How To Get Grease Out Of Carpet With Ease In 2024

Undoubtedly, many of you have wondered how to get grease out of carpet once. Whether it’s left by food or machinery, grease is not at all a pretty sight. Plus, if not treated properly, it can penetrate and eventually ruin your carpet.

With my post, you will find that cleaning grease from a carpet is not at all a challenge. Follow my instructions, and you will achieve huge success. No more hesitation, my friend; it’s time to scroll down and get started!

The Ultimate Solution To Remove Grease From The Carpet

Whether left by motor oil, cream, or bacon fat, grease can take you hours to get rid of since it is a lipid and cannot be dissolved in water.

You know today’s your unlucky day when you wake up and see grease on your carpet. Many people have tried using commercial cleaners to get it out, but the result is often disappointing and even far from picking up. Not to worry; let me take it from here and help you out!

Before you kick-start your project, scrape off the solid bits from the carpet using a small knife or any other blunt object you can find in your home. You will want to prepare a container next to you to catch the grease. Then, dispose of the contents and head back to work.

Method 1: Absorbent (Baking Soda/Cornstarch/Talc Powder)

To draw up the grease, you will need an absorbent. A perennial favorite for this job is baking soda, but cornstarch or talcum powder are also good fits for the role since they share similar hygroscopic properties.

Tools And Supplies

• Baking soda, cornstarch, or talcum powder
• Washcloths or paper towels
• Stiff brush
• Vacuum with a HEPA filter
• Dry cleaning solvent (optional)
• Coconut or mineral oil (optional)
• Carpet shampoo (optional)
• Ammonia (optional)
• Absorbent pad (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Grab some clean washcloths or paper towels and blot up the grease.

Step 2: Cover the stain with a generous amount of baking soda, cornstarch, or talc powder.

Step 3: Take a brush and scrub the stain gently to dissolve it. Don’t brush too vigorously, or the grease will drive deeper into the fibers. Afterward, vacuum the remaining powder with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.

Step 4: At this stage, if the grease remains, you will need a dry cleaning fluid. Apply a small amount of the solvent to the stain using a washcloth or paper towel.

Note: Should you not be able to find a dry cleaning solvent, you can use a concoction made of 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent and ammonia each with 2 cups of hot water. You can also turn to carpet shampoo as an alternative.

Step 5: Continue the process by applying a dry spotter to the affected area. The product can be made using 8 parts dry cleaning solvent and 1 part coconut oil (mineral oil is also a good choice but not as effective as coconut).

Step 6: Work the dry spotter into the stain with an absorbent pad. The grease will be gone in a breeze!   

Method 2: Vinegar

Nowadays, there are many all-purpose cleaners you can use to combat greasy stains on the carpet. Despite their immediate effectiveness, people are not so fond of them because these products are not good for the environment. If you feel the same, vinegar is what you need.

Tools And Supplies

• Vinegar
• Dishwashing soap
• Glycerin
• Water
• Absorbent pad

Instructions

Step 1: Douse the stain with a little bit of water to soften the grease.

Step 2: Add a few drops of white vinegar to the spot.

Step 3: While the vinegar sits, combine equal parts of dish soap with glycerin, along with 8 parts of water to create a wet spotter.

Step 4: Like the previous method, you will apply it to the stain with an absorbent pad. Avoid using too much pressure, or the fluid will percolate the carpet’s underlayer, causing mold or mildew to grow in the future.

Step 5: Replace the pad if it’s saturated. Finish the process with a thorough rinse and let the carpet dry. 

Method 3: Dishwashing Soap

If you don’t have vinegar or glycerin at hand, another viable option is to use mild dish soap. With its special mixture of surfactants, it has never surrendered to embedded stains on your carpet, from vomit, coffee to oil.

Tools And Supplies

• Dishwashing soap
• Water
• Washcloths or paper towels
• Denatured alcohol (optional)
• Heavy object (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: To start with, you will create a soapy solution using 1/4 cup of dish soap and a cup of water. Make sure that your product does not contain bleach, or it will cause the pigments of your carpet to fade.

