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How to remove hair oil stains from pillowcases and clothes

Updated · By the Luniva team

Quick answer

Use Luniva Pro Formula (the blue one). Spray it directly onto the stain, leave it for 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal following the garment care label.

If you oil your hair overnight, change pillowcases more often and treat the oily patch each time, so the oil can't build up.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Spray the patch

    Spray Luniva Pro Formula over the oily area until it's covered, in a well-ventilated room. Ready to use: never add water.

  2. 2

    Wait 1–3 minutes

    Leave it to work. Don't let it dry on the fabric.

  3. 3

    Wash, then air-dry

    Wash as normal, following the care label. Air-dry and check: oil can wick back as the fabric dries, and heat sets it.

Safe handling for Pro Formula

  • Use in a well-ventilated area. Open a window or run an extractor fan.
  • Keep away from open flames, sparks and hot surfaces while spraying.
  • Avoid spraying towards the face or eyes. Wear household gloves for prolonged use.
  • Keep out of reach of children. Wash hands after handling.

Hair oils, serums, coconut oil, leave-in conditioner, hair wax and pomade leave dark, see-through patches on pillowcases, shirt collars and the inside of hoods. They're oily marks, so they're a job for Luniva Pro Formula: spray, wait 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal.

Why hair oil marks keep coming back

Hair oils are made to stay on hair, so they cling to fabric and repel water. A normal wash spreads them thinner rather than lifting them, and night after night they build up into a yellow or grey patch on the pillowcase. Pro Formula is not an enzyme product. It uses grease-releasing chemistry and surfactants to loosen oily deposits from washable fabric fibres so they can be carried away in the wash.

Fabric guide

  • Recommended

    Cotton, polyester, polycotton, denim, canvas, heavy workwear and most colour-fast everyday garments, towels and bedding.

  • Avoid

    Silk, wool, leather, suede, rayon/viscose, acetate, delicate synthetics, waterproof membranes (e.g. Gore-Tex), flame-retardant finishes, and anything whose care label warns against solvents.

  • Patch-test first

    Spray a hidden area such as an inside seam, leave 1–3 minutes, rinse and let it dry. If you see colour loss, stiffness or surface change, don't use it on that garment.

  • Use it on its own

    Ready to use: never add water. Never mix with bleach, ammonia, acidic cleaners or other detergents. Don't let it dry on the fabric.

Hair oil & hair products: questions

Usually a build-up of hair oils, skincare and sweat. Treat the oily patch with Pro Formula before the wash. If there's sweat yellowing too, treat that separately with Enzyme Powered.

Yes. Coconut oil is solid when it's cool, so scrape off any lumps first, then spray, wait 1–3 minutes and wash.

No. Pro Formula isn't for silk or wool. Follow the care label, or ask a professional cleaner.

Scrape off any thick residue with a blunt edge, then treat it with Pro Formula and wash as normal.

Blue. Hair oils and styling products are oily marks, which is what Pro Formula is for.

Based on controlled laboratory testing. Performance may vary by stain type, fabric, age of the stain and wash conditions. Always follow the garment care label and test an inconspicuous area first.

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