How To Remove Grease Stains From Wood

Wood is a porous surface, so oil and grease easily get in and stay, making a horribly unsightly stain and even a sticky, greasy, filmy mess.

Yuck!

It’s important to know how to remove grease stains from wood as wood is all over our homes, and grease gets on our wood items from everyday happenings like cooking, touching, air quality, etc.

As it’s unreasonable to think you’d be able to get your wood items professionally cleaned all the time or be able to replace them as they become grease-stained, and it’s always easier to remove a grease stain if you tackle it as soon as possible, it’s well worth knowing which household products and items you already have on hand are also useful in removing grease stains from wood.

It also saves a lot of money!

Are you ready to learn some effective options?

Let’s get started!

Items You’ll Need

In this section, we’ll list and discuss the items you’ll need to remove grease stains from wood.

We’ll provide any alternatives as options for each item, when applicable.

Water
Paper towels, soft cloths, clean towels, a sponge mop (or alternatives)
Bucket, small bowl, or container
Liquid dish soap
Talcum powder/baby powder or baking soda
White vinegar
Grease stain remover
Wood cleaner
Mineral spirits
Hot iron (along with a soft cloth)
Hot Tea | Ammonia | Turpentine
Wood polish, wax, or WD-40

Water

Hot, warm, and clean water are used to rinse away various stain removers and make various solutions as stain removers.

Paper Towels Or Soft Cloths Or Clean Towels Or A Sponge Mop

Paper towels, soft cloths, old clean toothbrush, dry clean cloths, microfiber cloths, clean towels, cloths, a sponge mop, and alternatives are used to soak up excess grease from the stain, to apply various stain removers, to rinse off various stain removers, to dry the wood item, etc. – all at various stages of the stain removal process.

I love to use these microfiber cleaning cloths that I found on Amazon.

Bucket, Small Bowl, Or Container

A bucket, small bowl, or container is used for making and mixing various solutions as stain removers.

Liquid Dish Soap

Liquid dish soap is used as a stain remover as it’s an effective grease stain remover from wood, especially those known for grease-fighting like Dawn.

Talcum Powder/Baby Powder

Talcum powder/baby powder, baking soda, or one of the alternative absorbent powders are excellent grease stain removers at absorbing grease from wood.

Acceptable alternatives are absorbent powders like flour, sawdust, etc.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is used as an effective grease stain remover from wood.

Grease Stain Remover

Grease stain removers are commercial stain removing products made to remove grease stains and safe for use on wood surfaces.

Many of these cleaners are already part of your household cleaning toolkit as they are also used to remove grease, and other stains, from surfaces other than wood.

Oil Eater Original Cleaner/Degreaser, Goo Gone Original, ECOS Non-Toxic Orange All Purpose Cleaner, and Krud Kutter Original Concentrated Cleaner/Degreaser are all readily available on Amazon.

Wood Cleaner

Wood cleaners are commercial products made expressly to clean wood.

Many of these cleaners are extremely effective in removing grease.

Murphy’s Oil Soap Original Wood Cleaner, Magic Cabinet & Wood Cleaner, and Magic Wood Deep Cleaner and Polish, Natural Carnauba Wax and Oil, and Therapy Wood Cleaner and Polish Kit with Large Microfiber Cloth are all readily available on Amazon, recommended for wood items like furniture and cabinets but not hardwood floors which have specific cleaners.

A few hardwood floor cleaners available on Amazon are Bona Cedar Wood Hardwood Floor Cleaner, Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaning Spray, Murphy’s Oil Soap Wood Cleaner, Original, Concentrated Formula, Floor Cleaner, Multi-Use Wood Cleaner, and TriNova Hardwood Floor Cleaner.

Mineral Spirits

Mineral spirits is used as an effective grease stain remover from wood.

Hot Iron

A hot iron is used, along with a soft cloth, to lift grease stains off wood.

