How to remove grass stains from clothing

Grass stains on your favorite pair of jeans or your kid’s soccer uniform can be frustrating. But don’t worry – with some household ingredients and a bit of elbow grease, you can get them looking good as new. Here’s a tried and true method for removing grass stains from clothing.

What Causes Grass Stains

Before jumping into grass stain removal, it helps to understand what causes them in the first place. Grass contains chlorophyll, a green pigment that helps plants photosynthesize sunlight into energy. When grass gets onto clothing, the chlorophyll oozes out and stains the fabric.

Grass stains bind strongly to fabric and can be difficult to remove once they’ve set in. That’s why it’s best to treat them right away before washing and drying the item. Heat from the dryer can permanently set grass stains into clothing.

Pre-Treating the Stained Area

When you first notice a grass stain, start working on removing it as soon as possible. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Blot Excess Grass

If grass blades or debris are still stuck to the clothing, gently brush or shake it off first. Don’t scrub aggressively as that could grind the green stains further into the fabric.

Step 2: Flush With Cold Water

Hold the fabric under a stream of cold water, positioning it behind the stain so the water pushes through to the other side. This helps flush out some of the chlorophyll before it bonds to the fibers.

Step 3: Apply Stain Remover/Detergent

For the best results, use a dedicated stain remover like Shout or OxiClean. Apply a small amount directly onto the stain and let it sit for several minutes so it can break up the chlorophyll.

If you don’t have a stain remover on hand, dab a bit of laundry detergent onto the stain. Let it soak in for 5-10 minutes before washing. The enzymes will help break up the grass pigments.

Step 4: Wash Immediately

As soon as your chosen cleaner has had time to penetrate the stain, go ahead and wash the item in the warmest water that’s safe for the fabric. Hot water will be particularly effective at dissolving and rinsing away grass stains.

Using Dish Soap and Vinegar

If you’ve already let a grass stain sit and dry, or if there’s still residual discoloration after washing with detergent, it’s time to bring in the big guns – dish soap and vinegar. Here’s how to put them to work erasing those pesky stains:

Step 1: Apply Dish Soap

Squirt a small amount of original blue Dawn dish soap directly onto the grass stain. Use your fingers or an old toothbrush to gently scrub the soap into the fabric. The surfactants in dish soap help detach stains from fabric so they can rinse away cleanly.

Step 2: Sprinkle on Vinegar

Pour some white distilled vinegar into a bowl or spray bottle. Thoroughly dampen the stained area, allowing the acidic vinegar to soak into the fibers. This will help dissolve any remaining grass pigments.

Step 3: Let Sit

Allow the dish soap and vinegar solution to penetrate for at least 15 minutes before rinsing. For old or heavy stains, consider letting it soak overnight for maximum effect.

Step 4: Rinse and Check

Rinse away the solution under running water. At this point, check to see if the stain has lifted. For any lingering discoloration, repeat this dish soap and vinegar process until the grass stain disappears.

Step 5: Wash as Usual

Once you’ve removed the stain with vinegar and dish soap, go ahead and wash the clothing normally with detergent to eliminate any soapy residue. Then inspect again and repeat spot treatment if needed.

Getting Out Set-In Stains

For really stubborn, set-in stains, it may take repeated applications and soaking time to get results. Here are a few extra tips:

• Try laying the stained fabric out flat in direct sunlight. The UV rays in sunlight act as natural bleach to help dissolve discoloration.
• For heavy stains, make a concentrated paste of dishwasher detergent and apply it directly to the stain. Let sit for up to an hour before rinsing. The harsh chemicals will efficiently break down embedded grass stains.
• For delicate fabrics, try spraying hydrogen peroxide onto the stain in place of vinegar, then dabbing with a clean cloth. This is gentler than vinegar but still attacks stubborn stains via oxidation.
• If stains remain after multiple dish soap and vinegar treatments, commercial stain removers containing oxalic acid specifically target plant-based stains like chlorophyll. Products like Whink or Bar Keeper’s Friend may get the last of the stain out.

A Note on Prevention

While grass stains certainly aren’t fun to remove, remember that a little extra effort at the start pays off by letting you keep wearing or passing down your favorite clothes. And you can stay ahead of stains by:

• Having kids wear darker shorts for sports or play instead of light colors that show staining.
• Avoiding cotton clothing in favor of performance fabrics with stain resistance.
• Rinsing off grass debris and spraying stains with stain remover immediately after outdoor activity sessions.

With some perseverance and the right homemade spot cleaners, you can outsmart grass stains! Knowing what causes them and following these removal methods, you can keep your clothes looking like new.

References

[1] University of Illinois Extension. “Remove Stains: Grass and Leaf Stains.” Accessed January 19, 2024. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/grassandleaf.cfm

[2] The Spruce. “How to Remove Grass Stains from Clothes.” Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.thespruce.com/remove-grass-stains-clothing-2146284

[3] Good Housekeeping. “How to Get Grass Stains Out of Clothes – Remove Grass Stains.” Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a32773/remove-grass-stains-from-clothes/