Grass stains are one of the most common types of stain one may encounter in the laundry. It’s a familiar sight for those who have kids, an athlete in the family, or someone doing some gardening.
Grass stains can be hard to remove. Chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color, is a natural dye. Like any other dye stain, grass stain is difficult to get rid of when already set. Thus, it’s best to act fast before the stain sets. By following the proper procedure and correct choice of cleaners, you can say goodbye to grass stains.
5 Different Ways To Remove Grass Stains
Grass stain is an example of an enzymatic stain. It means they are a result of protein action and can only be broken down by enzymes. Cleaners that have oxidizing properties work well in breaking down the color caused by these types of stains.
Remember that you should not dry grass-stained clothes clothes using a dryer. The heat from the dryer can cause grass stains to set, making them harder to remove. The following are some household cleaners that you can use to get rid of grass stains.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most versatile products you can find in your cupboard. It’s a safe cleaning product to use on clothes stained by grass. This is because baking soda reacts well with lifting off organic stains like grass. Moreover, it has bleaching properties and is slightly abrasive.
To remove grass stains, you can mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide to make a stain remover. Add some dish soap to make a paste and spread it on the stained clothing. Let the fabric soak on the mixture before you wash it.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide also contains bleaching properties. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to get rid of grass stains. To use as a stain remover, mix one-part hydrogen peroxide with three parts cool water. You can also add baking soda to treat grass stains on clothes. Rub the mixture on the grass stain using an old but clean toothbrush. Doing so would lift off the dye stains out of the fibers.
Detergent
Liquid detergent contains enzymes that loosen the protein component of grass stains. To remove grass stains from clothes, you can put some liquid detergent on the stained area. Let it sit on the grass stain for around 20 minutes. Wash the clothes using hot water on a normal cycle. After washing, check if there are still visible stains. You can repeat the process if the grass stain still persists.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can lift off stains caused by grass. Put some rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth and blot the grass-stained area gently to lift off the discoloration. Rinse the stained clothes thoroughly with water afterward.
You have to be careful when using rubbing alcohol in removing grass stains from clothes. Alcohol can ruin certain types of fabrics. Make sure you test it first on the underside of your clothes’ seam to check if alcohol doesn’t damage it.
OxiClean or Clorox
Oxygen-based bleach works well on grass-stained items. They are also safe for colored fabrics. To use it as a grass stain remover, mix Oxiclean or Clorox with warm water and rub it on the grass stain. Let it sit for a couple of hours. You can then wash your clothes in the washing machine after the soak.
Removing Grass Stains from Jeans
Unlike other types of clothes, jeans are made of tough fabrics. Hence, you can get away with using other stain removers such as dish soap, white vinegar, and non-chlorine bleach on jeans with grass stains.
Here’s how to remove grass stains out of jeans safely:
- Place the jeans in a tub filled with cold water for 30 minutes.
- Wring the jeans to get rid of water and put them on a flat surface.
- Make a stain remover using 1 cup and 1 1/2 tablespoons water and add 1/2 cup white vinegar.
- Soak the stained part of the jeans with the solution for around five minutes.
- Use some liquid dish soap and rub it on the stained area using a laundry brush.
- Let the soap sit on the stain for 15 minutes before rinsing it with cold water.
- Put the jeans in the washing machine and wash them using a detergent. Use cold water during the wash cycle.
- Air dry your jeans to make sure you don’t set any remaining grass stain.
- Check the jeans once it’s dry.
- If there are still persistent grass stains, use an oxygen-based bleach to treat them. After proceeding to wash and rinse, let them air dry.
Removing Grass Stains From Shoes
It can be tricky to remove grass stains from shoes, but it’s not impossible. Like with clothes, you also have to act before the stain sets.
Here’s how you can get grass stains out of shoes:
Canvass and Machine Washable Shoes
For this shoe type, a pre-treat of white vinegar and baking soda can get the job done. Fill a bucket with one part vinegar and two parts warm water. Soak your shoes on the tub filled with the solution to loosen the stains. While still submerged in the solution, scrub off the grass stain using an old but clean toothbrush. For persistent stains, mix some baking soda with water to make a paste. Rub the paste on the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes. You can then wash the shoes and rinse them off.
White Sneakers
You can also use white vinegar, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide to get rid of grass stains on white sneakers. Grab a cotton ball and soak it with vinegar. Use this to wipe off the grass stains. If the stain persists, you can try a stronger stain remover using a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water. Just add the three ingredients together to make a paste. Rub the paste gently on the white sneakers using an old but clean toothbrush. Let the paste sit on the stained area for at least 30 minutes. You can then rinse off the paste using water. Repeat the process until the stain is removed.
Leather Shoes
Use white vinegar to remove grass stains from leather shoes. To do this, mix equal parts of water with white vinegar. Treat the stain with the solution. Once the vinegar solution has dried, you can scrub away the stain using a wet cloth dipped in baking soda. Wipe the excess baking soda using a clean cloth. Don’t wash leather shoes with soap and water as this will ruin the material.
Suede Shoes
It may be difficult to remove grass stains from suede shoes. Before wearing suede shoes, you should pre-treat first with a suede protectant spray. Doing so will save you from the trouble of removing stains from these hard-to-clean shoes. If a grass stain got its way onto your suede shoes, use a nail file to brush the stains away. Like leather shoes, soap and water will destroy suede shoes.
Summary
All stains are not equal, but laundry would be easy if you treat them right away. By using the proper cleaners and following the correct procedures, you can get rid of grass stains. So you don’t have to worry if you have to deal with them on clothes, jeans, and even shoes.
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