Keeping your clothes free of grass stains when you spend time outside is easier said than done, regardless of age. Your clothes somehow end up with green streaks even when you consciously protect them.
When that happens, you might be overcome with frustrations, but hold them in check and focus on removing the stain. The longer you delay the removal of the stains, the harder they might become. For this reason, below is all the information you require if you are curious about how to remove grass stains from your clothes.
How to Get Rid of Grass Stain - Fresh
Grass stain removal requires swift action. The reason is that grass has chlorophyll, a naturally occurring green pigment that attaches itself to the fibers of organic textiles.
Therefore, the coloring compound does not lie on the surface but gets embedded into the fabric fibers, posing a challenge in cleaning. So, it would be best to act swiftly if you don't wish to have a permanent greenish-brown stain on your clothes.
Identifying Grass Stains
The first step is to inspect the stain and confirm that is indeed grass. Due to the green pigment, grass stains are often greenish-brown in color. They might be dark and vibrant or the opposite, depending on how long you spent time in the grass and its type.
If you are still uncertain, try to recall the time and place where you might have acquired the stain. Common sense dictates that if you spend your day at the park, gardening, or playing sports outside, the green-brown stains on your clothes might be from the grass.
Also, these stains are common with children as they play a lot on the grass. Knowing how and when grass stains are likely to occur can help tackle the stains accordingly.
Have you ever read the care label on your clothing? It gives a brief description of the material and washing practices to follow.
Many labels will specify whether or not it is possible to wash the garment in warm water, what detergents are, and the dryer temperature. Ignoring these care instructions will most likely spoil them.
Different fabrics require different care procedures. So, before you do anything about the grass stains, read the care label to know what to do. Your clothes will last much longer that way.
Taking Care of Fresh Grass Stain
If the grass stain has not settled, this is what you should do:
Blot off excess moisture on the stain using a paper towel or clean cloth. Don't rub it, as this will aggravate the stain.
Then, rinse the stains with cold water to remove the grass pigments. Avoid hot water as it will settle the stain deep in the fabric.
You can apply heat from an iron or dryer once the stain is gone. The heat from these appliances will lock the stain in place. When that happens, you will never get rid of the stain.
Carry out these steps quickly to remove the grass stains completely from your clothes.
How to Get Rid of Grass Stains (Old)
Sometimes, you may notice the stains only when you change clothes or on laundry day. When that happens, do not just toss the apparel into the machine without treating the stained area first. Applying stain treatment could prove effective because many stains get ingrained within the fabric fibers without pre-treatment.
Various stain pre-treatments exist in the market and in your house, like vinegar and baking soda. You can choose any one as all of them can break down the grass pigments.
Pro Tip: Before putting anything on a stained item of clothing, do a test spot first. A test spot helps ensure that the stain removal solution used on the clothing will not result in irreversible changes, like color bleeding. The inside hem is also a good place to test because it is unnoticeable if anything goes wrong.
Here are step-by-step instructions for pre-treating grass stains using different methods.
How to Remove a Grass Stain with Vinegar
Using vinegar to clean most things is common knowledge, and by most things, we mean grass stains in this case. The acidic content helps to break down the dye in cotton, polyester, and other blended fabrics but delicate ones like silk and wool. So, avoid using it on these delicate fabrics.
Stubborn stains occur when the dye gets lodged in your clothes’ fibers. They can only be removed if the vinegar solution penetrates the spot and the fibers. So, dilute vinegar for a solution and spray it on the stain. Let the solution break down the grass pigment molecules before scrubbing with a soft brush or cloth and rinsing the affected area with cold water.
This household staple can get any cleaning job done, including removing grass stains from your clothes. The structure of its particles can rub down the chlorophyll pigments. It can also wear down the fiber of delicately woven clothes, so only use it on hardy materials.
Sprinkle the white powder evenly to thoroughly cover the entire grass stain.
Take a soft/old toothbrush, dip it in baking soda, and pat it on the blotch calmly.
While the powder is working the stain particles, ready your cleaning agent by mixing a few drops of mild detergent with cold water in a small bowl.
Soak a clean cloth in the cleaning agent, and gently press on the blotch.
Finally, rinse the fabric with cold water to wash away the soda and detergent.
Inspect the fabric to ensure the grass stain is removed. If there are residues, repeat the process.
How to Get Rid of a Grass Stain - Dish Soap
For delicate fabrics like silk and wool, use dish soap. They are mild enough for any fabric, but do a patch test because some dish soap formulas might be harsh.
Using a clean fabric, softly dab the area with the grass stain. Do not rub, as doing so will only aggravate the stain.
Combine some water and mild dish soap (a few drops). Dip a clean cloth in the cleaning solution and blot the grass stain.
Leave the soaked stain as is for 15 minutes. Then, continue blotting the grass stain using the dish soap solution from the edges to the center of the stain.
Rinse the fabric under cold running water to wash off all soap residues.
Inspect the fabric to ensure the grass stain is removed. If any residue remains, repeat the process.
A well-ventilated room and gloves are critical if you are using this alcohol solution. The first is because the solution is flammable, and the second is to prevent skin allergies.
Also, you can use the liquid only on polyester, cotton, and other synthetic blends. Adverse chemical reactions might damage wool and silk.
Using a clean, dry cloth, pat dry the affected area. Do not rub this area as doing so may aggravate the situation.
Then, pour some rubbing alcohol on the grass-stained area. With a clean cloth, blot the soaked area.
Wait for a couple of minutes. After that, pour the cold water on the cloth to wash off the alcohol.
Check the fabric properly for any remaining grass stains.
If any residue remains, repeat the process.
Enzyme-based Stain Remover
These laundry detergents have enzymes that can break down stain particles, like grease, dye, and protein into smaller and more manageable particles.
