How to Get Grass Stains Out of White Shoes

Warm weather brings a plethora of reasons to spend time outside again. Whether you’re taking care of lawn work or are playing sports, odds are you will be dealing with grass stains. Discover how to get grass stains out of white shoes to prevent stubborn stains from ruining your white sneakers for the summer.

The organic composition of grass stains makes them challenging to remove. The grass itself becomes green thanks to chlorophyll in the grass blades, and organic matter creates a tough stain once the plant matter bonds to the fabric or material of your shoes.

Grass stains are unsightly and may prove challenging to remove, especially for white shoes that seem to collect even the most minor stains. Rather than accepting the stain and designating your shoes as your yard work shoes, learn how to remove grass stains from your shoes safely. Improper cleaning results in the stain fading but never actually coming off your shoe.

How to Get Grass Stains Out of White Sneakers

If not cleaned appropriately, you may never rid your shoe of a grass stain. The downside of white shoes is that colors and scuffs show extremely well. The upside to cleaning white shoes is that there is no concern about cleaning options stripping pigment from your shoes without additional colors in the fabric.

Many of the best cleaning options involve cleaners that may not suit colored shoes. Learn the best ways of keeping white shoes white with a variety of home remedies.

Cleaning Shoes by Hand with Detergent

Although using only laundry detergent to remove grass stains and clean tennis shoes may seem like a pre-treatment for a more thorough method, it is perfect for small stains or stains that have not dried yet. Wipe away loose dirt using a damp cloth to clean the area.

Combine a tablespoon of laundry detergent in a bowl of warm water and use a new cloth to apply it to the stained shoe. Use the same cloth or a brush to scrub the stain.

If the grass stain has set into the fabric, use a stain remover like a laundry pen to target the stained fabric. Otherwise, rinse your shoe to remove all soap before letting it dry once the stain is gone.

Remove Stubborn Grass Stains with Toothpaste

Toothpaste comes with whitening properties, and depending on the type you buy, it may have baking soda included. Baking soda adds grit and abrasiveness to the paste, which is just as effective at removing buildup from teeth as when removing a fresh grass stain.

Apply white non-gel toothpaste to your shoes with an old toothbrush and work the paste into the stain. Leave the paste sitting on the stain for ten minutes, longer if you’re trying to remove deeper stains, before using a wet cloth to wipe the paste away. Repeat this process as needed until you have clean white shoes again.

How to Get Grass Stains Out of White Shoes using Dish Soap

While dish soap works well for removing various stains, it may not be as effective at removing tough grass stains. What gets grass stains out easily? Add hydrogen peroxide to make removing grass stains from white shoes easier.

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective cleaner, and when combined with liquid soap, it removes stains and brightens the appearance of your shoes in no time.

Combine the ingredients and dip a white cloth into the mixture. Saturate the stain with this mix and leave it to sit for thirty minutes. If the grass stain is on the rubber outsole of your shoes, consider creating this mixture in a bowl or container that fits your shoe so the stained bottoms are submerged.

After allowing the stain to soak, scrub with a soft brush to work out the stain. Rinse your shoes clean, and repeat is needed until the grass stains are gone.

Cleaning Sneakers with White Vinegar

If you’re looking for how to get grass stains out of white sneakers with ease, then vinegar is one of the best options to make your own sneaker cleaner. The vinegar acts as a natural whitener for your shoes.

Vinegar’s acidic nature makes it perfect for breaking down stains, and the addition of baking soda helps clean white shoe laces without bleach. Because this method involves water and creating a paste, we do not recommend it for every type of shoe.

Combine everything in a bowl and allow the mixture to form a fizzing paste. Once the fizzing stops, quickly apply the paste to the stains on your shoes. Spread the paste out as it dries for complete coverage.

Wait five minutes for the paste to dry before wiping away. Wipe away any remaining paste with a damp cloth and rinse.

