How to Get Grass Stains Out of Shoes

At some point, most people have wondered how to get grass stains out of shoes. We’ve all had our white shoes turn green, or our favorite suede shoes get marked by a grass stain even the most excellent detergent can’t seem to lift totally.

A grass stain is unsightly unless removed, but there is a correct and incorrect way to remove it, just like any other stain. If you apply the wrong procedure, you risk making the stubborn grass stain worse or impossible to extract.

Thankfully, if you have ever pondered how to clean grass stains off shoes, there are simple ways to make it look like the mark never happened.

How to Remove Grass Stains from Shoes Easily

With some care and a few household items, removing grass stains is easy, instead of spreading it, locking the color in, or throwing the stained thing in the trash. When asking how to remove grass stains from shoes, we must first ask what a grass stain is.

It sounds self-explanatory, but the precise organic make-up of the grass stain is what makes it so stubborn when it comes time to clean your shoes. A compound inside a plant called chlorophyll is responsible for the deep green hue of a grass stain refusing to budge from your white canvas shoes.

Proteins and other organic materials are present in the grass, resulting in a difficult color to remove. The tight bond between plant material and the fabric of your mesh shoes or leather shoes is part of the reason stain removal is so challenging.

Unlike grease stains, grass stains are organic, and like blood or coffee stains, they require a different type of stain remover, whether you are cleaning black mesh shoes or white canvas.

Grass stains are probably the most daunting type of stain to clean, especially when you need to get white tennis shoes white again. The marks are easy to acquire, especially on shoes, and challenging to remove.

Stubborn grass stains are tough to clean because of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plant fluids to help absorb light. Chemical substances such as carotenoids, which are colored, are also present.

Because these are all naturally occurring chemicals, they frequently bond to the fibers of natural fabrics such as cotton, silk, or wool.

In other words, rather than lying on top of the material of your shoes, the blemish embeds itself in the fibers of the cloth, making it harder to get out.

A grass stain is frequently a combination stain in which dirt, plant matter, debris, and natural substances from the grass all combine to form a single, incredibly tenacious, and hard-to-remove color.

Thankfully, you can prevent grass stains from ruining your favorite shoes with knowledge and some ingredients and tools. If you’ve ever wondered how to clean grass stains off shoes, there are several easy solutions to help.

Tackle Grass Stains with Rubbing Alcohol

Grass and other dirt stains ruin the aesthetics of sneakers and leather shoes alike. Rubbing alcohol works well for grass stain removal as well as to remove yellowing from shoe soles, and you probably already have it.

The alcohol breaks down the organic components of the grass stain to effectively remove it. Be sure to test every cleaning product on an inconspicuous area first.

Rubbing alcohol is not suitable for all fabrics. A small test spot lets you ensure this method is safe for your shoes without significant wear.

To remove grass stains using rubbing alcohol, soak a cloth or paper towel. Gently dab the affected area to remove the pigment, then thoroughly rinse the fabric in cool, clean water.

Once your mesh shoes or sneakers dry, if you still notice a green tint, repeat the process to lift all the chlorophyll and restore the original color of your shoes.

DIY Grass Stain Cleaning Solution

This super handy grass stain remover is easy to make with items you already have around the house and lifts even the most stubborn grass stain, whether you are washing soccer cleats or your favorite running shoes.

A few drops of your favorite essential oil give it a light fragrance, and it won’t fade or bleach most shoes. Before applying the solution, test it on a small discreet area for best results.

To make this homemade grass stain remover, swirl the ingredients in a spray bottle and cover the stained area. Use a soft cloth or an old toothbrush to work the cleaning solution into the grass stain and allow it to soak for one minute.

Rinse with cool water and repeat as needed. This easy DIY will remove grass stain quickly when cleaning football cleats or other shoes and leave your footwear smelling great too.

White Vinegar is a Grass Stain Remover

White vinegar is a versatile and rugged cleaner; it works well even on stubborn dirt stains and may be the best DIY shoe cleaner around.

How to remove grass stains from shoes is quickly answered with white vinegar. As white vinegar is acidic, it works best when made into a solution before applying.

Dip a clean cloth into the solution of vinegar, and squeeze it out. Use the damp cloth to coat the grass stain in white vinegar and allow it to sit for about half an hour.

