We’ve all been there, with dirty hands after fixing a puncture or making a repair, you accidentally get some oil or grease on your kit. That doesn’t mean permanent marks though. Whichever type of fabric you are wearing, the trick to getting rid of that greasy stain is to start treating it as soon as possible.

Remember that the longer it stays on your clothes, the tougher it will be to remove.

Why do grease stains stick on clothes? Grease is often made from emulsified soaps and oils and is usually viscous and sticky. If you apply this to a solid surface, it creates a protective layer against water, which is why it works as a lubricant. What this means is, you'll need more than just water to get rid of that oil stain. Even with average laundry cycles, you'll still have a hard challenge removing oils and grease.

STEP 1: REMOVE EXCESS

If the oil stain is fresh, use some dry kitchen towel or tissue to remove excess liquid.

Top tip: Put a tray, or piece of cardboard between the layers of your clothing before treating oil stains to stop the transfer of oil to other parts of the garment.

STEP 2: TREAT THE STAIN

You'll want to get hold of Clothes Doctor's Tough Love Stain Removal, a 'power powder' for all the trickiest marks and stains. It’s kinder to the environment than chlorine-based stain treatments, is totally plastic-free, and of course, is super effective at lifting stains. With other stains we'd recommend putting the stained area into a bowl of warm water, but as oil is water-repelling, oil stain treatments work better when dryer. Luckily, the No.10 Stain Remover can be used this way too. On a flat surface, dab the stain with a damp sponge to make the area slightly damp, not wet.

Add a small amount of powder to the affected area and massage gently with your fingers.

Leave for an hour. This should lift the stain easily, but repeat until the stain is completely gone.

Then wash the garment as usual, either by hand or in a machine.

STEP 3: AIR DRY

Air dry your item, as the high temperatures of machine drying could further set the stain. The heat will effectively 'bake' the stain into your garment, so best to air or line dry your clothes until you're sure the stain is gone!

Oil stains are some of the trickiest stains to target on laundry day, but with our top tips and tricks, you'll be able to get your garments looking as fabulous as the day you bought them.