Some common ones include protease, lipase, and amylase protease. All of them have specific purposes in stain removal, but you should use protease for grass stains.
Washing and Drying Tips
After pre-treating the stains, you can finally wash and dry your clothing in the washing machine. Ensure you choose the correct settings and water temperatures for effective stain removal.
When washing stained clothes, it is recommended to use the standard or heavy-duty wash cycle for the effective removal of the stains.
Cold water is best, as hot may further lock the stain into the fabric. If the stain removal treatments fail, the treated garment needs to be washed and treated again without drying it.
Laundry Detergent
Detergent is also crucial when it comes to removing stains. Purchasing a premium detergent will also allow one to get rid of the grass stains efficiently. Stain-removing enzyme detergents are beneficial in fighting protein-based grass stains.
The grass-pigmented stain particles are removed during washing with these detergents since they have enzymes that remove those pigments.
Drying Clothes
When the washing is complete, check that no stains remain, especially if you wish to tumble-dry the clothes because if the stain is still present, you should not apply heat. The heat will set the stain permanently.
It is better to allow the item to air dry or to set the dryer at a low heat. This will help prevent further harm to the clothes and resolve all stain issues if a second treatment is necessary.
How to Remove Grass Stains from Jeans
The unfortunate reality of getting rid of grass dye is that it will become permanent if you do not treat it on time or use the wrong cleaners, like ammonia, degreaser, and alkaline detergents.
So, if you want to save your favorite pair of denim, wash them as soon as you spot the stain. Of course, this is impractical when you are outside, but all is not lost, and with some effort and a few cleaning agents, you can restore your jeans once you come back home.
Helpful stain removal agents for grass stains include:
Place your soiled jeans in cold water and leave them for half an hour. This step will loosen the pigments from the fibers. The soak will also work towards the removal of excess dirt and grass.
2. Use Vinegar as Pre-treatment
Take your jeans out of the soaking tub and lay it flat for easier treatment. Pour equal portions of warm water and white vinegar into a container.
Then, wet the stained section thoroughly by pouring the liquid or dabbing with a vinegar-soaked clean towel. Allow the vinegar water to work the stains for five minutes.
3. Apply Detergent on the Stain
Apply non-chlorine bleach or other enzyme detergent to the grass stain directly. If it is a powder detergent, make a paste by adding water and cover the affected area. For about 1 to 5 minutes, scrub it with a cleaner using a soft nylon brush.
4. Let Sit
Let the enzymes take 15 minutes to dissolve the green dye.
5. Rinse and Check
After 15 minutes, turn the cooler water on and direct it to the areas that have been treated, and see if there are any traces of green left.
If some remain, perform 2-4 steps and launder the jeans in the washing machine on a delicate cycle without any other clothes.
6. Hang Dry
If the pigment is finally gone, hang the pants to dry. Never dry your denim pants until any stubborn stain has been removed. If the final stubborn little green dye proves difficult to wash, letting the jeans dry in the sun will probably help.
It is recommended that these parts of the shoe be washed individually. Hand wash the insoles or the laces in a warm, soapy solution with a detergent or soft dishwashing liquid.
Pretreat with Vinegar
Make a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water. Use a clean and soft material to dab the affected area with the mixture without wiping the surface. Wait for about 30 minutes for the solution to be absorbed. After this, take a toothbrush and scrub the stained area, working in the direction of the fabric.
Brush With Laundry Detergent
Take a spare toothbrush and wet the bristles in a solution of warm water with a tiny squeeze of detergent. Apply the mixture on the stained area with the brush and lightly move it in the fabric direction.
For The Most Difficult Stains, Reach for Hydrogen Peroxide or Enzymatic Cleaner
In case, the stain becomes impossible to get rid of even after such measures, try making a thick paste out of hydrogen peroxide and a tablespoon of baking soda. Apply the paste over the grass stain and let it dry for about half an hour before scrubbing with a toothbrush soaked in cold water.
If stubborn grass dye remains, do it again. Another option would be to use a non-chlorine bleach with hydrogen peroxide or an enzymatic solution.
Leather is durable with moisture-wicking and heat-retaining abilities. However, leather shoes may not be impervious to stains from grass arising from everyday use. When that happens, you can use leather cleaner.
Begin by using a soft brush on the shoes or a wet cloth to clean them. Then, take some leather cleaner on a soft cloth/sponge and apply it in a circular motion.
The cleaner should be allowed to work the stain till the indicated time, after which the excess should be wiped with a wet cloth. Complete the process with a leather conditioning product and a waterproofing agent to prevent stains on your leather shoes.
Suede Shoes
Suede is not the most robust fabric and, most of the time, needs special care. For example, when cleaning suede surfaces, no liquid should be used. To remove grass stains on your suede shoes, follow the recommended steps below:
Take a suede brush or a pencil eraser and brush out loose dirt. Ensure you brush in the direction of the fabric.
Place a few drops of white vinegar on the affected area and wipe the area with a dry cloth or brush.
Saturate a cotton ball with micellar water and dampen the area with it until the stain disappears.
Prevention
Without pre-treatment, grass stains are difficult to treat on most fabrics. This process, while sparing the fabric from damage, is time-consuming and could have been avoided through proactive measures against staining in the first place.
This is why there are preventive measures and tips for grass stains on your clothes and footwear when participating in outdoor sporting activities. These tips allow you to enjoy yourself without worrying about stubborn stains. To prevent grass stains, consider the following tips:
Do not sit or recline on the grass.
Avoid direct grass contact by wearing long trousers or leggings.
Apply stain-resistant sprays or treatments on clothes and footwear before any outdoor activities.
Opt to wear dark or printed clothes to hide possible grass stains.
Stay away from grassy areas when playing sports or participating in other activities if possible.
