the care label allows. Check the fabric before it goes in the dryer: heat sets grease, so treat the stain again if a shadow remains.

Compare the 6 picks

How to Remove Gravy and Grease Stains From Fabric: products and who they suit
PickUse it forAmazon
Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, Original Scent, 38 fl ozPretreating grease and making the soap-and-water solution for carpet.Check price on Amazon
Argo Gluten-Free Corn Starch Powder, 16 ozAbsorbing grease from a fresh gravy spot before the soap step.Check price on Amazon
Zout Laundry Stain Remover, Blood, Grass, Sauces & Oil Stains, 12 ozPretreating sauce and oil stains on colorfast washables.Check price on Amazon
Shout Advanced Gel Laundry Stain Remover Spray, 22 ozPretreating tablecloths, napkins and clothes before they go in the wash.Check price on Amazon
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder, 5 lbSoaking white or colorfast linens when a mark is left after the first wash.Check price on Amazon
Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels, White, 2 Triple Rolls = 6 Regular RollsBlotting and wiping up spills.Check price on Amazon

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On this page
  1. Compare the picks
  2. Before you start
  3. On clothes and washable tablecloths
  4. Supplies for this job
  5. How we chose
  6. Related guides

Before you start

  • Read the care label. This method suits washable cotton and cotton blends; take silk, wool and dry-clean-only items to a professional.
  • Test the dish soap on a hidden spot first, in case it affects the dye.
  • Treat the stain quickly, before it dries.
  • Keep the item out of the dryer until the stain is completely gone.

On clothes and washable tablecloths

  1. Scrape off extra gravy with a spoon or a dull knife.
  2. Blot, do not rub, with a paper towel to lift loose grease.
  3. On a heavy grease spot, sprinkle on cornstarch, let it absorb the grease for a few minutes and brush it off.
  4. Put a small squirt of dish soap, about the size of a button, on the stain and rub it in with your fingers. More than a teaspoon makes too many suds.
  5. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wash with similar items as the care label allows.
  6. Look at the fabric before drying. If a shadow remains, switch to a laundry stain remover instead of adding more dish soap, then wash again.
  7. For a set-in stain on colorfast fabric, try a soak in an oxygen stain remover solution mixed to the label's directions.

Supplies for this job

  1. Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, Original Scent, 38 fl oz

    Use it for: Pretreating grease and making the soap-and-water solution for carpet.

    A liquid dish soap in a 38 fl oz bottle. Use a small amount, as the steps above describe.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  2. Argo Gluten-Free Corn Starch Powder, 16 oz

    Use it for: Absorbing grease from a fresh gravy spot before the soap step.

    The listing describes a 16 oz resealable tub of corn starch sold as a cooking thickener.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  3. Zout Laundry Stain Remover, Blood, Grass, Sauces & Oil Stains, 12 oz

    Use it for: Pretreating sauce and oil stains on colorfast washables.

    The listing names a triple enzyme formula for sauces, cooking oils and dressings, and says to saturate the stain, wait 5 minutes and wash.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  4. Shout Advanced Gel Laundry Stain Remover Spray, 22 oz

    Use it for: Pretreating tablecloths, napkins and clothes before they go in the wash.

    The listing describes a thick gel for food and drink stains on machine-washable fabric, in a 22 oz spray bottle.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  5. OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder, 5 lb

    Use it for: Soaking white or colorfast linens when a mark is left after the first wash.

    The listing says the oxygen-powered powder is color safe and chlorine free, and that it can be used as a presoak.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

  6. Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels, White, 2 Triple Rolls = 6 Regular Rolls

    Use it for: Blotting and wiping up spills.

    The listing describes white Select-A-Size paper towels, in a pack of two triple rolls.

    Check price on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart We may earn a small referral fee

How we chose

This guide is desk research. The steps follow care guidance published by Dawn and Consumer Reports and by stain-remover brands, and the supplies are the products those steps name. We did not test any of these products or methods; the notes come from brand pages, retailer listings and published care guidance, and they describe what the listing says rather than how a product performs. Always follow the care label on the item and test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.

Listings, sellers and sizes change quickly. At time of writing (October 19, 2026), every "Check price on Amazon" button below went to an exact Amazon listing that was new and in stock. Confirm the size and seller on the listing before you buy.