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Cleaner's secret to removing grease stains is a $2 pantry staple, but it's not baking soda

By Rachael Gavin|

When it comes to using pantry staples in the laundry, baking soda (bicarb soda) and vinegar are the most well-known.

But there's another item in your kitchen cupboards that most people don't know can be used for all sorts of cleaning tasks?.

One professional cleaner even swears by this cooking ingredient for removing stubborn grease stains from clothes.

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Shirt with grease stain being  removed with cornstarch or cornflour
Grease stains are no match for cornstarch, the cleaner says. (Instagram/@thecleangroup)

That pantry staple is cornstarch (which is also known as cornflour), which The Clean Group championed in an Instagram reel showing how to use it to remove grease stains.

"?Pay attention! Becauseกญ this natural product, lurking in the back of your kitchen cupboard, will be the No. 1 CHEMICAL FREE cleaning ingredient of 2025!! It does all the same jobs as bicarb," the cleaner wrote in the caption.

"It is gentler and less abrasive than bicarb. BUT it's superpower is its DEGREASING properties! Which is why it is absolutely perfect for removing GREASY, OILY stains on clothes.?"

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Shirt after grease stain removed with cornstarch or cornflour
Shirt after grease stain removed with cornstarch or cornflour (Instagram/@thecleangroup)

The Clean Group then detailed how to remove grease stains using cornstarch and it has to be one of the easiest stain removal hacks ever.

All you need to do is sprinkle the cornstarch on the stain until the entire stain is covered, wait 20 to 30 minutes for the grease to absorb the cornstarch, shake any remaining cornstarch off the garment and then wash as normal.

"?I did this in a 30 minute cycle and got fantastic results!" they said.

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The cornstarch hack was well received by The Clean Group's followers.

"?Fab tip," one commented.

"?Oh wow I had no idea! Thanks for sharing," a woman said.

"Such a handy hack," another wrote.

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?Cornstarch/cornflour is a very affordable addition to your pantry and cleaning cupboard. A 500 g bag of Essentials cornflour from Woolworths costs just $2.25, while a 300g of Coles cornflour costs $1.35.

The pantry staple isn't just good at degreasing it also deodorises, is a gentle abrasive for scrubbing and polishes.

?Like bicarb soda you can simply sprinkle cornstarch in something smelly, like a bin or shoes, leave to sit for 10 to 20 minutes or a day if the odour is really bad and then shake out.

Man preparing the washing machine to start working
How to remove the common stains from clothing and bedding

You can also make an effective glass cleaner using cornstarch by making a paste with water or mixing cornstarch, vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spraying on. For the spray, spritz the solution and wipe with a cloth and for the paste scrub using a cloth and rinse off.

A cornstarch and water paste can also be used to polish silver and stainless steel by rubbing on the object with a soft cloth. Rinse off and dry with a cloth to polish.?

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cornstarch in a sieve over a bowl
Cornstarch can do a lot more than thicken sauces you're cooking. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In the bathroom, a cornstarch and water paste can be used to clean grout and even scrub the bathtub?. Shower glass, meanwhile, can be cleaned with a cornstarch vinegar and dishwashing liquid spray or with a paste for stubborn stains.

Beyond cleaning, cornstarch makes for an effective dry shampoo and can be mixed with water and food colouring for DIY finger paint.?

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