Butter Stains on Clothes: 4 easy ways to remove them

butter

When cooking with butter, there is a chance that you will get some splatter from it. The greasy stain can be tricky to remove. 

Yet, it’s not impossible to get rid of that blotch on your clothes. Here we’ll provide you with 4 easy ways to remove butter stains. Also, we’ll give you some tips to protect yourself from splashes when frying in butter.

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

Remove the butter stain with dish soap

Dish soap is created to remove grease and fat from your plates, cutlery, and other kitchen items. That makes it a good candidate for attacking butter stains on your clothes. 

  • Wet the stained area with warm water
  • Pour some of your dish soap onto the area
  • Massage the soap into the stain with your fingers
  • Rinse the clothing in some cold water. Check that the stain has gone
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The power of vinegar and baking soda

Time and again, you will find vinegar and baking soda mentioned as cleaning agents. That’s because they are powerful stain removers. 

Add them together, and you have a double whammy of power! 

  • Wipe the stained area down to remove any excess butter
  • Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the stain
  • Wait 30 minutes (if it’s possible, leave the baking soda on the stain for 24 hours). The longer you can leave it, the better
  • Pour vinegar into a spray bottle
  • Squirt the baking soda with vinegar. You will find that the baking soda starts to foam. Rejoice! This allows the soda to get deeper into the fabric and work on the stain
  • Get a small brush or sponge and dip it in water and dish soap. Scrub the stained area
  • Rinse out your clothing with some cold water
  • If the stain is still visible, then repeat steps 1–7
  • Put the clothing into the washing machine. 
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Cornstarch and Talcum Powder

Cornstarch is naturally abrasive as well as absorbent. That makes it an ideal candidate for treating stains and other unsightly marks. 

Sprinkle some talcum powder onto a piece of dark paper and have a close look. You will see that the powder is made of really fine granules.

Because of their small size, these particles of powder can enter into the equally tiny holes of your fabric. This is the magic of stain removal using talcum powder.

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With the following method, you can use either cornstarch or talcum powder. 

  • Pretreat the stain as quickly as possible
  • Place your piece of clothing on a smooth, flat area
  • Cover the stain with cornstarch or talcum powder. Make sure that you have a good amount of powder on the stain
  • Gently pat the powder into the material
  • Let the cornstarch/talcum powder work its magic for at least half an hour 
  • Use a toothbrush or similar-sized brush to loosen the powder, then wipe it away
  • Look to see if the stain is gone. If it isn’t, then repeat the method once more
  • Rinse your clothing in water and then pop it into your washing machine

Use a potato

potatoes

Potato starch has been used as a bleaching agent for a variety of tasks, such as whitening skin, lightening tans, and stain removal.

Let’s take you through how you can use the humble potato to remove butter stains. But first, a word of caution: Test a small patch of the stained fabric to check that you won’t damage the garment. 

  • Pour 2 cups of cold or cool water into a bowl
  • Grate the potatoes into the water and allow the gratings to soak for 10-15 minutes
  • Squeeze out the water from the gratings, then dispose of them
  • Dab the starched water onto the stain
  • Rinse the stained area under running water. Repeat the process if the stain is still there

Another option with potatoes is to cut a potato in half, then rub the exposed part of the potato over the stain.

A further method is to place the stained part of your clothing into hot water. Here is what you do:

boiling room
  • Scrub the stain with the exposed part of the cut potato
  • Place a pan on your stove and fill it with water
  • Put the stained portion of your fabric into the pan of water and bring it to a boil. Let it sit in the boiling water for a minute
  • Rub some more of the potato onto the satin and repeat the boiling process. (This is completely optional.)
  • Place your clothing in cold water for 60 minutes. Then wash it

You could try this

Maybe in your garage, you have a can of WD-40. It has a wide range of uses, such as being a lubricant, protecting metal from rust and corrosion, and removing moisture and grease. 

It’s the grease removal part that interests us. You can try some WD-40 to rid yourself of butter stains. Yet, you need to be careful. 

There is the possibility that the WD-40 made more of a stain than the butter did. That not only has you frustrated but can completely ruin the clothing you’re trying to clean. 

Also, you need to be aware that your clothes end up with the oily smell of WD-40. 

With the warnings all over with, let’s proceed with cleaning the butter out of your clothes.

  • Spray the WD-40 over the stain. Keep the can as close to the stained area as possible
  • Give the WD-40 five minutes to penetrate into the stain
  • Using a paper towel, pat the stain and allow the towel to absorb the grease. Constantly switch out the surface of the towel for a clean one
  • Put your clothing into a washing machine and give it a cycle at the hottest setting possible. Be sure to check the label of your clothing to see if it can handle a hot wash. 
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Minimize the splatter

splattering food

When cooking with butter, there are ways that you can reduce the chance of butter splatter. 

Start low 

When cooking with butter, start with a lower temperature and then slowly turn up the heat. One idea is to melt your butter first in the microwave and then pour it into your pan.

Be careful

You might be carried away with your cooking, or perhaps you’re in a rush. Times like that can have you throwing the ingredients into the pan.

Now you have the possibility of the butter splashing out at you.

Take care and place the food gently into the butter. When stirring or mixing, use the same level of caution.

Keep a lid on it

While your food is cooking, put a lid on top of the pan. That keeps the splashes trapped.

There is a chance that you might be splattered when you lift the lid. However, if you remove the lid starting with the side furthest away from you, it can act as a splash guard.

Get a splatter screen

This looks like a make-shift tennis racket. It has a mesh center piece that sits on top of your pan.

If you need to have moisture evaporating from the dish you’re cooking, then a splatter screen is ideal. It keeps the splashes and spits of the butter at bay while allowing the steam to escape.

Begin dry

If your recipe contains a mix of dry and wet ingredients, start with the dry ones first. Cook them au naturel, then add in your butter (carefully, remember?).

Allow the dry ingredients to absorb most of the butter and then cautiously add the other elements to the pan. 

Add a pinch of salt

butter

Sprinkle a pinch of salt into the pan before you add the butter. The absorbent nature of salt will soak up the water content of your ingredients.

That reduces the chance of butter splatters while cooking. 

Another option is to substitute the salt with flour. Cover the pan with a light dusting and then put in your butter. 

Tall sides

If you are concerned about the hot splashes from butter as you’re cooking, get a pan with raised sides. That protects both you and your cooktop. 

You’re all set

butter cooking

Cooking with butter can put your clothes under threat of becoming stained. However, with the proper precautions in place, you can reduce the chances of being affected by the splashes and sprays of the butter.

When you do end up with a greasy, buttery spot on your garment, you now have a range of cleaning options. 

Dish soap can cut through the grease and tackle that stain. The starch from potatoes is a natural bleach (but be careful as you don’t want to ruin your clothes!).

All that’s left for you to do is decide what you want to cook next in butter. 

Bon appetite.

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Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.

Picture of Farah Zeb

Farah Zeb

Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.

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