Hot Tea | Ammonia And Water | Turpentine

Hot Tea: Hot tea, specifically three black tea bags allowed to steep in 1 cup of hot water and cooled, is used as an effective grease stain remover from wood.
Ammonia and Water: Ammonia and water solution, made by combining 1 gallon of water with ½ cup of household ammonia, is used as an effective grease stain remover from wood.
Turpentine: Turpentine is used as an effective grease stain remover from wood.

Wood Polish, Wax, Or WD-40

Wood polish, wax, or wD-40 are used to protect your wood after cleaning.

Step By Step Instructions For How To Remove Grease Stains From Wood

#1 Remove Any Excess Grease

It’s important to tackle a grease stain immediately, or at least as soon as possible.

It’s much easier to remove grease stains from wood or any surface when they are fresh or wet than when they are set-in, old, or dried up.

Blot the grease stain with a dry clean white, or lightly colored cloth, white paper towel, washcloth, or alternative, gently applying light pressure to the spot, soaking up any excess grease.
Just dab at the grease, DO NOT rub the grease stain, as rubbing can cause the grease stain to spread.
Work the grease stain from its outside towards its center, blotting up as much of the grease as possible, until the grease stain is smaller and mostly dry.
Use a new area of the cloths or paper towels each time you blot to avoid re-applying the grease right back onto or further around on the wood.

#2 Preparing Your Wood For A Stain Removing Solution

After blotting up as much excess grease as possible, assess the grease stain and type of wood surface, i.e., finished, unfinished, painted, etc., as well as the type of wood item, i.e., furniture, kitchen cabinets, hardwood floors, etc.
Choose one of the stain removal methods listed in steps #3-10.
Before using any stain remover, test it on a spot in a hidden area of the wood item to check for any possible discoloration or damage to either the finish or the wood surface itself.

#3 Stain Removal Method 1: Liquid Dish Soap (Optional-Choice Of Technique)

Liquid dish soap, especially those specifically formulated to fight grease, such as Dawn, is made to cut through and break down grease and works safely to remove grease stains on all types of wood surfaces and items. The instructions for all are similar, with the variations being the wiping tools. For example, you would use a sponge mop on hardwood floors but probably not on kitchen cabinets or furniture.

In a small bowl or similar container, mix equal parts of warm water and grease-cutting liquid dish soap, like Dawn, stirring the mixture until it forms soapsuds.
Using a wiping tool of choice, like a soft cloth, washcloth, sponge mop, soft brush, or alternative, pick up only the soapsuds from the dish soap solution.
Gently but firmly, wipe the soapsuds onto the grease stains and into the wood grain of your wood item.
Rinse the area thoroughly by wiping the wood down with a clean, damp cloth dipped in water to get rid of the suds and any grease.
Repeat the process several times if necessary.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this liquid dish soap procedure, choose another stain removal method from steps #4-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

#4 Stain Removal Method 2: Talcum Powder/Baby Powder (Optional-Choice Of Technique)

Many household products are available for use as effective grease stain removers from wood, some of which you may already have on hand.

One of the best types is absorbent powders like talcum powder, baby powder, baking soda, flour, sawdust, or any alternatives.

There are two ways absorbent powders are typically used to remove grease stains from wood – any kind of wood, whether it’s wood furniture, kitchen cabinets, hardwood floors, or anything else – either sprinkled directly onto the grease stain or made into a paste and applied to the grease stain.

Either way, the absorbent powder soaks the grease up out of the wood, allowing you to wipe it away, easily removing the grease from your wood.

Instructions for Sprinkling Talcum Powder Directly On Grease Stain:

Sprinkle the talcum powder, or an alternative absorbent powder, directly onto the grease-stained area.
Let the powder sit undisturbed for a minimum of an hour, up to overnight.

The powder should absorb the grease from the stain and change color.

