How To Remove Grass Stains - Grass Stain Removal

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Learning how to remove grass stains is a necessary piece of knowledge if you have kids, or if you or one of your loved ones is athletic or active outdoors.

grass stains

Stains caused by grass are difficult to remove because they are "combination stains."

In the case of grass, there are generally a couple of stains involved, including dirt stains, along with the green stain from the grass.

That green color comes from chlorophyll, which quickly sets into fabrics, so the quicker you act for removing these stains the better.

Below are instructions for how to remove these stains from fabric, but also from the less likely places stains from grass can turn up -- upholstery and carpet.

Grass Stain Removal From Fabrics And Clothing

Fabric Care Guide

The A-Z Fabric Care Guide has information for you about cleaning and caring for various types of fabric.

Step 1: 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).

Hint: In the alternative, you can pretreat the stain with a laundry prewash stain remover formulated to remove stains caused by grass.

Step 2: 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 grass in a solution of hot water and laundry detergent containing enzymes, for a couple of hours or even overnight for especially stubborn stains. (Click here to see a tip about presoaking grass stains.)

In addition, you may want to see this video on removing stains from fabric caused by grass, using methylated spirits, which is an alternative method for grass stain removal.

Remove Grass Stain From Upholstery

Step 1: Mix a solution of two cups cool water and one tablespoon dishwashing liquid.

Step 2: Using this solution, sponge the stain from the grass with a clean white cloth.

Step 3: Next, blot at the stain until the liquid is absorbed.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2-3 until the stain from the grass is removed from the upholstery.

Step 5: If this completely removes the stain, you will next 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 grass.

If this does not remove the stain completely continue on with the following alternatives:

(a) Sponge the stain from the grass with acetone, if this is safe for the upholstery fabric. (Spot test in an inconspicuous area to find out.)

(b) Sponge the stain with dry-cleaning solvent.

(c) Mix a solution of one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups warm water, and apply this stain removal solution just as you did the dishwashing liquid solution. (Again, be cautious with this method by first spot testing this cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area to make sure it will not harm your upholstery.)

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