How to get grease smell out of clothes properly

Cooking up a tasty treat like French fries is great fun, until you can’t get the grease smell out of your clothes!

If you’re a keen cook, especially if you work in a busy restaurant kitchen, you’ll know what a pain in the neck grease can be! Standing next to a fryer for even a few minutes can result in a persistent greasy odor clinging to your clothes. In this article, we show you how to remove the grease smell from clothes.
A man in an oil stained shirt checking the oil level of a car engine Description: It’s easy to remove grease stains from clothes when you act fast and use the right stain-removal method.

Tackling the root cause

You might think the easy way to deal with that grease smell is to use a fabric freshener, but this will only get you so far. While it may initially help to mask the odor, you’ll ultimately need to tackle the root of the problem in order to get that stubborn grease smell out of clothes. Only using a method that thoroughly cleans the fabric, rather than just covers up the scent, will actually remove the grease smell from your clothes! Fortunately, you can do just that with Persil® ProClean® products and a few tips and tricks. Read on to find out how to get rid of these cooking smells from your clothes.

How to remove grease smell from clothes: Step-by-step

Unlike with removing specific grease or oil stains, where the problem is localized, grease smells from cooking can permeate the whole surface of your clothes. This of course means your clothes need to be washed thoroughly to remove the odor, and with the right detergent. Nevertheless, removing spot stains is still a crucial part of getting the grease smell out of clothes: any grease stains you get on your work clothes or apron, for example, will intensify the odor!
 

Follow these steps for fresh smelling, grease-free clothes:

  1. Inspect your clothing for any grease stains. Act as quickly as possible after cooking – the longer you leave it, the more chance the grease odor has to develop!
  2. Blot the stains with a clean, damp cloth to get rid of any excess grease. Never rub, as this will work the stain deeper into the fabric.
  3. Pre-treat the stains with a small amount of an appropriate detergent. 
  4. Wash at the highest temperature that’s recommended for the fabric (check the laundry symbols on the care label).
  5. Check your clothes again and give them a good sniff after washing. If the greasy odor persists, repeat the process.

Choosing the right detergent

Selecting the appropriate detergent for the job is crucial for getting the grease smell out of clothes. In this case, it’s a good idea to double up on the detergent and use both Persil® Stain Fighter and Persil® Odor Fighter. With its deep clean technology, Stain Fighter is ideal for pre-treating tough stains like grease. Afterwards, use Odor Fighter for the main washing cycle. The odor-eliminating technology featured in this detergent penetrates deep into the fabric in order to neutralize bad odors, making it the perfect antidote to grease smells.