Cleaning White Suede with Vinegar

Suede shoes pick up dirt and stains easily and if you stain your white shoes with grass, how you clean them is crucial because suede is delicate.

Vinegar easily breaks down grime and stains, and by diluting it with water, you make it safe to use on your shoes. Because you are only using water and vinegar, this option also removes stains from white leather.

Wet a clean cloth in a cleaning solution that is half vinegar and half water, Too much moisture on your suede shoes affects the nap, so wring out any extra vinegar before applying the cloth to your shoes. Stuffing newspaper inside your shoes helps them retain shape and absorb excess moisture while cleaning.

Gently rub the grass stain without applying pressure to avoid causing the vinegar solution to spread. Once the stain is wet, use a soft cloth to absorb the moisture and pull the stain from the fabric. Brush out the nap on your shoes with a suede brush to prevent the suede from becoming stiff once it dries.

How to Remove Grass Stains from Sneakers with Acetone

Acetone is a liquid solvent used to dissolve other substances. It is most commonly found in nail polish remover and is used in many households to remove paint from nails, but it also can be used to remove paint, clean keyboards, and even remove grass stains from fabric.

Wipe away stains on your shoes using a cotton ball and nail polish remover. This method may work better on the rubber portions of your shoes. The fabric material of your shoes may require you to saturate the stain before it begins to lift onto the cotton ball.

Removing Stains from White Polyester Shoes

Many athletic shoes are made from a polyester blend to make them comfortable and breathable. Because polyester is a more durable material, it holds up well to different cleaning methods.

If you’re dealing with tough stains, this strategy combines several essential cleaning agents to make removing grass stains from white shoes easy. It’s pretty straightforward to remove stains from sneakers with mesh with this solution.

Mix the baking soda and water to create a paste, apply it to the stained areas of your shoes and allow the paste to dry. As the paste dries, mix your vinegar and soap in a bowl. Once combined, apply this mixture to the paste and the stained area. Use an old toothbrush to work these mixtures together into the stain.

After scrubbing, the stain should lift out, and you can rinse the shoe clean. Allow your shoes to air dry or repeat for tougher stains.

Hand Wash Shoes with Dish Soap to Remove Stains

Because dish soap breaks down grease and protein buildup from food, it makes a surprisingly good cleaner for grass stains. Dish soap is also not a harsh cleaner, making it safe to use on white shoes made of leather and fabric.

In a bucket, combine dish soap and warm water to make the water soapy but clear. If your shoe has stains on most of its fabric, remove the insole and submerge your shoe in the water. Scrub the stains with an old toothbrush until the stains lift from the shoe’s material. Repeat this process until your shoes are clean again.

Cleaning Stains with Rubbing Alcohol

The chemical properties of rubbing alcohol make it the perfect choice for sanitizing and cleaning jobs around the house. Rubbing alcohol easily breaks down and removes marks and stains from various surfaces, including your shoes.

Work rubbing alcohol into the stained areas of your shoes with a cloth. As the stain lifts, rinse your shoes with warm water and continue until the stain is gone. If a faint yellow stain is left, remove yellow stains from shoes by adding a small bit of liquid detergent to the stain and scrub until clean. Rinse again once you’re sure the stain is gone.

Using the Washing Machine to Clean White Canvas Shoes

If your kids are playing in the yard, you might be dealing with more than just grass stains. Mud stains are another sign that the weather is warming up as yards thaw and the rainy season starts.

No stain removal method is quite as beloved as tossing your clothes in the washer, but with shoes, it’s not always that simple. Remove excess dirt from your shoes by brushing them off or wiping them down with a wet paper towel.

For this white canvas shoe cleaner solution, unlace your shoes and place the laces in a garment bag. Removing laces prevents your laces from tangling around any moving parts in your washer or around your shoes. Pull the insoles from your shoes and set them aside.

