MoneyHousehold & BillsCleaningBaking soda is a popular choice for stain removal, but another item works just as good.09:35, 10 Jun 2026Updated 09:35, 10 Jun 2026Stains can ruin your favourite garments, but you don't need a shop-bought cleaning product to tackle them. For those who prefer a natural remedy, one cleaning enthusiast has shared her go-to tip — and it doesn't involve baking soda.‌Cleaning fan Georgia, better known as Clean with Georgia on TikTok, revealed that rather than reaching for baking soda or vinegar to shift stubborn stains, she swears by something else altogether.‌In a video, Georgia recommended using chalk to banish those troublesome oil stains. Here's exactly what you need to do.‌How to clean grease stainsOnce you've dealt with any excess liquid, apply the chalk directly to the stain. Georgia advised rubbing the chalk firmly into the affected area.Chalk works as an absorbent agent, drawing the oil out of the fabric and into itself.‌It's worth leaving the chalk to sit for a while, giving it sufficient time to soak up all the liquid, reports the Express.Bosch recommends reapplying chalk if you notice it beginning to clump together.Keep repeating this process until the chalk no longer clumps, as this indicates there's no remaining oil left to absorb.‌Once you're satisfied that all the liquid has been absorbed, brush away any excess chalk and put the garment in the washing machine on your usual cycle.This method works best on smaller stains.Kathy Cohoon, from Two Maids & a Mop, told Homes & Gardens: "The chemical makeup of chalk and its open-cell structure makes it incredibly absorbent. Chalk is able to zap up moisture and liquids easily."Article continues belowJill Koch of Jill Comes Clean shares the same view.Jill explained: "Chalk is typically made from a form of limestone called calcium carbonate. As you apply the chalk to the oil stain, it will absorb the oil and essentially hold onto it."Then you can brush the chalk away and the oil along with it. Chalk today [usually] includes other ingredients, too, but calcium carbonate is often still the main ingredient."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Washing machinesCleaningLife hacks