How to Remove Grass Stains From White Clothes

Children often come home with grass stains on their clothes.

Anyone who has spent time outdoors, whether at the park or on a hike, knows that white clothes and grass do not mix. Grass stains are one of the toughest stains to remove. They are a type of "dye stain" resulting from the green chlorophyll pigment that plants produce, which forms a more cohesive molecular bond with the fabric than other types of stains. The quicker you attempt to remove this stain, the more likely it is to come out.

Things You'll Need

• Soiled garment
• Sponge
• Rubbing alcohol
• White vinegar
• Laundry detergent
• Chlorine bleach
• Hydrogen peroxide

Instructions

1. Pre-test all stain-removing solutions on a small area of the garment using a white cloth. If the color bleeds onto the cloth after applying the agent, discontinue use and consider taking your item to a professional cleaner.

2. Create a vinegar solution using warm water and white vinegar and rub it directly onto the stain with a sponge. Avoid using fruit-based vinegars for this step. Alternatively, you can soak the garment in a vinegar solution for one hour. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.

3. Pre-treat your garment with rubbing alcohol by sponging or blotting it onto the affected area. Alcohol should not be used on silk or wool. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.

4. Apply a detergent solution directly onto the stain, rubbing lightly for delicate fabrics and more vigorously for cotton items. Allow solution to dry, then launder as normal.

5. Mix a solution containing equal parts bleach and hydrogen peroxide, combined with 3 parts water. Soak your garment in the solution for one hour. If you apply bleach directly to the clothing in concentrated form, do not allow it to remain on the fabric for longer than two minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water, re-apply the vinegar solution, and rinse again with cold water. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide should only be used as a final resort, if none of the other solutions have removed the grass stain. Do not use chlorine bleach on wool, silk or spandex.

6. Employ the expertise of a professional cleaner. If you are unable to remove the stains using the aforementioned solutions, take your garment to a dry-cleaning facility for professional treatment.

References

• Cornell University: Removing Stains at Home
• Stain Expert: Going Green - Grass and Moss Stains
• Mrs. Clean House Cleaning Specialists: How to Remove Grass Stains