Blot, work in a little dish soap, wash as hot as the fabric allows and check before drying.
A takeaway container leaked in your canvas bag and left a dark oily patch on the base. You want to lift it without damaging the fabric.
Blot, work in a little liquid dish soap, wash at the hottest temperature the fabric allows, and check the stain before you dry it. This is the pattern in extension-service and cleaning-industry advice for oil and grease on washable fabric.
What the guides say
- Treat stains at once. Blot excess grease with a clean white cloth or paper towel, and do not rub.
- Apply liquid dish soap or a stain remover to the stain, and work it in gently.
- Wash at the hottest water temperature that the fabric allows, then check the stain.
- Do not dry the item until the stain has gone, since heat can set it.
- Test any remover on a hidden spot first and follow the care label.
Steps for a canvas tote
- Empty the bag and blot the grease with a dry cloth, or press paper towel onto it.
- Test the dish soap on a hidden area.
- Work a few drops into the stain with your fingertips or a soft brush, and leave it for a few minutes.
- If the bag is plain cotton and washable, wash it by itself, as warm as the fabric tolerates.
- Check the stain while the bag is wet. Repeat if needed. Air-dry the bag.
Where this answer stops
This is for plain washable fabric. It does not apply to leather, suede, coated or lined bags, which can be damaged by soap and water. This is general advice, and a professional cleaner is the safer choice for a bag you value.
Sources and further reading
Three more perspectives
Speed matters more than strength. A fresh grease stain is far easier to lift than one that has dried and been through a day or two of use. Treat it as soon as you get home, and do not leave the bag in a warm car.
Plain cotton canvas takes a wash better than coated or printed canvas. If the base has a plastic coating or a printed pattern, test on a hidden spot first, since soap and warm water can cloud a coating.
Carry food in a leak-proof box inside a sealed bag, and put the container upright in the pocket furthest from the lining. It is much easier to prevent a grease mark than to remove it from the weave.
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