Lestoil Cleaner Review - To Remove Tough Grease Stains On Clothes

by Kathy PA
(Freeport, Maine)

Kathy has shared her Lestoil cleaner review as a laundry stain remover for grease.

Kathy says:

My husband frequently gets grease on his work clothes. Lestoil is my go to stain remover.


The product is petroleum based so it works really well on the really black heavy grease that is used on trailer hitches and the like.

I just use a tooth brush to rub it in to the fabric.

If the soiled garment is a knit, like a t-shirt, I use the smooth back side of the brush so I don't cause pilling.

The back of the container says to wait 5-10 minutes before washing and then launder in the hottest water possible for the fabric.

Sometimes when I have treated a large area I will re-wash before drying as the product can leave some odor and we prefer as little scent as possible in our clothes.

The product also works well on "mystery" stains.

Taylor says:

Thanks Kathy for your laundry stain remover review.

I think this is very helpful for people, because I get asked all the time for suggestions for stain removers that can get rid of tough grease stains.

I would love to hear from the readers in the comments too, about your own opinions and thoughts about Lestoil as a laundry stain remover.

So, do you have a laundry stain remover review to share? If so, you can submit your own laundry stain remover review here.

You can also review any other type of stain remover here.

Lestoil Gets Out Set Grease Spots In Clothes

by Christine

Christine has shared this tip for how she uses Lestoil.

Christine says:

I wanted to share a stain removal tip that I learned from a friend.

Having four kids, it is quite common to take a piece of clothing out of the dryer only to find a grease spot on it. I used to throw things away when that happened until my friend told me about Lestoil.

You find it in the cleaner section in the store.

Put a dab of that on the spot, let it sit a few minutes, and then wash the article again. It has worked every time!

It is a petroleum based product, so it has a strong smell, but it works and has saved me many an outfit!

Taylor says:

Thanks Christine for sharing your tip for how you use Lestoil.

I have several kids myself, and they do seem to be notorious for throwing things in the wash without bothering to mention (or even notice) that they have a stain on them.

Once a grease or oil stain has gone through the dryer it is soooo much harder to get out. I'm glad you've found something that works for you to deal with these stains, even then.

I would love to hear even more reviews of Lestoil, or any other laundry stain remover. You can share your laundry stain removers review here.

I know this product is difficult to find in some stores. Therefore, there is a link below where you can buy Lestoil cleaner if you're interested.

Diesel Mechanic Grease Stains Removed With Lestoil

by Laura

Laura shared how she uses this product in her home.

Laura says:

My man is a mobile diesel mechanic.....so I deal with the grime from him rolling around in the dirt along side the interstates, plus all the grease build up on his clothes and the diesel smell is a whole different story.

I have tried a number of degreasers.....Lestoil is the only product that works.

I fill the washer up with water and 1 cup of this stuff and let his uniforms soak over night. The water is completely black in the morning before I even turn the machine on.

Nothing else even comes close to the clean I get from Lestoil.

Thanks for your review Laura, and explaining how you use it!

My Product Of Choice For Removing Bike Grease Stains

by Felipe

Felipe says:

I mountain bike and I usually get my cycling clothes stained with the grease from the chain and Lestoil is always great to clean them up.

I usually apply a small amount around the stain and rub it gently with a toothbrush and it works perfectly.

Today I also used it to clean my bicycle chain as well!!

It also helps me clean the garage floor from oil stains and for me it smells pretty nice for a petroleum base product.

Next time you see it at the store don't hesitate. I am sure it will solve your stain problems too.

Taylor says:

Thanks for sharing all those uses for this product Felipe.

You can see even more cleaner degreaser reviews here, if you're looking for such a product (or you can share your own!).

***Update: I've now got another bike chain cleaner review up on the site if you're interested: Simple Green Bike Cleaner Degreaser Review ***End Update

Photo by Wha'ppen

Pretreating Stains With It Works Great

by Julie

I pretreat stains with Lestoil. Then I wash the clothes with my regular laundry.