Scrub the grass stain with a scrub brush or an old toothbrush, and rinse the vinegar out with cool water. The green color should lift away.

Hydrogen Peroxide for Grass Stain Removal

Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent stain remover for protein- and plant-based stains. When it comes to knowing how to clean grass stains off shoes, this household basic is ideal.

Hydrogen peroxide is a multi-purpose cleaning agent and a strong disinfectant; it brightens dull or discolored surfaces. Grass stains are brightly colored oxidizable stains.

Bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide eliminate these stains. Oxidizing chemicals like hydrogen peroxide break down the color-causing components of chemical structures, and the pigment is rendered invisible.

Use a clean cloth to rub the mixture into the stain to remove it. For extremely stubborn stains, try a scrub brush and work in circles to remove loose dirt and lift the unwanted color. Rinse with clean water and allow to dry naturally.

How to Get Grass Stains Out of Shoes with Toothpaste

Toothpaste breaks down biological stains like food. Since some of the plants in our diet get stuck in our teeth, toothpaste is a great stain remover for the chlorophyll making up a grass stain on your shoes.

Any brand of toothpaste will work, but be sure to select the traditional kind of toothpaste, not gel-based. Use an old toothbrush or another soft-bristled brush, apply a small amount of toothpaste and work it gently into the grass stain.

After scrubbing, rinse with cool water and pat dry with a paper towel to absorb the last of the water and unwanted color.

Once your shoes have dried, repeat the process if necessary until no unwanted color remains—your shoes will be free of stains and smell great.

How to Remove Grass Stains from Shoes – Baking Soda

Baking soda is a safe and effective solution for removing grass stains from white shoes, whether you need to get a stain out of leather, mesh, or canvas.

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which reacts with organic pigments such as grass to remove them. How to remove grass stains from shoes utilizing baking soda is simple. First, make a paste.

Mix until combined and apply the paste liberally to the stain. Let the paste sit on your shoes for around five minutes, scrub with a scrub brush or old toothbrush, and rinse with clean water.

Use a paper towel to pat out the excess moisture and leave your canvas shoes to air dry.

How to Clean Grass Stains Off Shoes with Dish Soap

Dish soap excels at breaking down grease stains, but it’s valuable when you’re stuck with the issue of how to get grease stains out of shoes too.

Like the food sticking to your dinner dishes, the grass is an organic compound, so break down a stubborn grass stain with dish soap.

Rather than using hot water and a sponge, add a few drops of dish soap directly to your stained shoes and rub them in. Spray with water if necessary when you clean shoes with dish soap to saturate the stain.

A higher concentration of dish soap increases the stain removal power, as does letting it sit on your shoes for a few minutes. Rinse the soap with clean water and pat dry with a paper towel.

Oxygen Bleach

Oxygen bleach is a cleaning solution beneficial for removing stains and brightening textiles and is a mainstay of many a household cleaning closet because it is environmentally friendly and safe to use.

Sodium percarbonate, a compound of natural soda crystals and hydrogen peroxide, is the chemical name for oxygen bleach.

When oxygen bleach contacts with water, a chemical reaction happens, and oxygen bubbles are released, which aid in the breakdown of stains and grime.

Because the only by-product is soda ash, a non-toxic chemical that’s safe, oxygen bleach powder is considered environmentally friendly.

To use oxygen bleach on your stained mesh shoes or other footwear, mix two tablespoons of the powder with a gallon of water and use the resulting cleaning solution to soak the affected area for up to an hour.

Rinse your shoes with cool, clean water and allow them to dry.

Laundry Detergent Removes Grass Stains

These stains will not come out with basic laundry detergent, but they may remove them if used in a concentrated manner.

Due to the expense of detergent and the amount used, this solution is costly but may be a feasible option if you have nothing else on hand.

When it comes to stains created by grass and other plants, detergents with color-safe bleach are usually the most effective in removing marks without fading the color of your shoes.

To use concentrated laundry detergent, pour a generous amount of detergent straight onto the stain, work it in with a scrub brush or an old toothbrush, and allow 15-20 minutes of resting time before laundering in the washing machine a regular cycle.

Try a new technique or detergent if the stain still doesn’t come out. If it fades, use multiple applications of concentrated laundry detergent to eradicate it.

Nail Polish Remover for Stubborn Grass Stains

Nail polish remover or acetone helps with a stubborn grass stain. Use acetone to destroy stains on shoes and other clothing.

