First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot up what you can with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towels, and don't rub.
- Test any remover on a hidden spot first, and stop if color transfers.
- Keep the item away from the dryer, iron and hot air until the oil is gone.
Oil on plastic is a fat that water won't dissolve, so a quick wipe usually just drags it across the surface. Plastic can take water and a solvent with care, but heat is a hard no, so keep the item away from any heat source until the spot is clean. Fresh oil lifts far more easily than oil that has dried on, and an old mark on an item may only fade.
Grease caught in the grooves of Tupperware or a plastic bowl takes more patience than the surface does. Clove oil and essential oil marks on plastic bottles or table covers need the same gentle approach. If the film still clings after a couple of passes, switch to a clean pad with fresh solvent and repeat the gentle steps, and stop if the plastic starts to look dull.
Before you start
What plastic & tupperware can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care2
- Hot water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid2
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, dry white cloths or paper towelsWhite shows you when the stain is lifting, and they soak up loose oil without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- A soft, thick clothIt holds the solvent and keeps the pad moist against the stain.
- Amyl acetate or a commercial dry-cleaning solventIt lifts the oil that water can't move. (opens Amazon)
- Clean damp cloth and clear waterThey rinse the solvent off the plastic so no residue is left behind.
- Mild soap and warm waterThey make a gentle final wash, and the only wash for plastic you can't identify. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Test a hidden spot first
Put a little solvent on a spot nobody sees, like the underside of a lid or the back of a desk. Wait a moment, then check the cloth and the plastic for any color transfer or change. If either shows up, stop and don't treat the stain with solvent.
Careful. Solvents aren't safe on acrylic, and plastic you can't identify gets mild soap and warm water instead.
Step 2 of 5
Blot, then dampen the cloth
Press the loose oil up with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel, working from the edge of the stain inward. Then dampen a soft, thick cloth with amyl acetate or a commercial dry-cleaning solvent, wringing out any drips.
Tip. Keep a second dry cloth nearby so the oil doesn't go back onto the spot.
Careful. Dry-cleaning solvents are flammable, so use them only in a well-ventilated room with no flames, pilot lights or sparks nearby.
Step 3 of 5
Work the solvent into the stain
Press the damp pad onto the stain and move it gently across the spot, keeping the pad moist with the solution. Switch to a clean section of the cloth as it fills with oil. Keep going until no more oil comes away on the cloth.
Careful. Don't leave the solvent on the stain too long.
Step 4 of 5
Rinse and dry the spot
When all the stain is gone, wipe the area with a clean damp cloth. Then rinse well with clear water and wipe dry.
Step 5 of 5
Check the spot before any heat
Look at the spot in good light once it's fully dry. If any oil shows, repeat the solvent and rinse on that area before you move on.
Tip. A faint shine is enough reason to make another pass.
Careful. Heat sets stains, so keep the item out of the dryer, iron and hot air until the oil is gone.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for oil on plastic & tupperware
Look for a commercial dry-cleaning solvent sold as a spot remover, and check the label for plastic before you buy.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on plastic & tupperware, 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 spot looks even, with no shine or darker patch, and the cloth comes away clean. If the cloth still picks up oil, keep going with a fresh section of cloth; once it stays clean, the job is done.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your plastic & tupperware
Plastic containers and bowls
Bowls and containers take the same method, applied in small sections so the solvent doesn't sit in one area. Fold the cloth into a corner so you can reach rims and inside curves.
Once the solvent is rinsed off, a bowl can be washed by hand in hot soapy water to remove any leftover film. Dry it fully before you judge the result.
Lidded food storage
Lidded storage containers need the lid treated on its own, so the solvent doesn't sit in the seal. Rinse both pieces fully with clear water before you check them.
Vent or offset the lid before any microwave use, since a sealed lid can warp. If the lid still looks greasy after the rinse, wash it by hand in hot soapy water before you judge the stain.