I've used both hot and cold water. It ususally works with one or two applications.

The only trouble I have is finding Lestoil in the store. The big box stores don't usually have it.

I have to go to a local independent grocery store to find it.

Removed Oil Paint From Clothes

by Aimee

Aimee says:

This stuff is great! I used it to get oil paint out of a white cotton jacket!

Taylor says:

Thanks for this quick tip Aimee.

It can be very difficult finding stuff that will remove paint. You can check out even more paint stain removal tips here.

Photo courtesy of Mel B.

I Use Lestoil To Pretreat Greasy Food Stains

by Stacy

Stacy says:

I work in a restaurant and Lestoil is my ally when it comes to pretreating greasy stains on my work clothes.

Our dress code is white shirts and black slacks, so I have a minimum of 2 loads of wash with stains each week.

When it comes to removing grease stains the hotter the water the better, but of course these garments are warm water care, as hot water would surely cause shrinking.

I have used it on cooking oil, salad dressing, butter, and french fry drippings.

I have also used it to pretreat perspiration stains (yellow) that occur on the days I have to work in the kitchen.

The last thing a server needs is to meet the public with a white shirt that has perspiration stains!

I like to pour off a few ounces into a small pretreat bottle so it is easier to handle on wash day.

I leave it on the garment for about 10 minutes before throwing it in the washer.

As to the odor that some users have mentioned I really do not notice since I also use a scented detergent (Wisk or Tide), and a shot of nonchlorine bleach (store brand) to complete the task.

This is a great laundry pretreater that most people do not know exists.

Got Rid Of Halloween Makeup Stains!

Heidi shared that this product got out several day old Halloween makeup that had gotten on some clothing.

I debated about where to put this tip, and finally shared it on the removing makeup stains page, so click that link for full details of how she used it, but I wanted to make sure you knew about it here as well!

Photo by wrote, from Flickr CC

Restaurant Manager Recommends Lestoil And BIZ For Keeping Uniforms Clean

by Amy

Amy says:

My daughter got a job as a server in a restaurant for the summer.

When the manager distributed the uniforms she told her that she must have a clean uniform each day she comes to work. It must be the times since I could not imagine wearing the same uniform with stains two days in a row, and deal with the public!

She recommended Lestoil for greasy food stains such as gravy, cooking oil, and mayonnaise, as well as perspiration stains.

For all other stains she indicated that BIZ should be used.

While I am no stranger to BIZ, the Lestoil product for greasy stains was new to me.

Up till now I had always used Shout aerosol for grease stains.

The process basically consists of pretreating the greasy stains with Lestoil, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then depending on the amount of other stains either presoak with BIZ, then wash, or do a direct wash with the BIZ.

In addition a good quality detergent must be used.

I normally use Tide or Wisk (scent free versions) for most of the laundry.

But since I now have a lot of messy (smelly) uniforms to wash I use Oxydol for these garments.

I will definitely be using Lestoil for any greasy laundry stains from now on.

Taylor says:

Thanks for this tip Amy.

After reading this tip another reader, Carrie, wrote in to share how much this idea helped her. She said:

This is one of the best tips I got from your website. It has really lightened the laundry issues I have been dealing with on my son's restaurant uniforms.

Lestoil takes care of the really greasy stains, and BIZ handles the rest, including coffee, tomato sauce, and everything else he wears home.

It Really Works On Spots From Greasy Foods

by Sandy

I noticed this tip on your blog a few weeks ago, and I finally got around to buying some Lestoil for myself.

All I can say is Wow, this stuff is great in getting out cooking oil (and other greasy food) stains from my uniforms.

It also breaks down perspiration stains. I sponge the greasy stains, as well as the collars and under arms of my uniforms about 10 minutes before I throw them in the washer.

I thought it was used only for cleaning floors. Most of my co-workers had the same thoughts.