Note: For a more potent effect, you can follow this formula: 2 teaspoons denatured alcohol + 1/2 teaspoon dish soap + 1 cup water.

Step 2: Work the solution into the stain with gentle dabbing motions. Resist the urge to rub at all costs, or the grease will spread to neighboring areas. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Next, grab a clean cloth or a paper towel and pat the greasy spill with utter caution. The grease will gradually transfer to the fabric and set your carpet free.

Step 4: Once the stain is no longer conspicuous, finish off with a quick rinse. Then, place a few towels on the stain to suck up the excess liquid. Feel free to apply pressure on them by pressing your hands or placing them atop a heavy object to speed up the process.

Dishwashing soap is a perfect candidate for fighting stubborn grease. Watch this video:

Method 4: Shaving Cream

Yes, it seems a bit weird to see shaving cream make it to this list, but it really works! Shaving cream is an incredible stain remover and has been proven to get blood out of a carpet easily. Now, let’s try it yourself – you’ll be amazed!

Tools And Supplies

• Shaving cream
• Soft brush or old toothbrush
• Washcloths or paper towels

Instructions

Step 1: Squirt out a dollop of shaving cream on the stain.

Step 2: Then, grab a soft-bristled brush or a toothbrush and start scrubbing the stain gently. Allow it to sit for a few minutes if you wish.

Step 3: Lastly, use a damp cloth or a paper towel and lift the cream from the carpet. Rinsing the carpet is optional with this method.

Method 5: Toothpaste

Another household product you can use in place of shaving cream is toothpaste. It sounds a little odd, but the result will dispel your doubts. Along with toothpaste, this method will call for help from the holy trinity in household cleaning: vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda.

Tools And Supplies

• Toothpaste
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Dishwashing soap
• Soft brush or old toothbrush

Instructions

Step 1: Add a few drops of dish soap to the stain, ensuring that it’s bleach-free.

Step 2: Cover the grease with a liberal amount of baking soda.

Step 3: Bring in a dab of toothbrush to the mix. Then, give the stain a good scrubbing using a soft brush or an old toothbrush.

Step 4: Douse the stain with vinegar and continue scrubbing until the grease comes off.

Toothpaste is just the ticket for cleaning black grease from your carpet. Watch this video:

Method 6: Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is a powerful cleaning agent that can put this problem to bed with no effort. However, you will want to keep your eye on the ball while using this product, as its vapor is lethal and can cause symptoms like dizziness or nausea without protective measures. ⁽¹⁾

Tools And Supplies

• Rubbing alcohol
• Salt
• Washcloths or paper towels
• Vacuum with a HEPA filter
• Protective gear

Instructions

Step 1: As mentioned, wearing protective gear is strictly required when working with rubbing alcohol. You will need an air mask, a respirator, and a pair of rubber or latex gloves.

Step 2: For this method, you will employ rubbing alcohol and salt to make a paste. Combine them in a 1:4 ratio. This paste is also effective against cleaning paint spills on your carpet. If your carpet is made of delicate materials, you are advised to check for colorfastness first.

Step 3: Smear the paste on the greasy area and give it a gentle rub. Although I have warned against rubbing, you will find that it is more effective in this situation.

Step 4: As the grease can no longer persist, vacuum up the excess paste. Likewise, a home vacuum won’t be suitable for this job, as the salt particle can break down the device.

Method 7: Homemade Carpet Shampoo

To some people, choosing the perfect carpet shampoo is an acute dilemma. Given that, why don’t you give this homemade remedy a try? Rest assured that even the toughest stains will have to accept defeat when facing this ultimate carpet shampoo.

Tools And Supplies

• Ammonia
• Laundry detergent
• Fabric softener
• Carpet cleaner
• Protective gear

Instructions

Step 1: To make this DIY shampoo, gather a cup of ammonia, 1/2 cup of laundry detergent, and fabric softener each, with a gallon of water. Stir the combination well.

Note: Overexposure to ammonia will cause bronchiolar and alveolar edema. ⁽²⁾ Thus, don’t forget to don your protective clothing when using it.