Using a separate mesh bag, place your shoes inside and then place the bag into the washer. Allowing shoes to rattle around may damage the washer, so place them in a bag first and throw in a few towels for added measure.

Wash your shoes on a delicate cycle with warm water to help loosen the protein-based stains from your shoes. Inspect your shoes to ensure all stains are gone and allow them to air dry.

Clean Grass Stains with Hydrogen Peroxide

Mix hydrogen peroxide with liquid laundry detergent to create a powerful solution to clean your white shoes and remove grass stains. When used on sneakers, hydrogen peroxide brightens the appearance of your footwear and eliminates stains.

Pour peroxide and detergent into a spray bottle and shake well to combine. Generously spray the mixture onto the stained areas of your shoes and allow the spray to sit for up to five minutes.

Use an old toothbrush or towel to scrub the stained areas clean. Use different parts of the towel as the stain comes away from the fabric. Once clean, rinse the area with warm water and repeat.

Remove Grass Stains from the Outsoles of Your Shoes

The bottom portion of most shoes is plastic or rubber. This material makes the shoes durable and capable of withstanding friction when running or walking. This material also allows you to clean it easier than the fabric portions of your shoes.

If you’re struggling with how to get grass stains out of white sneakers, a Magic Eraser is a simple solution. Magic Erasers use foam that makes scrubbing marks and stains easy. Dampen your Magic Eraser with clean water and begin scrubbing at the rubber portions of your shoes to clean Vans soles and to remove grass stains.

Use Detergent and Baking Soda to Remove Stains

Baking soda is often left in the fridge to keep food odors under control, but this powder is versatile enough to be used around your home. When combined with laundry detergent, the abrasive paste is perfect for removing tough stains.

Mix your ingredients until they form a thick powder to apply to your stained shoes. Spread the powder with a butter knife to ensure coverage. Leave the powder on your shoes for an hour before rinsing with warm water.

Soak Shoes in Chlorine Bleach to Remove Stains

Bleach is a powerful cleaner with the ability to lift colors out of fabric. This ability makes bleach great at specific cleaning jobs, but we do not suggest using this method if your shoes have any color.

Because bleach is so harsh, dilute it with water before soaking your stained shoes for five minutes. Use a sponge or old toothbrush to clean your shoes of any grass stains. Always wear gloves when using bleach.

Spot Clean Shoes with Oxygen Bleach

If your shoes have portions of color, chlorine bleach is likely to lift these added colors. Instead, use oxygen bleach which is safe on colors as it does not cause them to run.

Based on the label instructions, fill a bucket or sink with water and add oxygen bleach or all-fabric bleach. Soak your shoes in the mixture for at least eight hours. If the stain dissolves in that time, rinse and clean your shoes as normal. Repeat this step with a new bleach solution if the stain remains on your shoes.

What to Avoid When Removing Grass Stains from White Shoes

Although cleaning white shoes allows you to use various cleaning tools, there are a few things to keep in mind when cleaning grass stains. Proper cleaning is the only thing keeping you from having pristine white shoes again and being stuck with a green stain forever.

Avoid Alkaline Detergents

If you’re trying to remove stains by laundering your shoes, avoid detergents with de-greasing agents and ammonia, as these are not likely to prove effective.

Alkaline detergents might cause the green stain to set and never come out. Instead, opt for safe brands like Tide to remove stains whether using the washing machine or scrubbing by hand.

Rinse with Warm Water

When it comes to removing protein-based stains, warm water works better than cold water. Water loosens fabrics, but warm water helps when protein stains like grass and blood are lifted from the fabric to wash them away.

Avoid cool water when rinsing between cleaning attempts and if you wash in the washing machine, use warm water on the delicate cycle for the best shot at stain removal. Save the cool water for when you need to remove a food-based stain from your clothes.

Depending on your outdoor activity level, grass stains may not be a concern. However, it’s best to know how to remove grass stains if you ever find yourself in that situation and save your white shoes from being stuck in the closet forever.

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