Acetone is a solvent found in various home items, including personal care products and cosmetics, and is also an excellent stain remover.

Take a cotton swab or the corner of a soft cloth and dip it into the acetone. Rub the grass stain back and forth, slowly and gently, to allow the chemical to lift it from your shoes.

Always do a small safety test on an inconspicuous area of your shoes before using acetone, particularly for suede shoes and leather shoes, which are easily damaged.

A Magic Eraser Removes Grass Stains

Magic Erasers are incredibly easy to use and work well on most dirt stains. If you’ve asked how to remove grass stains off shoes, particularly the rubber soles, a Magic Eraser is the answer.

Dense foam with microscopic air bubbles make up the Magic Eraser. Dip it in water to activate the foam and then scrub it back and forth to remove the toughest stains.

Though Magic Erasers are an easy-to-use tool for lifting grass stains quickly, it’s best to take caution when using them on your shoes. Always do a small test area first to ensure no scuffing or scratching is left behind.

Magic Erasers are mildly abrasive, which may make them an excellent choice for rubber soles but not for leather shoes, suede shoes, or canvas shoes.

Baby Wipes are a Helpful Tool

Baby wipes are inexpensive, and you may have them with you on the go, which makes them great to tackle a stubborn grass stain as soon as it happens and stop it from settling into your canvas shoes.

Baby wipes clean up organic material while still being gentle on the skin, which means they remove the green pigment of a grass stain without harming your shoes.

Rub the baby wipe back and forth over the grass stain as soon as it happens to remove it before it sinks into your footwear fabric.

The Washing Machine Removes Grass Stains

If your shoes are machine washable, multiple cycles through the washing machine removes grass stains. Consider adding oxygen bleach or white vinegar to your wash cycle or using a concentrated liquid detergent for added cleaning power. You can put Vans in the washing machine but be sure to use a short, gentle cycle with cold water to keep from damaging the shoes.

Stain Remover Products for Grass Stains

A wide range of commercial cleaning solutions is available for grass stains. Find many products at your local store containing different ingredients to target organic matter like grass and blood, and safely lift stains from your shoes.

An Old Toothbrush is a Great Tool

How to clean grass stains off shoes? Try an old toothbrush. You probably have one at home, and rather than throwing it away, upcycle it into a handy cleaning aid.

The small size of the toothbrush head makes it perfect for spot cleaning or getting into tricky nooks and crannies.

The bristles are pliable and will not damage your footwear, but small enough to get deep into the fabric and scrub out a stubborn grass stain.

Use a Soft Cloth for Stain Removal

A soft cloth is a perfect tool when considering how to get grass stains out of shoes.

Its absorbency allows it to clean with any of the liquid cleaning solutions suggested above, and its softness means it won’t scratch, scuff, or abrade your footwear while it removes stubborn grass pigment.

Brush Stubborn Grass Stains with a Scrub Brush

A scrub brush is a handy implement. You probably have one at home, and in a pinch, it’s the answer to how to get grass stains out of shoes.

The stiff bristles of a scrub brush get down into the tiny weaves in the fabric of shoes, allowing you to break down and remove the stubborn grass stain.

The scrub brush works best when it’s wet. Use water or try one of the cleaning solutions above for even more effective cleaning. Scrub in a circular motion to remove loose dirt and break up the stain.

Spot Cleaning Stops Stains Early

Spot cleaning refers to treating only the stain-affected area of the garment. Spot cleaning is commonly used on fine apparel and is a good option for suede shoes and other delicates.

Because suede is notoriously difficult to care for, spot washing the stain removes it without harming the shoe. Choose an idea above and focus only on the small site affected by the grass.

Using this method, you limit the contact of cleaning products with your shoes and reduce the potential for damage.

Spot cleaning as soon as a grass stain occurs is a great way to remove it before the pigments have a chance to sink in and become deeply stained.

Grass stains are an everyday occurrence. Athletes, gardeners, children, and others frequently get them when enjoying the outside.

Fortunately, with a little bit of expertise and some ordinary household objects, the stains are usually reasonably easy to remove.

Check that all stains are gone after cleaning and before throwing your shoes in the dryer. The dryer’s high heat will set any leftover stain, making it more difficult to remove once the dry cycle is complete.

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