No Stain Remover? Grab the Chalk

Grease and oil stains are some of the toughest to remove from clothing. While there are plenty of commercial removers that can help, you might not have them on hand. If that’s the case, the answer might be in your kids’ toy box.

Chalk can get rid of grease and oil-stained clothing, and it’s a cheap and easy-to-use method that you might already have on hand.

The reason chalk works on grease and oil stains is because it’s incredibly absorbent, removing the stain by drawing it out of your clothing. You should, however, be careful about the chalk you use. Colored sidewalk chalks contain wax and coloring, and you don’t want that on your clothing. Make sure your chalk is good, old fashion blackboard chalk.

You’ll need to treat the stain quickly to prevent the grease and oil from setting in. Remove any particles of food and brush chalk over the area until it’s completely covered. Let it sit for a few minutes so that the chalk can absorb the stain.

Next, rub the area with a bit of laundry detergent. Toss it into your washing machine on a hot cycle and launder as usual. When done, your garment should be stain free.

Whether you’re just generally accident prone and always dropping a bit of salad dressing on yourself or you’re a home chef with a tendency to splatter, you might want to keep some chalk nearby.