1. Use paper towels to absorb excess cooking oil. Use a regular white paper towel, as some oils can use a towel or paper towel to remove some of the liquid.

2. Sprinkle baking soda onto the oil stain. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the grease stain. If you don't have baking soda, use cornmeal. Let the baking soda sit on the stain for 60 minutes. The baking soda will turn light brown as it absorbs the oil. Use a credit card or cardboard to scrape off the baking soda. For particularly deep or large stains, remove one layer of baking soda and pour another thick layer on top. Repeat this process until the baking soda no longer turns brown.

3. Use dishwashing detergent to deal with oil stains as a pretreatment measure. Rub a damp sponge soaked in detergent over the stain until it bubbles, then use an old toothbrush to work the detergent into the stain.

4. Use the hottest setting of the washing machine to clean clothes with oil stains. Hot water helps "melt" the oil. Put one or two pieces of clothing in the washing machine that you don't need to worry about that much. Pour in the normal amount of laundry detergent. Add another half cup or one cup (118 to 237 mL) of vinegar to the drum to increase washing efficiency. This will also help remove unpleasant odors caused by oil stains. Dry clothes as usual. Any remaining stains should be put in the dryer to remove the stains.

5. Be sure to check whether the clothes have faded before removing stains. Don't use soap on newly dyed or newly purchased clothing as it can cause the color to fade unevenly. It's similar when dealing with carpets. After the baking soda is covered, vacuum the baking soda clean. Then use a mixture of washing soap, vinegar, and hot water to clean the stain. Clean as thoroughly as possible. If the stain is on the upholstery, use dry cleaning solvent. Shampoo or Murphy's Oil Soap can also be used as an alternative to soap for pre-treatment.