Step 2: Pour the solution into the tank and turn on the device, running it repeatedly over the grease until there’s no more sight of it.     

Method 8: Hydrogen Peroxide

For heavy-duty stains, you will need to bring out the big guns. In this case, it is no other than hydrogen peroxide, a cleaning agent with wide applications in daily life. Like rubbing alcohol, you will need to conduct a spot test in advance. Prevention is better than cure, after all.

Tools And Supplies

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Dishwashing soap
• Vinegar
• Water
• Washcloths or paper towels
• Protective gear

Instructions

Step 1: Use 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 1 1/2 tablespoons of vinegar and dish soap each, and 4 cups of water to create a cleaning solution. Stir well to distribute the ingredients. To prevent undesired results, apply the solution to a hidden area to find out if your carpet can tolerate it.

Step 2: If everything seems normal, dip a washcloth into the solution and sponge the stain.

Step 3: Once finished, rinse the stain with cold water to get rid of the solution. Otherwise, the spot will catch dirt, dust, and other tiny particles afterward.

Method 9: Carpet Cleaner + Vinegar Solution

Life is much easier when you have a commercial carpet cleaner to clean your carpet. It is not only reasonably priced, works efficiently with strong suction, but also saves your time when it comes to dealing with stains.

Depending on your carpet’s material, you will use the corresponding cleaning solution. Scroll down and see what you need for this method.

Tools And Supplies

• Vinegar
• Water
• Carpet cleaner
• Handheld attachment (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Firstly, you will need to determine the material of your carpet. Next, mix the supplies as instructed below:

• For synthetic carpets, dilute a cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
• For natural fiber carpets, dilute 1/4 cup of white vinegar with an equal amount of water.

Step 2: Fill the tank of your device with the solution. Next, power up your carpet cleaner and let it run over the greasy spot. With persistent grease, attach the handheld end to the device and try again.

Sometimes, you will have to accept the fact that homemade solutions are too weak and can’t help you resolve the issue. That’s when you will move on to commercial products like WD-40 or Goo Gone to get rid of the mess.

Read the instructions carefully before using them, and make sure that you are protected from the fumes released by these products.

Blow your mind with O’Shea’s, one of the most effective spot removers: Watch this video:

Some Unmissable Tips For Your Grease Cleaning Project

You wish that you knew these fantastic tips earlier – well, maybe now is not too late. Read on and check them out to make your cleaning job more straightforward than ever!

• Safety is Paramount: Surely, you don’t want your life to be in danger just because of cleaning a carpet. That said, don’t forget to protect yourself with safety gear and keep the space well-ventilated when working with chemical products.
• Test or Regret: As mentioned, you must always do a spot test beforehand to prevent the possibility of creating another mess. In some situations, carpets made of delicate materials will react adversely to the cleaning solution you choose.
• Rinse and Dry: Don’t call it a day yet when grease is out of the carpet! To finish, you will have to rinse and dry the area correctly. If not, the residual solution will catch dirt, dust, and debris, and you will have another stain appearing on the carpet days later.
• Revive the Carpet: After the cleaning treatment, your carpet will look somewhat dull. To breathe life back into it, run the vacuum over the treated area to fluff up the fibers. Your carpet is now glowing again!

FAQs

Got more doubts about cleaning grease from your carpet? Clear them out with the following section!

Contact A Professional

So, that’s all about how to get grease out of the carpet. With a total of nine methods given, I can guarantee that success is in your hands. Unfortunately, if none of them work for you, it’s time to have an expert clean it for you. This is your only hope left.

Have you enjoyed my post? Did I miss anything important? Feel free to contribute to my post by leaving comments below. Indeed, additional tips or questions are also appreciated. I wish you luck with the job!

References

1. Poison.org. 2021. Inhaling Alcohol Is Dangerous. [online] Available at: <https://www.poison.org/articles/inhaling-alcohol-is-dangerous>.
2. Health.ny.gov. 2021. The Facts About Ammonia. [online] Available at: <https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/ammonia_tech.htm>.