First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the spill with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel before anything else.
- Pretest the solvent on a hidden spot first, and stop if color transfers or changes.
- Keep heat away from the spot, with no dryer, iron or hot air, until the stain is gone, because heat sets stains.
Oil on grout is hard to lift, and how well it comes out depends mostly on the grout material, whether it's cement-based or epoxy. Cement grout can hold a stain as part of the material, while epoxy grout can be brought back to its original shade. Fresh grease usually responds to a solvent and a clean rinse, but old oil on cement grout can take several treatments and may still leave a mark.
Getting oil stains out of grout usually means a grout cleaner made for oil and grease, with a whiting and peroxide paste for what's left. Grease stains on tile grout that have sat for weeks often need a second round, so give each pass time to work. If the lines still look dark after a few rounds, that's your cue to call a professional.
Before you start
What grout can take
Safe to use4
- Water
- Hot water
- Enzyme cleaners
- Heat, once the stain is out
Use with care5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
7 items
What you'll need
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- Dull knife, spoon or plastic credit cardLifts off the excess oil without pushing it deeper.
- Soft, thick clothHolds the solvent against the stain.
- Amyl acetate or a commercial dry-cleaning solventDissolves the oil so it can be lifted out. (opens Amazon)
- Powdered Whiting and 3% hydrogen peroxideMakes the poultice for stains that remain. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic wrapSlows evaporation so the poultice stays moist. (opens Amazon)
- Clean sponge, white nylon pad and clothsFor wiping and scrubbing the grout gently. (opens Amazon)
- Warm sudsy water and clear waterLifts the residue, then rinses it away.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Scrape off the excess
Use a dull knife, spoon, spatula or the edge of a plastic credit card to lift off any oil sitting on top of the grout. Work gently so you don't push it deeper into the joint.
Step 2 of 6
Work in the solvent
Dampen a soft, thick cloth with amyl acetate or a commercial dry-cleaning solvent. Press it onto the stain and keep the pad moist with the solution as you work.
Careful. Solvent is flammable, so ventilate the room and keep flames and sparks away. Don't leave it on the stain too long.
Step 3 of 6
Make the poultice if needed
If a shadow is still there, mix powdered Whiting with 3% hydrogen peroxide and a little water into a thick paste. Spread it over the whole stained area so it stays put.
Tip. Buy the ordinary mild peroxide from the drugstore, not the stronger bleaching strength.
Step 4 of 610-15 minutes
Cover and let it sit
Lay plastic wrap over the paste so it stays moist and doesn't dry out too fast. Leave it there for 10-15 minutes while it draws the oil out of the grout.
Careful. Don't let the paste dry out on the surface before you wipe it away.
Step 5 of 6
Wipe with warm sudsy water
Scrape the paste off, then wipe the area with a clean sponge or cloth dipped in warm sudsy water. For stubborn lines, use a white nylon pad, which grout can take.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse and dry well
Rinse the sudsy residue with another sponge or soft cloth dipped in clear water, then wipe the area dry. Check the grout in good light, and repeat the solvent treatment if the shadow remains.
Careful. Rinse out all sudsy residue, because soap film left behind gets sticky.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for oil on grout
Use amyl acetate or a commercial dry-cleaning solvent, and buy mild peroxide from the drugstore rather than the stronger bleaching strength.
Zep Grout Cleaner & Brightener
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on grout, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain is gone when the grout looks the same color as the grout around it, and it doesn't darken as it dries. If a shadow shows up, it's oil still in the grout, so go back to the solvent treatment rather than scrubbing harder.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your grout
Grease on tile grout
On tile, the steps stay the same, but only the grout should get the solvent and poultice. Keep the paste on the grout lines and off the glazed tile face, and don't use acid anywhere near the tile.
If you're not sure whether the grout is cement or epoxy, test the solvent on a hidden spot first and keep the rinse thorough.
Epoxy grout
Epoxy grout can take hot water for the wipe-down, so the warm sudsy water step works the same way. Use the same solvent and poultice steps, and keep acid off the joints as well.
Because the grout type changes the cleaner you can use, check which grout you have before choosing anything beyond these steps.
Sealed cement grout
Sealed cement grout needs gentler handling, so skip vinegar, lemon, bleach-containing cleaners and ammonia, which break down the sealer. The solvent and poultice steps still apply, and the sudsy wipe should stay light.
Rinse the area well afterward, because any leftover residue can dull the sealer and leave a sticky film on the grout.
Grout in a shower
Shower grout gets the same steps, but the wipe-down and rinse matter more because it is wet most of the time. Use only the warm sudsy water and clear water rinse, with no extra cleaners on top.
If the shadow is near the tub or floor, go slowly and check each round before moving to the next joint.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old oil is harder to lift than fresh oil, so don't expect the first round to finish the job. Plan on repeating the solvent and poultice steps, because some stains take several treatments and that's normal. Each round loosens a bit more, so it's worth going back as long as the shadow is getting lighter.
Once the oil has dried into the grout, a single pass rarely lifts it. Work the solvent in again, let the paste sit under plastic wrap, then wipe and rinse before you judge the result. Check the grout only after it has fully dried, because a damp joint can look darker than it really is.
If the shadow remains after several rounds, pressurized steam can clean stains that don't respond to conventional cleaners. Stains can become part of cement grout over time, so a faint mark may be what's left after all reasonable tries.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on oil on grout?
Most home remedies people try on grease don't fit grout, so only one or two of them show up in the steps above. The others can harm cement grout, or simply aren't needed for oil.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use vinegar or acid on the grout
Cement grout is alkaline, so acid etches it and leaves it dull or sandy. Glazed tile can dull too, so keep acid off the whole area.
Don't reach for oil- or wax-based cleaners
They look like they help, but they leave a film behind that holds dirt. Stick with the solvent and sudsy water.
Don't rub the oil in
Rubbing pushes the oil deeper into porous grout and spreads it into the joint. Blot and scrape instead, and work the solvent in with light pressure.
Don't assume one round is enough
Old or dried oil often needs repeated treatments. Repeat the solvent and poultice steps before deciding the stain is set.
When to call a professional
If the stain is still there after repeated solvent and poultice rounds, a professional who works with grout can assess it. Ask about cleaning options that suit your grout type before trying anything harsher.
Questions
Can I use vinegar on oil stains in grout?
No, not on cement grout. Vinegar is an acid, and it etches and dulls cement grout. Use the solvent and poultice steps instead.
Will an old oil stain come out of grout?
It can, but it takes more work. Old or dried oil is harder to lift than fresh oil, so repeat the solvent and poultice steps several times.
Can I use hydrogen peroxide on grout?
Yes, mild drugstore peroxide works in the poultice. Mix it with powdered Whiting and water, and don't use the stronger bleaching strength.
Is dish soap enough to clean grease off grout?
It can handle a light surface film when used as warm sudsy water. For oil that has soaked in, start with the solvent, because soap alone won't lift it.
Is solvent safe to use on tile grout?
It can be, with care. Ventilate the room, keep flames and sparks away, test a hidden spot first, and keep the solvent off the glazed tile.
Can steam remove oil from grout?
Pressurized steam can clean stains that don't respond to conventional cleaners. Try it only after the solvent and poultice rounds have done what they can.
What if the stain stays after all the steps?
Repeat the solvent and poultice rounds, since some stains take several treatments. If a faint mark remains, it may be stain that has become part of cement grout.
Oil on other materials
Other stains on grout
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.