Shoes are meant to be worn, but sometimes, bad things happen.
Getting a grass stain on your shoe is a common occurrence, especially if you are a runner or athlete who likes to train outside.
We all remember being kids and getting grass stains on our pants. At that time it was a minor inconvenience, because we didn’t even pay for the pants ourselves. Now that we have nice new shoes that we paid for with our own money, those grass stains become a little more annoying.
Grass stains can be removed from most types of shoes by following a few simple steps.
How To Get Grass Stains Out Of Shoes
Getting grass stains out will vary depending on many things, one being if the grass stain is in a crease. Cleaning creases on your shoes is more difficult than the usual smooth surface, so take time in learning how to not crease shoes. If you have creases right now but no stains in them, you can learn how to get creases out of shoes.
The steps below are ideal for getting grass stains out of shoes made of canvas, cotton, and other common footwear material. If its gum your dealing with, then read how to get gum off shoes.
And read our articles that are more specific to your needs.
Carefully review the steps below to learn how to get grass stains out of shoes.
1. Remove shoelaces and insoles before treating grass stains
Before starting, remove the laces and insoles from your shoes so that they can be washed separately. Shoes, insoles, and laces, all have different protocols for how they should be treated and washed.
Follow our guide on how to clean shoelaces to get the whitest of white laces. When they are all clean and dry, grab the aglet’s and find your favorite way to lace them starting with how to straight lace shoes.
2. Mix water and vinegar
Make a water based cleaning solution by mixing one part water with one part white vinegar. Dampen a clean, soft clothe with the water/vinegar mixture, and begin to dab it on to the grass stain.
Allow the mixture to settle in to the stain for 30 minutes, and then use a toothbrush to further agitate the grass stain.
3. Scrub with laundry detergent
Dip a soft toothbrush in lukewarm water and apply a small amount of general laundry detergent to it.
Gently rub the detergent on to the stain, being careful to go in the same direction as the fabric of your shoe. Make sure the toothbrush as well as the stain are still moist when you are doing this.
4. Use hydrogen peroxide
When facing a difficult and stubborn grass stain, you may find that the stain is still there after completing steps 1 to 3.
Increase your cleaning power by mixing baking soda (1 tablespoon) with hydrogen peroxide until a paste is formed. Apply the paste to the grass stain and let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes.
Once 30 minutes has elapsed, take another toothbrush, wet it with cold water, and scrub the stain until it is completely removed. You may have to repeat this process once or twice for the best results possible.
In lieu of hydrogen peroxide you may also use enzymatic cleaner or chlorine-free bleach to get rid of the grass stain.
When you have gotten rid of the grass stain(s) you can then wash your shoe fully. This will help get ride of any residue left over but also make the whole shoe clean, not just the patches you worked on.
You can dry your shoes in the dryer once washed. If you don’t need them right away, I suggest you air dry them instead by line drying or dry flat. You can find more ideas to air dry your shoes with our article on how to dry clothes without a dryer.
FAQ
Grass stains are not permanent on most shoes. Remove grass stains from shoes by first removing the laces and insole, and then applying a mix of water and white vinegar to the stain. Next, dampen a toothbrush with warm water and use laundry detergent to brush the stain. If that doesn’t work, try using baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide to make a paste and cover the stain to help remove from the fabric.
Remove grass stains from sneakers by first removing the laces and insole, and then applying a mix of water and white vinegar to the stain. Next, dampen a toothbrush with warm water and use laundry detergent to brush the stain. If that doesn’t work, try using baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide to make a paste and cover the stain to help remove from the fabric.
To remove set in and stubborn grass stains try using hydrogen peroxide, enzymatic cleaner or chlorine-free bleach. Apply to the grass stain and use a toothbrush to agitate and remove the stain.
No, grass stains are not permanent, as long as you follow the proper steps to remove the stain. Use a mixture of water and white vinegar to try to remove the stain, and then use a toothbrush with laundry detergent to agitate the stain. If neither of those work, try covering the stain with baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide.