Before I discovered Lestoil I used Dawn dishwashing liquid for grease stains, and while it definitely helped, it can't compete with Lestoil.

I Use It For Removing Sticker Residue

by Valerie

Valerie says:

It's also good for getting gummy stuff like sticker residue off of things.

Taylor says:

Thanks for sharing this Valerie.

It's amazing what all this stuff can do, isn't it?

Here's even more adhesive removal product reviews if you've interested.



Photo courtesy of Brandi Jordan, from Flickr CC

It Beats Other Pretreaters On Grease Stains

by Amanda

Lestoil is terrific in getting out any kind of grease stains whether they be petroleum based oil stains from the car or greasy food stains like hamburger grease, pizza, etc.

I also use it to sponge perspiration stains on shirts before washing.

Since you very rarely see this product mentioned in the media it is usually discovered by word of mouth, and normally you find that someone's grandmother used it and passed along the tip.

My neighbor told me that she used it to get grease stains out of her husband's factory uniforms, otherwise I would never have known about it.

As others have noted on your website it is especially handy for someone who works in a restaurant and/or has kids that are getting into everything.

This is my exact situation as I am always getting some greasy mess on my uniforms, and of course it is only natural for the kids to drop some greasy food on their clothes, for that matter some of the adults are just as bad!

For greasy stains Lestoil is better than any of the pretreaters I have tried. All of my co workers now use it as well.

For the rest of my laundry stains (and I have plenty of them) I depend on Oxi Clean or Biz as an addition to my detergent (usually ERA or Wisk).

Once you find the right combination of products that work it would be ridiculous to switch.

This Is The Best Grease Stain Remover Even If Items Have Been Through Dryer

by Barb

The trouble with laundry is that it tends to pile up fast. Then when you do focus on the chore you want to get done as soon as possible.

This is how many times stains don't get pretreated, and do make it through the dryer!

Lestoil has saved quite a few articles of clothing in our house.

I discovered this pretreater when my neighbor stopped by my house when I was in the middle of doing laundry.

She said it was the most effective pretreater she ever used on greasy food stains she got on her uniforms when she worked at the school cafeteria.

It is wonderful at getting out grease stains from car doors to greasy food stains, even after they have run the full route through the dryer.

For set in stains that are not "grease" based I have also used the Shout Advanced Gel in the spray bottle with much success.

I hate to say that it is not just the kids that don't pay any attention to the stains they get on their clothes, as some adults are just as bad.

I Use Lestoil Cleaner Throughout My Home

by Pam P.

Pam has shared many of the ways she uses Lestoil throughout her home.

Pam says:

I think that Lestoil is the greatest cleaning product on the market. I use it in every room of my house.

It's great for cleaning the floors and the tub and toilet.

It get out any grease stain on any surface, including laundry.

I use it for stuck on gum and pine pitch. I recommend it to all of my friends and family.

Sometimes it is hard to find, and it is only sold at limited locations. My daughter lives in South Carolina and wants to use it but it is impossible to find it there.

Please please don't ever stop making it, I'd be lost!

Taylor says:

Thanks Pam for sharing how you use Lestoil throughout your home. I'm glad you shared some additional uses, because the other reviewers have mainly shared how to use it in the laundry.

I agree, it can be hard to find in stores. However, it is available online, at such places like Amazon (see the link below).

I would love to hear from even more people about how they use this product throughout their home, and how it works for them. You can share your house cleaning supplies review here, for this or any other product, telling me what you like about it, how you use it, or anything else you want to share about it.

Used For Removing Oil Stains From Concrete Driveways

Another reader, Dave, shared how he uses this product for cleaning up oil stains from his concrete driveway here. I had a page specifically on that topic so I added his directions there, but I wanted to make sure you saw this use as well! Keep the ideas rolling in!

Removes Crayon Marks From Walls

In addition, another reader, Sandra, shared how this product removed crayon from walls for her, without scrubbing.

Wow, this stuff does a lot, doesn't it?

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