Using a slightly damp paper towel, wipe the powder and grease away and immediately dispose of the powder and grease waste.
Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth and repeat the process a few times if necessary.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this talcum powder/baby powder sprinkling process, choose another stain removal method from steps #3, 5-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

Instructions for Baking Soda Paste On Grease Stain:

In a small bowl, mix some baking soda with enough warm water to make a paste.

Make enough paste to generously cover the grease stain on your wood.

Apply the paste to the grease stain with a clean cloth or small brush, using small, circular motions and following the grain of the wood.
Gently work the cleaner or stain remover into the stain and then let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes while it absorbs the grease from the stain.
Using a clean, damp cloth or damp paper towel, wipe the paste away and immediately dispose of the paste and grease waste.
Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth and repeat the process a few times if necessary.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this talcum powder/baby powder paste technique, choose another stain removal method from steps #3, 5-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

#5 Stain Removal Method 3: White Vinegar (Optional-Choice Of Technique)

White vinegar is a common household product widely known as an excellent cleaning agent due to its acetic acid properties, which make it extremely effective at cutting through grease and removing grease stains from wood.

However, the same acidic properties making vinegar an effective cleaner also make it damaging to some wood finishes.

Therefore, depending on what kind of finish is applied to your wood, be careful using vinegar as a stain remover and always spot test it first for damage to your wood and its finish.

Pro Tip:

Keep in mind, if the finish gets stripped by vinegar, any other cleaning agent, just scrubbing too hard, or at any time during the stain removal process, a new finish can be applied to the wood after the stains have been removed and cleaning is completed.

In a small bowl or container, mix equal parts of white vinegar and water.
Dip the corner of a soft cloth into the vinegar solution, dampening it, and wipe the grease stain, following the wood grain direction.
Re-wet a fresh area of the cloth, or replace the cloth, as needed, to ensure you don’t place recently removed grease right back onto the wood.
Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth and repeat the process a few times if necessary.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this white vinegar process, choose another stain removal method from steps #3-4, 6-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

#6 Stain Removal Method 4: Grease Stain Remover (Optional-Choice Of Technique)

An effective grease stain removal method is to use a grease stain remover, which is a commercial stain removing product made to remove grease stains and safe for use on wood surfaces.

Many of these cleaners are already part of your household cleaning toolkit as they are also used to remove grease, and other stains, from surfaces other than wood.

Spray a little grease stain remover onto the grease stain on your wood item.
Follow the instructions on the grease stain remover’s packaging as far as how long to let the product set on the grease stain.
In a small bowl or similar container, mix equal parts of warm water and grease-cutting liquid dish soap, like Dawn, stirring the mixture until it forms soapsuds.
Apply a small amount of liquid dish soap solution’s soapsuds onto a clean cloth and clean the grease stain remover and grease from the wood item.
Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth and repeat the process a few times if necessary.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this grease stain remover technique, choose another stain removal method from steps #3-5, 7-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

#7 Stain Removal Method 5: Wood Cleaner (Optional-Choice Of Technique)

For tougher grease stains, there are many wood cleaners available on the market to choose from.

Wood cleaners are commercial products made expressly to clean wood.

Many of these cleaners are extremely effective in removing grease, among other stains.

Spray or pour a little wood cleaner onto a soft, microfiber cloth and wipe it onto the grease stain on your wood item.
Follow the instructions on the wood cleaner’s packaging as far as how long to let the product set on the grease stain.
Repeat the process a few times if necessary.
Follow the wood cleaner’s package instructions on rinsing and drying if they’re necessary.

Some wood cleaners also include another step – polishing.

If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this wood cleaner system, choose another stain removal method from steps #3-6, 8-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11 Protect Your Wood

#8 Stain Removal Method 6: Mineral Spirits (Optional-Choice Of Technique)

Mineral Spirits, often used as paint thinner by artists and craftspeople, make an excellent grease stain remover from wood.

However, as it is a strong substance, when using mineral spirits to remove stains, make sure the room is well ventilated, and you’re wearing protective gear, like rubber gloves and goggles or other eyewear.

