Porcelain · Oil & grease stains

How to remove oil stains from porcelain

  • Time10 minutes
  • DifficultyEasy
  • SurfacePolished or matte porcelain

By the Stone Film Sydney team · Updated

Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.

Quick answer

Oil sits on the surface of porcelain because it is non-porous. Wipe with hot water and dish liquid, then dry. For a stubborn greasy film, use a degreaser or non-abrasive cream cleaner.

First, check what you are dealing with

  • Greasy film or smear: surface oil. Clean it off.
  • Dull patch that persists: residue build-up, or chemical damage if a harsh degreaser was used.

What you need

  • Hot water
  • Dish liquid
  • Microfibre cloth
  • Non-abrasive cream cleaner

Step by step

  1. Wash with hot soapy water

    Hot water and a good squeeze of dish liquid dissolves most cooking oil.

  2. Degrease stubborn areas

    Work a non-abrasive cream cleaner over any remaining film.

  3. Rinse and dry

    Rinse with clean water and dry with microfibre so no streaky film is left.

What not to use on porcelain

  • Scourers, steel wool and abrasive creams on a polished surface.
  • Mixing cleaning chemicals, especially bleach with anything else.

When to call a professional

A porcelain repairer can fill chips with colour-matched resin; scratches through the printed layer cannot be polished back.

Understanding oil and grease stains on porcelain

Porcelain is fired to a dense, non-porous body, so liquids stay on the surface and nearly all marks can be cleaned off.

A porcelain repairer can fill chips with colour-matched resin; scratches through the printed layer cannot be polished back.

Good to know

Porcelain cannot absorb oil. A greasy film is residue, and on matte porcelain it can make the surface look darker in patches until degreased.

Stop it happening again

Whether yours is large-format marble-look and concrete-look porcelain slabs, repairing it fixes today's mark; protecting it stops the next one. Our clear Stone Protection Film sits over the surface, so marks stay on the film, not the surface. Choose Gloss for polished porcelain or Matte/Satin for honed and matte finishes. The protection is identical. It is installed across Sydney with a 10-year written warranty.

How we protect porcelain · Stain removal guide · Oil & grease stains on every surface

Frequently asked questions

It rarely penetrates, so it cleans off. Marks that remain are usually residue.
Residue from cleaners and oils builds up. Hot water, dish liquid and a microfibre dry usually fixes it.
Most are fine on porcelain, but rinse well afterwards.
A clear protection film over the porcelain stops liquids and acids ever touching the stone. Stone Film Sydney installs it across Sydney in Gloss or Matte/Satin with a 10-year warranty.

Protect your porcelain before the next spill.

Request a free quote online or by email. We will call to arrange an on-site visit or a quote over the phone.