How to Get Butter Out of Clothes and Other Materials

Knowing which side your bread is buttered on may help you avoid getting it on your shirt sleeve. However, if you are unlucky enough to forget where the butter is, don't fret. By learning how to get butter out of clothes, you can breathe easy next time hunger strikes.

In this article, you'll learn how to deal with stubborn butter or margarine stains, which are actually the hardest stains to remove. Whether you're dealing with delicate fabrics or solid materials, remembering these tips will help you get rid of that greasy spot.

What's the Affected Area?

The first step in removing butter stains is to identify the stained material.

Below are the most common types of materials that can become butter-stained, with steps on how to remove butter from each:

Non-washable fibers such as acetate, burlap, carpet/synthetic, carpet/wool, fiberglass, rayon, rope, silk, triacetate, wool
Washable fibers such as acrylic fabric, cotton, linen, modacrylic, nylon, olefin, polyester, spandex
Hard surfaces such as acrylic plastic, alabaster, aluminum, asphalt, bamboo, brass, bronze, cane, ceramic glass/tile, chromium, copper, cork, enamel, glass, gold, grout, iron, linoleum, marble, paint/gloss, pewter, plexiglas, polyurethane, porcelain, stainless steel, tin, vinyl clothing, vinyl tile, vinyl wall covering, zinc
Stone surfaces such as bluestone, brick, concrete, flagstone, granite, limestone, masonry tile, sandstone, slate, terrazzo
Felt
Leather or suede
Paint/Flat or wallpaper
Silver
Wood

Non-washable Fibers

Follow these steps to remove a butter stain from acetate, burlap, fiberglass, rayon, rope, silk, triacetate, or wool:

Scrape (the method of using a scraping tool to gently lift off excess solid or caked-on stains) as much of the solid butter as you can without driving any of it further into the fibers.
Apply an absorbent (corn starch for light colors, fullers earth for darks), but do not press it in. Give the absorbent plenty of time to work.
Remove the absorbent and if needed, repeat the application.
If any residue remains, sponge (the method of using light strokes with a dampened paper towel working outward from the center of the stain) the spot with a cleaner, such as Afta Cleaning Fluid or K2r Spot Lifter (except on acetate blends).

Washable Fibers

Follow these steps to remove a butter stain from acrylic, fabric, cotton, linen, nylon, olefin, polyester, or spandex:

Scrape any excess butter.
Pretreat (the method of applying a stain-removing agent directly to the stained area before laundering) the grease stain with cleaner, such as Shout Liquid Laundry Stain Remover, blot the stained area, and launder as usual. If the stain remains, or if immediate laundering is impossible, place the fabric stain-side down on an absorbent pad.
Flush (the method of applying stain remover to loosen staining materials and residue from stain removers) with a cleaner, such as Afta Cleaning Fluid through the back of the stain and blot with a clean absorbent pad.
Pretreat again and rinse well or put it through the wash with laundry detergent.

Hard Surfaces

Follow these steps to remove a blood stain from acrylic plastic, aluminum, asphalt, brass, bronze, ceramic glass/tile, chromium, copper, coral, cork, enamel, glass, gold, iron, ivory, jade, linoleum, opal, paint/flat, paint/gloss, pearls, pewter, platinum, plexiglas, polyurethane, porcelain, stainless steel, tin, vinyl clothing, vinyl tile, vinyl wall covering, or zinc:

Scrape to remove as much excess as possible.
Wipe with a clean sponge or cloth dipped in warm sudsy water.
Rinse with clear water and wipe dry.

Stone Surfaces

Follow these steps to remove butter stains from bluestone, brick, concrete, flagstone, granite, limestone, masonry tile, sandstone, slate or terrazzo:

Wipe up excess.
Mix a solution of washing soda or detergent and water.
Scrub any remaining stain.
Rinse well in warm water and allow to dry.

Felt

Follow these steps to remove butter stains from felt:

Scrape to remove excess, without forcing any butter further into the fibers.
Dust the stain with an absorbent: corn starch (for light colors) or fullers earth (for dark colors).
Allow plenty of time for the grease to be absorbed.
Gently brush (the method of using an old toothbrush to gently remove dried stains and spots) absorbent off in the direction of the nap. If any greasy stain remains, reapply fresh absorbent.
Allow absorbent to work, then gently brush off.

Leather or Suede

Follow these steps to remove butter stains from leather or suede:

Gently scrape to remove excess.
Rub the stain with a thick paste of fullers earth and water.
Let it dry and gently brush off the powder. Repeat if necessary, then, for leather only, apply products, such as Tannery Vintage Leather Cleaner & Conditioner or Fiebings Saddle Soap to condition the leather.

Paint or Wallpaper

Follow these steps to remove butter stains from paint or wallpaper:

Scrape to remove excess.
Rub the stain with a suede stone. Or, make a thick paste of fullers earth (on dark surfaces) or cornmeal (on light surfaces) and gently dab the paste onto the stain with the palm of your hand.
Allow to dry, then carefully brush off with a clean, dry cloth.

Silver

Follow these steps to remove butter stains from silver:

Wash silver in soapy, hot water.
Rinse in hot water and wipe dry immediately with a clean soft cloth.

Wood

Follow these steps to remove butter stains from wood:

Wipe up excess with a clean dry cloth.
Dip a cloth into warm sudsy water and wipe away any grease stains. Rinse well and polish or wax.

Leave the Baking Soda in the Cupboard

A few drops of melted butter can prove incredibly costly, unless you're aware of these cleaning methods. Some of the products mentioned here may seem unorthodox, but they are far more effective than your average liquid laundry detergent or talcum powder.

So don't let your delicate clothing or favorite armchair fall victim to oily stains. Try these tactics next time you end up playing butterfingers, and save yourself a heap of worry. After all, it's better than giving up butter altogether!