Additionally, mineral spirits, like vinegar, is strong enough to possibly damage some wood finishes.

Therefore, depending on what kind of finish is applied to your wood, be careful using mineral spirits as a stain remover and always spot test it first for damage to your wood and its finish.

Pro Tip:

Keep in mind, if the finish gets stripped by mineral spirits, any other cleaning agent, just scrubbing too hard, or at any time during the stain removal process, a new finish can be applied to the wood after the stains have been removed and cleaning is completed.

Pour a small blob of mineral spirits onto a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the grease stain on your wood.

Use this product sparingly, wiping small sections at a time, using just enough to remove the grease stain from your wood without saturating the wood with the mineral spirits.

Repeat a few times, if necessary.
In a small bowl or similar container, mix equal parts of warm water and grease-cutting liquid dish soap, like Dawn, stirring the mixture until it forms soapsuds.
Using a wiping tool of choice, like a soft cloth, washcloth, sponge mop, soft brush, or alternative, pick up only the soapsuds from the dish soap solution.
Gently but firmly, wipe the soapsuds onto the grease stains and into the wood grain of your wood item.
Rinse the area thoroughly by wiping the wood down with a clean, damp cloth dipped in water to get rid of the suds, mineral spirits, and any grease.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this mineral spirits process, choose another stain removal method from steps #4-7, 10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

#9 Stain Removal Method 7: Hot Iron And A Soft Cloth (Optional-Choice Of Technique)

The hot iron and a soft cloth method doesn’t involve any cleaning agents or water, just a hot iron melting the grease from the stain, then transferring it onto a clean area of the soft cloth.

Each time you press the hot iron onto the cloth over an area of the grease stain on your wood, make sure you’re using a clean area of cloth or even a clean cloth.

This is because if any grease or other stain is present on the section of cloth you’re using, it can just as easily transfer right back onto your wood item, causing further staining.

Be sure to set your iron on it’s lowest setting with no steam because wood surfaces are vulnerable to heat and moisture.

Pro Tip:

It’s a good idea to empty the water compartment for your iron, so the steam function is inactivated.

Pro Tip:

A white or light-colored cloth is best to prevent any color from the cloth from transferring to the wood.

Pro Tip:

You’ll want to choose an unimportant cloth, or series of cloths, as you’ll be transferring grease stains to them.

Old white or light-colored t-shirts without writing, old rags or cloths make great options.

Turn on your iron at its lowest setting with its steam function deactivated.
Place a clean, soft cloth flat on top of the grease stain on the wood.
Precisely run the hot iron for 5-10 seconds over the section of cloth on the section of grease stain as if you were ironing your laundry.

Be careful to press the entire section of the cloth covering the entire section of the stain with the iron before lifting it up.

The heat from the iron will melt the grease, transferring it from the stain on the wood to the cloth.

Continue the process, laying a fresh cloth or section of cloth onto a fresh section of the grease stain, then ironing over the cloth as above until the entire stain has been covered and ironed over.
Check the surface of your wood item for any remaining grease stains and repeat the process, if necessary.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this hot iron and a soft cloth technique, choose another stain removal method from steps #4-8, 10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

#10 Stain Removal Method 8: Additional Techniques (Optional-Choice Of Technique)

There are quite a few additional stain removal techniques, tricks, and methods for removing grease stains from wood worth briefly mentioning, and they are:

Hot Tea – Hot tea, of all things, makes an effective grease stain remover from wood.

Make some hot tea – in 1 cup of hot water, allow three black tea bags to steep.
Let the tea cool.
Use a clean microfiber cloth dipped in the tea and lightly dampened to apply it to the grease stain wiping along the grain of the wood.
Wipe the excess moisture from the wood with another clean microfiber cloth.
With a cloth dampened with clean water, wipe the area again to clean the wood of tea and grease.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
Check the surface of your wood item for any remaining grease stains and repeat the process, if necessary.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this hot tea technique, choose another stain removal method from steps #4-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

Ammonia and Water – Ammonia, when mixed with grease, turns it into a soap-like substance that can be more easily wiped away.

