How to Get Grass Stains Out of Jeans, Sports Clothes and White Shoes

To get grass stains out of clothes, rub an enzyme laundry detergent into the stain, let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then wash in the warmest water the care label allows and air dry until the mark is gone. Stubborn stains on colorfast fabric respond to a dab of rubbing alcohol, and white cotton can be soaked in oxygen bleach. White shoes need the same enzyme pretreatment plus a soft brush, with the method adjusted for canvas, leather or mesh.

Why are grass stains so hard to remove?

Grass stains are hard to remove because they combine green plant pigment with plant proteins and fibers that work deep into fabric when you slide or kneel on grass. The pigment behaves like a dye, and heat helps it bond to fibers. That is why hot water on a fresh stain, or a trip through the dryer, can make it permanent. Enzyme detergents (look for protease on the label) break down the protein part, and solvents such as rubbing alcohol loosen the pigment.

How do you get grass stains out of jeans?

Denim is tough cotton, so jeans handle firm scrubbing and most stain treatments. Work from the back of the fabric so you push the stain out instead of deeper in.

Brush off loose dirt and bits of grass once they are dry.
Rinse the stain from the back with cold water.
Rub a liquid enzyme detergent or stain remover into both sides and work it in with an old toothbrush or your fingers.
Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Do not let it dry on the fabric.
If green remains, test rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) on an inside seam first, then dab it on the stain with a cloth, blot, and rinse.
Wash in the warmest water the care label allows. Dark denim may fade with very hot water, so warm is usually the limit.
Check the stain before drying. If any shadow remains, repeat the treatment and air dry.

For light-colored or white jeans, a soak in oxygen bleach, mixed and timed as the product label directs, is safe on most cotton. Pale denim with heavy stains often needs two rounds.

How do you remove grass stains from sports uniforms?

Sports uniforms are usually polyester, nylon or a blend with spandex, so treat them with cool to warm water, enzyme detergent and no chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach weakens spandex and can turn synthetic fibers and printed numbers yellow. Synthetics also hold oily dirt, so knees and seats of baseball and soccer pants often carry mud and grass together.

Rinse from the back with cold water as soon as possible after the game.
Apply enzyme detergent or a stain remover and work it in gently with a soft brush. Hard scrubbing can pill or roughen synthetic fabric.
For a white uniform, soak in oxygen bleach dissolved in water at the temperature and time the product label gives, often a few hours or overnight.
Wash inside out, in water no warmer than the care label allows, and skip fabric softener on performance fabrics.
Hang to dry. Heat can set any stain left behind and may damage heat-pressed numbers and logos.

If a uniform has red clay or mud as well, let the mud dry and brush it off before you treat the grass. For more on keeping whites bright, see these tips on getting stains out of white clothes without damaging them.

How do you clean grass stains off white shoes?

The method for white shoes depends on the material, so check the upper before you start and look at the manufacturer’s care instructions if you have them.

Canvas sneakers

Remove the laces and brush off dry dirt. Make a paste of enzyme detergent and a little water, scrub it into the stain with a soft brush, and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water. On all-white canvas, a little 3% hydrogen peroxide dabbed on remaining green marks can lift them; test it first and keep it away from colored trim. Air dry away from direct heat, stuffed with paper towels to hold the shape.

Leather shoes

Leather should not be soaked. Wipe the stain with a cloth dampened in water and a drop of mild dish soap, using small circles, then wipe again with a clean damp cloth and let the shoe air dry. Rubbing alcohol and bleach can dry out or discolor leather finishes. A leather conditioner afterward keeps the surface from cracking.

Mesh and knit sneakers

Treat the stain with enzyme detergent and a soft brush, then rinse lightly. Many knit running shoes can be hand washed in cool water, but check the brand’s guidance before you machine wash them, as heat and tumbling can warp the sole or loosen glue. A melamine foam sponge cleans grass marks off white rubber midsoles, but keep it off leather and printed areas, since it is mildly abrasive.

What if the grass stain already went through the dryer?

A set-in grass stain can often still be lightened with repeated treatment. Soak the item in enzyme detergent and water, or in oxygen bleach for whites and colorfast fabric, for several hours, then scrub, rinse and wash again. Repeat two or three times before giving up, and air dry between rounds. The same patience works for other heat-set marks, as in this guide to removing ink after the dryer.

What should you never do with a grass stain?

Do not use hot water on a fresh stain or put the item in the dryer before the stain is gone.
Do not use chlorine bleach on spandex, wool, silk or colored fabric, and never on a garment whose care label says no bleach.
Never mix stain products. Bleach combined with ammonia, vinegar or other acids releases toxic gases, so rinse well between treatments and use one product at a time.
Do not use rubbing alcohol on acetate or triacetate, and keep it away from flames, since it is flammable.
Do not rub so hard that you damage the fabric surface; blot and brush instead.

Use products in a ventilated room, follow label directions and store them out of reach of children and pets. The EPA’s Safer Choice program lists cleaning products that meet its safety criteria. If someone swallows or splashes a cleaner in their eyes, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 in the US or emergency services.

Quick answers

Does vinegar remove grass stains?

White vinegar can help loosen a light grass stain on colorfast fabric, but an enzyme detergent usually works better. Rinse vinegar out completely before using any bleach product, and never combine the two.

Does baking soda get grass stains out?

A paste of baking soda and water adds mild scrubbing power on canvas shoes and rubber soles. It does little to break down the pigment, so pair it with an enzyme detergent.

Can you use toothpaste on grass stains on shoes?

Plain white toothpaste is mildly abrasive and can scrub grass marks off rubber soles. Avoid gel or colored toothpaste, and do not use it on leather or knit uppers.