First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the oil with a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towels, and don't rub, since rubbing spreads it.
- Pretest any cleaner on a hidden spot first, and stop if color transfers or changes.
- Keep heat away, including hot air, until the stain is gone, because heat sets stains.
Oil on a sink is a film that water alone won't dissolve, so running the tap usually just spreads it around the basin. The material decides how hard you can clean, so identify it before you choose a method. Fresh film wipes off far more easily than film that has dried on, and a dulled surface may need a repair instead of more scrubbing.
Choose a cleanser that suits your basin before you start, since acrylic and enameled cast iron don't tolerate the same products. Save a scouring cleanser for the tougher marks on a sink that can handle it. Keep harsh products off a PVD faucet finish, or the finish can wear off fast.
Before you start
What sinks can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care4
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
4 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, dry white paper towelsThey soak up the oil without spreading it, and any color transfer shows up clearly on white. (opens Amazon)
- Mild dish soapWarm water with mild dish soap lifts the oily film, and it's the only cleaner needed. (opens Amazon)
- Soft cloth or spongeIt cleans and dries without scratching acrylic, enamel or vitreous china. (opens Amazon)
- Warm waterIt helps the soap lift the oil and rinses clean.
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Check what your sink is made of
Sinks are usually acrylic, enameled cast iron or vitreous china, and each one has its own limits. If you can't tell which one you have, stick to the mild soap and warm water method and skip the stronger options further down.
Careful. Acrylic can't take abrasive cleansers or solvents.
Step 2 of 5
Wash the spot with mild dish soap
Stir a little mild dish soap into warm water, then wipe the oily area with a soft cloth or sponge. Keep the cloth wet and work in gentle strokes, starting at the edge of the spot and moving inward.
Careful. Cleaners left to soak can damage the sink; rinse them off right away.
Step 3 of 5
Rinse and dry the area
Rinse the spot with clear water straight away so no soap is left behind. Dry it with a soft cloth, which will also show you whether any oily film is left.
Step 4 of 5
Repeat once if a film remains
If the sink still looks oily or dull, repeat the soap wash and rinse one more time. Let the sink dry fully before you judge the result, since a damp surface can hide a faint film.
Step 5 of 5
Recheck and decide the next step
When the sink is dry, look at it under good light. If the spot is gone, you're done, and if a film or shadow stays, the stain is old or set in and needs the stronger options further down.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for oil on sinks
Choose a plain, mild liquid dish soap and read the label before you use it on acrylic or vitreous china.
The Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on sinks, 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
A clean spot looks the same as the rest of the basin, with no shine or oily ring along the waterline. If water beads up or you see a faint rainbow sheen once the sink is wet, a film is still there, so repeat the wash.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sinks
Acrylic sink
Acrylic is easily dulled, so the soap and soft cloth method is all it needs. Keep your wipes light and avoid any scrubbing motion, because the surface marks easily.
Acrylic has no stronger option here, so the gentle method is the ceiling for it. Keep the sink dry between uses so residue doesn't build up on the surface.
Enameled cast iron sink
Enameled cast iron takes the same soap and rinse steps, and it's the one material where the stronger options change. Use those only on a stubborn film, and only as described in the stronger options further down.
Rust showing through the enamel is a separate problem, and soap and water won't remove it. Treat the oil first, then deal with the rust on its own.
Vitreous china sink
Vitreous china is hard, but its glaze is what keeps it bright, so it shows every scratch. The soap method works here without changes, and the stronger options below are written for cast iron, so stay with soap on this material.
Ammonia cleaners are off limits on this material, so the soap method is your only cleaner. Rinse thoroughly so no soap film is left on the glaze.
PVD faucet finish
The faucet has its own finish, and it needs the same soap and rinse as the sink. Wipe it with a soft cloth and dry it, so water spots don't form on the coating.
Dry the faucet after each wash so the coating stays clear. For the faucet's other metal parts, the Metal, Chrome & Tools guide covers those finishes.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old or dried oil is harder to remove than fresh oil, so a stain that has sat for days usually needs more than one pass. Repeat the soap wash and rinse, and expect the first round to lift only the top film. Give it several rounds before deciding it's stuck.
If the film is still there after a wash, dry the sink fully and check it under good light before you repeat anything. On enameled cast iron, an abrasive cleaner can be used sparingly, and always with water.
If it still hasn't lifted after several rounds, stop rather than reaching for something harsher. Harsher products are where sinks get damaged, so accept a faint mark over a damaged finish.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on oil on sinks?
Most home remedies you'll see online were written for fabric or stone, so they don't carry over to a sink. Only a few of these suit a sink; the rest are safest left alone.
Works1Skip3Avoid2
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use cooking oil to loosen the stain.
Cooking oils left in the sink don't fully rinse away, and they age into yellow marks. Stick to mild soap and warm water, then rinse completely.
Don't mix bleach with other cleaners.
Chlorine bleach gives off toxic fumes with ammonia, vinegar, other acids or rubbing alcohol. Rinse each product out with plain water before you use another one.
Don't scrub cast iron with steel wool.
Steel wool, wire brushes and abrasive pads can mark the enamel of a cast iron sink. Use a soft cloth and the soap method for everyday oil.
Don't use ammonia or strong abrasives on vitreous china.
Ammonia cleaners can damage the finish, and strong abrasive cleaners scratch and dull the surface. Stick to mild soap and warm water.
Don't use harsh cleaners on the faucet.
A PVD faucet finish can be damaged by harsh cleaners, so keep those off the faucet. Wipe it with the same soap and rinse, then dry it.
When to call a professional
For dull or scratched acrylic, contact the manufacturer's customer service for repairs, since no home cleaner will restore the finish. On cast iron, careless cleaning can void the warranty, so stick to the gentle soap method.
Questions
Can I use vinegar on an oil stain in my sink?
It's better to leave it out. Vinegar is an acid, and acids are only allowed on this sink with care, so the mild soap and warm water method is the safer choice.
Is baking soda safe for cleaning my sink?
It depends on the material. Acrylic can't take abrasive cleansers, so skip baking soda there, while on other sinks the soap method is enough for oil.
What if the oil stain is old?
Old oil is harder to remove, so expect several rounds of the soap wash and rinse. If the film stays, the stronger options further down cover what to try next.
Can I use bleach on an oil stain?
No. Bleach should never be mixed with other cleaners. If you use it on a sink at all, do it last, after everything is fully rinsed out, and never at full strength on acrylic. If you use it on a sink at all, do it last, after everything else is fully rinsed out, and never at full strength on acrylic.
Will a dryer or hot air set the stain?
Yes, heat can set an oil stain, so don't use hot air to dry the spot until it's gone. Dry it with a soft cloth instead.
Can I use a solvent on my sink?
No. Don't use solvents on acrylic, cast iron or vitreous china, so soap and water is the way to go.
Dry-cleaning solvents are also flammable, which makes them a poor fit for a household sink anyway. If the stain won't lift with soap, the stronger options further down are the next step.
Why does my faucet look dull after cleaning?
Harsh cleaners can damage a PVD finish, so keep them off the faucet. Rinse the faucet with plain water after the soap and dry it right away.
Oil on other materials
Other stains on sinks
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.