Clove oil and essential oil
Clove oil and essential oils are oils, so the same blot, test and solvent steps apply. Start with the lightest pass and check the spot in good light before doing more.
If a faint tint remains after the rinse, repeat the solvent step once on that area and rinse again. Don't add stronger treatments to the same spot.
Plastic bottles
Work the cloth over the outside of the bottle and around the neck, where oil from a drip tends to collect. Clean the cap separately so the solvent doesn't end up in the threads.
Rinse the bottle with clear water before you use it again, especially if it held food. Dry the inside fully with the cap off.
Plastic table covers
Lay the cover flat so the solvent stays on the spot instead of running toward the seams. Work from the edges of the stain toward the center so the oil doesn't spread across the cover.
Once the spot is clear, wipe the whole cover with mild soap and warm water to remove any film left by the solvent.
Plastic desks and laptop cases
Identify the plastic before you use any solvent. Acrylic and silicone can't take solvents, so skip those and use mild soap and warm water instead.
On a desk, wipe the area around the stain so the solvent doesn't reach edges or joints. Laptop cases need a light touch: wipe, don't soak.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old oil is harder to lift than fresh oil, so expect to repeat the solvent and rinse steps more than once. Check the spot in good light after each pass before you decide on the next one.
Dried oil on plastic responds to the same solvent pass, but keep the pad moist and make more passes rather than leaving the solvent sitting. If the item went through a dryer or sat in heat, the stain may have set, and heat can make it impossible to remove.
Some stains won't come out completely, and that's realistic on plastic. Stop before the finish is at risk, rather than pushing harder with stronger mixes.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on oil on plastic & tupperware?
Most home remedies you'll find were written for fabric, cooked food or wine, not oil on plastic. Most remedies you'll find were written for fabric, cooked food or wine, so each one needs a closer look for oil on plastic.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the oil into the plastic.
Rubbing spreads the oil and drives it deeper into the surface. Blot first, then work the solvent in with light, pressing passes.
Don't scrub with abrasive cleansers or pads.
Abrasive cleansers and scrub pads can damage plastic, so they're off the table even for stubborn spots. A soft cloth and the solvent are enough for this stain.
Don't put plastic near flame or direct heat.
Keep lids and containers off any flame, stovetop or broiler, since direct heat can damage them. Overheating high-fat foods, sugar, oils or tomato sauce in plastic can also cause staining and blistering.
When to call a professional
If a fixed piece, such as a desk or table, still shows oil after repeated careful passes, stop rather than pushing harder with solvent. A cleaner who works on that material can advise you on the next step, and it's especially worth doing for a large or valuable item.
Questions
Can I use dish soap on oil stains on plastic?
Mild soap in warm water works well as a final wash once the solvent has been rinsed off. It's a finishing wash rather than the main treatment, so use the solvent first.
Will the dryer set an oil stain on plastic?
Yes, heat can set oil, and dryer heat can make the stain impossible to remove. Keep the item out of the dryer until the oil is completely gone.
How do I remove old grease from plastic?
Repeat the solvent and rinse steps, testing first and checking in good light after each pass. Some old stains won't lift fully, so stop before you push harder.
Can I use solvent on acrylic?
No, solvents aren't safe on acrylic. Use mild soap and warm water instead, and if you can't tell what the plastic is, use that same gentle wash.
Does this work on lidded food containers?
Yes, treat the lid separately and rinse both pieces fully. Vent or offset the lid before microwaving it again, since a sealed lid can warp.
Can I use the same method on essential oil stains?
Yes, essential oils are oils, so blot, test and apply the solvent the same way. Check the spot in good light after the rinse, and repeat once if a faint tint remains.
Can I use vinegar or baking soda instead?
Neither works on oil in this method. Vinegar can't lift oil because oil doesn't dissolve in water, and baking soda means scrubbing, which plastic can't take.
Oil on other materials
Other stains on plastic & tupperware
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.