How to Get Gravy and Grease Out of a Tablecloth

Step by step

1. 1

   Scrape and blot as soon as you can

   After the guests leave the table, lift off any thick gravy with a spoon. Then press a paper towel on the spot and lift, switching to a clean part each time. Press, don’t scrub, because rubbing spreads grease over more fabric.

   What it looks like: a flat brown spot, with nothing sitting on top.

2. 2

   Dampen the spot

   Run a little warm water through the back of the stain so the fabric is damp, not dripping.

3. 3

   Rub in a stain remover or liquid detergent

   Work a stain remover or a little liquid laundry detergent into the damp spot with your fingertips. Do the front and the back. Follow the stain remover’s label for how long to leave it on.

   What it looks like: the edge of the stain looks softer and a little lighter.

4. 4

   Wash it hot, if the label allows

   Wash the tablecloth in the hottest water the care label allows, with plenty of detergent. Grease comes out best in hot water. On colored cloths, stay at the label’s temperature, since hotter water can fade colors.

1. 5

   Check it wet, before the dryer

   Pull the tablecloth out and hold the spot up to a window. The American Cleaning Institute says drying can set a stain for good. If you see a shadow, go on to Step 6 instead of drying.

   What it looks like when it worked: even color all over, with no darker patch when the light comes through.

2. 6

   Soak what is left in oxygen bleach

   If a shadow is still there, soak the tablecloth 15 to 30 minutes in warm water with an oxygen bleach, the kind made with sodium perborate. Follow the product label for how much to use and wear gloves. Then wash it again and check it wet once more.

When it will not work, and what to do instead

Gravy can be stubborn, especially after a busy night. Here’s what to try.

• It sat overnight. Still worth a try. Treat it the same way, and plan on two rounds. The sooner you get to a stain, the easier it comes out, so start before breakfast.
• It already went through the dryer. Heat can set a stain, but it is worth one more try. Do Steps 2 to 5 again, then soak washable fabric in oxygen bleach. The OxiClean Versatile label says to fill the scoop to line 3 for each gallon of water and soak 1 to 6 hours.
• It’s a heavy grease mark on a white cotton cloth. Use the washing soda paste from our grease page. It’s made for kitchen grease.
• The cloth is silk, wool or dry clean only. The OxiClean label rules those fabrics out. Blot, keep it out of the dryer, and take it to a dry cleaner.
• Gravy dripped on a wood table too. University of Georgia Extension says to wipe it with only the foam from dish soap whipped in hot water. Then wipe it with a damp, well-wrung cloth and dry it right away.

Why it works

Here is what is going on. Gravy is two stains in one: the fat from the drippings and the browned bits that give it color. Fat doesn’t rinse out in plain water, because oil and water don’t mix.

Detergent fixes that. The American Cleaning Institute explains that each detergent molecule has one end that holds onto water and one end that holds onto oil, so the oil end grabs the grease and the water carries it away. Hot water softens the fat so the detergent can do its job.

The dryer is the one thing to wait on. Heat can lock in whatever is left, which is why the wet check matters.