Throwing your clothes in the washing machine to be cleaned is one of modern life's greatest conveniences, but sometimes even a is no match for stubborn stains.

Spills and splashes can occur all too easily in daily life, particularly when , leaving on our clothing that can be hard to remove. Oil or grease stains are perhaps the worst to deal with, as they soak into the fibres, leaving clothing looking dark and discoloured. Unfortunately, the problem won't just vanish with a quick wash cycle, as the oil needs to be drawn out first.

So before turning to your washing machine, you instead need the help of a cheap kitchen item to remove stubborn oil and grease stains and prevent them from becoming a permanent feature of your wardrobe.

According to experts, one of the best ways to tackle oil and grease from clothes is to apply liquid dish soap directly to the stain and gently rub it in with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. Allow this to sit for a while before rinsing your garment and then putting it in the washing machine for a rinse and wash.

A bottle of liquid dish soap costs as little as 64p at Asda, so you don't have to break the bank on expensive cleaning products to banish stains.

Engineering and technology company Bosch explains: "Dish soap is another secret weapon when removing oil stains from clothes. It should come as no surprise that the soap we use on dishes is formulated to cut through food grease - that's its job, after all.

"Once you've blotted your stain, apply a little liquid dish soap and rub it in gently as a pre-wash treatment. This is where you could also use your old, dry toothbrush to help loosen up any oil that remains. Let the dish soap sit for around five minutes before rinsing. Then throw your garment into the washing machine."

If dish soap fails to do the trick, experts say blotting the stain with a paper towel and then applying baking soda is also effective, although it's suggested that the powdery kitchen substance is left to work its magic for 24 hours - so this is a good option for really tough stains.

Households are urged not to put oil-stained clothes in the tumble dryer after washing, as this can risk setting the stain. As such, it's best to stick to air-drying so you can check the problem area and give it another wash if needed.

Bosch adds: "Don't put oil-stained clothes in the tumble dryer! You can't always see if an oil stain has come out while your garment is still wet. That's because oil stains often look the same as a damp patch, making your fabric a shade or two darker than usual.

"It's best to air-dry potentially oil-stained garments so you can keep an eye on the marked area and avoid setting the stain."