Dirt Stain Removal - How To Remove Dirt Stains

A dirt stain can happen anywhere, anytime, but especially if you or anyone else in your family likes to do activities outside.

Kids, pets, and even adults can track dirt into your home, and accidentally get it on clothes, upholstery and carpeting. Below are instructions for removing stains caused by dirt from them all.

Just remember, when treating stains caused by dirt, that they are what we call "combination stains," in that the dirt is made up of all types of things.

There is grease, protein, and other stuff within those stains so whatever you do to remove it has to work on all the parts of the stain.

Removing Dirt Stains From Fabric And Washable Clothes

Step 1: Scrape off the dirt from the fabric.

Hint: If the dirt is wet (i.e., mud) wait until it dries before scraping it off. It is both easier to do when dry, and also less likely to spread the stain more.

Step 2: Pretreat the stain with a paste of powdered laundry detergent (that contains enzymes) mixed with a little water, or with liquid laundry detergent (also containing enzymes).

Step 3: Launder in the hottest water the fabric will allow to get out the stain, and either chlorine bleach if the fabric will allow it, or color bleach if not.

Hint: Make sure the stain is gone after washing, but before you place in the dryer or you may set the stain.

If the stain does not come out after one wash you may need to repeat before placing in the dryer.

You may also want to soak the stain caused by the dirt in a solution of hot water and laundry detergent containing enzymes, for a couple of hours for especially stubborn stains.

You can also watch this video on removing stains caused by dirt from clothing.

How To Remove Stains Caused By Dirt From Upholstery

Step 1: If the dirt is wet, let it dry and then scrape off the excess, being sure to vacuum up any chunks of dirt and mud.

Step 2: Mix a solution of two cups cool water and one tablespoon dishwashing liquid.

Step 3: Using this solution, sponge the stain from the dirt with a clean white cloth.

Step 4: Next, blot at the stain until the liquid is absorbed.

Step 5: Repeat steps 3-4 until the stain from the dirt is removed from the upholstery.

Step 6: Now that the stain is removed you should get plain cold water and a new white cloth and sponge the area to remove the cleaning solution, and then blot dry.

Hint: Be sure to get the upholstery only as wet as necessary to remove the stain from the dirt.

You can get more information on how to clean upholstery here.

Removal Of Dirt Stains From Carpet

The instructions for removal of stains caused by dirt from carpet is the same as for upholstery.

However, if you don't have luck with this stain removal method above you can also do something additional with the carpet stain, which is to mix a solution of one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups warm water, and use this as a stain removal solution.

You can also watch these videos of carpet cleaning techniques for removing dirt and mud stains.

Recommended Dirt Stain Removers

Perhaps you don't want to make your own stain remover, but instead want to use something designed to remove stains caused by dirt.

Here are some articles and reviews on this site which discuss various products that are designed to remove these stains, or where people have said they had success using specific products on mud and dirt:

Woolite Pet Stain Remover Plus Oxygen Got Out Muddy Footprints On Carpet	Use For Borax Powder For Dirt And Mud Laundry Stains	Carbona Stain Devil #6 For Dirt And Mud Stains	How Reader Keeps Kids' Sports Uniforms Clean And Stain Free With Oxiclean	Spray And Wash Stain Stick Removed Reader's Dirt Stains

Wisk Detergent Used As Pretreater For Removing Playground Dirt	Sun & Earth Detergent Gets Dirt Out My Kids Clothes	Era Detergent Can Fight Stains, Like Dirt, Well	Use Magic Eraser To Get Dirt Marks Off Walls	Blue Magic Upholstery Cleaner Removed Dirt From Recliner & Couches

Bissell Upholstery Cleaner Got Out Dirt From Light Colored Couch	Gain Ocean Escape Works Well To Remove These Stains On Its Own

You can also share your own stain remover review here to tell me what commercial removers work well for you for removing dirt or other stains.

Do You Have Any Tips To Share For Removing These Stains?

I'm always looking for more tips and ideas for how to remove stains. You can share your stain removal tip here, for how to remove dirt stains or anything else.

Get Even More Stain And Spot Removal Help Here

Are you a stain magnet like me? If so, check out the A to Z Stain Removal Guide which gives directions for how to remove over 100 types of stains from all kinds of surfaces.

Below are examples of the most common stains discussed in the Guide.

Click here to visit the Stain Removal Guide

First photo by izik and second photo by LittleMissSilly

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A-Z Stain Removal Guide - Instructions For Removing Over 100 Types Of Stains

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CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only, and Stain-Removal-101.com provides it as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some stain removal methods can harm your item, so if the stained item is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.