In a bucket or container, mix 1 gallon of water with ½ cup of household ammonia.
Lightly dampen a cloth with the mixture and carefully wipe it into the grease stain on the wood.
The grease and ammonia should mix, loosening the grease, enabling you to wipe it and the ammonia solution away with a clean, slightly damp cloth.
With another cloth dampened with clean water, wipe the area again to clean the wood of ammonia and grease.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
Check the surface of your wood item for any remaining grease stains and repeat the process, if necessary.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this ammonia and water technique, choose another stain removal method from steps #4-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

Turpentine – makes an effective grease stain remover from wood, like mineral spirits.

Pour a dab of turpentine onto a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the grease stain on your wood.

Use this product sparingly, wiping small sections at a time, using just enough to remove the grease stain from your wood without saturating the wood with the turpentine.

Repeat a few times, if necessary.
Rinse the area thoroughly by wiping the wood down with a clean, damp cloth dipped in water to get rid of the suds, turpentine, and any grease.
Dry the wood with a clean towel or cloth by patting it down to remove all excess moisture and then letting the wood air dry to completion.
If the grease stain persists or if you’d rather not use this turpentine technique, choose another stain removal method from steps #4-10.

If the grease stain is completely gone, proceed to step #11, Protect Your Wood.

#11 Protect Your Wood

After using any number of stain removers required to have fully removed the grease stain from your wood item, you’re ready to protect your wood.

Pro Tip:

You must check to make sure the grease is completely gone before polishing or waxing your wood item because the polish or wax will set the stain into the wood, making it much more difficult to remove.

Once your wood item had been cleaned and is clear of any grease stains, you are ready to polish or wax it, taking care to follow any special instructions related to both the wood item as well as the polish or wax packaging.
Apply polish, wax, or even a bit of WD-40 to a clean, microfiber cloth, and then use the cloth to lightly wipe down the wood item.
Work the wax, polish, or WD-40 into the wood by rubbing in small, circular motions until it’s all over the wood item.
Use a dry cloth to buff the wood item to a shine.
After protecting, check your wood item once more to make sure the grease stain is completely gone, and enjoy your handiwork!

Commonly Asked Questions

Why is it okay to use some oils when cleaning wood but not okay to use others?

-This is a great question!

There are basically two types of oils, which are categorized as drying oils and non-drying oils.

Oils are great at breaking up grease and therefore make great grease stain removers, but when using oil to remove grease stains from wood, it’s important to make sure you’re using a drying oil and not using a non-drying oil.

A drying oil will remove your grease stain, then harden and dry out on the wood when exposed to light and air, and everything will be fine.

However, a non-drying oil, while it may also remove your grease stain, doesn’t dry out on the wood but rather stays liquid and even spoils, which results in quite the awful smell, at which point nothing is fine.

Some common examples of drying oils are orange oil, linseed oil, poppy seed oil, walnut oil, tung oil, and persilla oil.

Some common examples of non-drying oils are olive oil, coconut oil, macadamia oil, mineral oil, peanut oil, cocoa butter, babassu oil, Nahar seed oil, and baobab oil.

What covers my wood items with a sticky, greasy film?

-A gummy, sticky mess sometimes covers our everyday wood items like the kitchen table and chairs, kitchen cabinets, furniture, doors, etc., caused by everyday activities like grease from cooking, layers of furniture wax or polish, cigarette smoke, hand oils, vapors, etc., and even the wearing down of the finish.

Conclusion

Have you enjoyed learning how to remove grease stains from wood?

It doesn’t take too much effort, product, or money to do it yourself – it just takes knowing what to do and what to use!

All of that is better than having to live with greasy wood, calling for professional help and spending extra money, or even worse – having to replace your ruined wood items.

Make your wood shiny and new again!