My mom taught me this trick to get oil stains out of clothes with 0 effort. Here’s how it works

I’ll never forget the night I accidentally dripped olive oil onto my favorite white linen shirt. Panic set in as I watched the oil spread, creating a dark, unsightly patch. Desperate, I called my mom for advice. She calmly instructed me to grab some cornstarch from the pantry. ‘Just sprinkle it on and let it sit,’ she said. Skeptical but hopeful, I followed her instructions, covering the stain completely with about a tablespoon of cornstarch and leaving it overnight.

The next morning, I was astounded. The cornstarch had absorbed the majority of the oil, and after a quick wash, the stain was gone. My shirt was saved, and I was convinced of the magic of this simple trick.

Oil stains are notoriously difficult to remove because they are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. This characteristic makes it challenging for water-based cleaning solutions to penetrate and break down the oil molecules. Traditional laundry detergents often struggle with oil because their formulas are not specifically designed to tackle such stubborn, greasy residues.

Moreover, if not treated promptly, oil stains can set into fibers, especially when exposed to heat, either from body heat or from a dryer. This setting process makes the stains even more entrenched, requiring specialized treatments to remove.

The trick my mom swears by involves using a common household item: cornstarch. Cornstarch is highly absorbent, making it perfect for drawing oil out of fabric fibers. The beauty of this method is its simplicity and minimal effort required. All you need to do is apply the cornstarch generously over the oil stain and let it sit. The longer you leave it, the more oil it absorbs, often working overnight.

This method doesn’t require any scrubbing or fancy treatments, just a bit of patience and the willingness to let the cornstarch do its job. It’s an excellent example of how sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective.

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