At some point, most people have wondered how to remove grass stains from shoes. We’ve all seen our white shoes turn green, or our favorite suede shoes have been marred by a grass stain, even the best detergent can’t seem to remove completely.
A grass stain is unsightly unless it is removed, but there is a correct and incorrect way to remove it, just like any other stain. If you apply the wrong procedure, you risk making the stubborn grass stain worse or impossible to extract.
Fortunately, if you’ve ever thought about how to clean grass stains from shoes, there are simple ways to make it look like the mark never happened.
How to easily remove grass stains from shoes
With a little care and a few household items, removing grass stains is easy, instead of smearing it, locking in the color or throwing the stained thing in the trash. When we ask how to remove grass stains from shoes, we must first ask ourselves what a grass stain is.
It seems obvious, but the precise organic composition of grass stain is what makes it so stubborn when it comes to cleaning your shoes. A compound inside a plant called chlorophyll is responsible for the dark green hue of a grass stain that refuses to budge from your white canvas shoes.
Protein and other organic matter are present in the grass, resulting in a color that is difficult to remove. The close connection between the plant material and the fabric of your mesh or leather shoes is part of the reason why stain removal is so difficult.
Unlike grease stains, grass stains are organic and, like blood or coffee stains, require a different type of stain remover, whether you’re cleaning black mesh shoes or white canvas.
Grass stains are probably the most intimidating type of stain to clean, especially when you need to restore your white tennis shoes to white. Marks are easy to acquire, especially on shoes, and difficult to remove.
Stubborn grass stains are difficult to clean because of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plant fluids to help absorb light. Chemicals such as carotenoids, which are colored, are also present.
Because they are all natural chemicals, they often bind to the fibers of natural fabrics such as cotton, silk or wool.
In other words, rather than resting on the material of your shoes, the stain becomes embedded in the fibers of the fabric, making it more difficult to remove.
A grass stain is often a combination stain in which dirt, plant material, debris and natural grass substances combine to form one incredibly stubborn and difficult-to-remove color.
Fortunately, you can prevent grass stains from ruining your favorite shoes with some knowledge and ingredients and tools. If you’ve ever wondered how to clean grass stains from shoes, there are several simple solutions to help you.
1/ Tackle grass stains with rubbing alcohol
Grass and other dirt stains ruin the look of sneakers and leather shoes. Rubbing alcohol works well for removing grass stains as well as yellowing shoe soles, and you probably already have it.
The alcohol breaks down the organic components of the grass stain to effectively remove it. Be sure to test each cleaning product on an inconspicuous area first.
Rubbing alcohol is not suitable for all fabrics. A small test spot will ensure that this method is safe for your shoes without significant wear.
To remove grass stains with rubbing alcohol, soak a cloth or paper towel. Gently dab the affected area to remove the pigment, then rinse the cloth thoroughly with clean, cold water.
Once your mesh shoes or sneakers are dry, if you still notice a green tint, repeat the process to bring all the chlorophyll back up and restore your shoes to their original color.
2/ Do-it-yourself grass stain remover
This super handy grass stain remover is easy to make with items you already have around the house and lifts even the toughest grass stains, whether you’re washing soccer cleats or your favorite running shoes.
A few drops of your favorite essential oil gives it a light scent, and it won’t fade or bleach most shoes. Before applying the solution, test it on a small, inconspicuous area for best results.
You’ll need:
1 cup of liquid detergent
2 cups of hydrogen peroxide
2-3 drops of essential oil
To make this homemade stain remover, mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and cover the stained area. Use a soft cloth or old toothbrush to work the cleaning solution into the grass stain and let it soak in for a minute.
Rinse with cold water and repeat as needed. This easy DIY will quickly remove grass stains when cleaning soccer cleats or other shoes and leave your shoes smelling great too.
3/ White vinegar is a grass stain remover
White vinegar is a versatile, heavy-duty cleaner; it works well on even tough dirt stains and can be the best DIY shoe cleaner .
How to remove grass stains from shoes is quickly answered with white vinegar. Since white vinegar is acidic, it works best when made into a solution before application.
You need:
1 part white vinegar
1 part water
Soak a clean cloth in the vinegar solution and wring it out. Use the damp cloth to coat the grass stain with white vinegar and let it sit for about half an hour.
Scrub the grass stain with a scrubbing brush or an old toothbrush and rinse the vinegar off with cold water. The green color should disappear.
4/ Hydrogen peroxide for grass stain removal
Hydrogen peroxide is a great stain remover for protein and plant stains. When it comes to how to clean grass stains from shoes, this household basic is ideal.
Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile cleaning agent and powerful disinfectant. It brightens up dull or discolored surfaces. Grass stains are brightly colored oxidizable stains.
Bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide remove these stains. Oxidizing chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide break down the components responsible for the color of chemical structures and the pigment is rendered invisible.
To use hydrogen peroxide as a stain remover, mix it in a solution with water.
You need:
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
2 cups of cool water
Use a clean cloth to rub the mixture into the stain to remove it. For extremely stubborn stains, try a scrub brush and work in circles to remove the dirt and lift the unwanted color. Rinse with clean water and let dry naturally.
5/ How to remove grass stains from shoes with toothpaste
Toothpaste breaks down biological stains like food. Since some of the plants in our food get stuck in our teeth, toothpaste is a great stain remover for the chlorophyll that forms a grass stain on your shoes.
Any brand of toothpaste will work, but be sure to choose the traditional type of toothpaste, not gel-based. Using an old toothbrush or other soft-bristled brush, apply a small amount of toothpaste and work it gently into the grass stain.
After scrubbing, rinse with cold water and dry with a paper towel to absorb the remaining water and unwanted color.
Once your shoes have dried, repeat the process if necessary until no unwanted color remains – your shoes will be stain-free and smell great.
6/ How to remove grass stains from shoes – Baking Soda
Baking soda is a safe and effective solution for removing grass stains from white shoes, whether you need to remove a leather, mesh or canvas stain.
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which reacts with organic pigments such as grass to remove them. How to remove grass stains from shoes using baking soda is simple. First, make a paste.
You need:
3 tablespoons of baking soda
2 tablespoons of water
Mix until smooth and apply the paste generously to the stain. Let the paste sit on your shoes for about five minutes, scrub with a scrubbing brush or old toothbrush and rinse with clean water.
Use a paper towel to blot up excess moisture and let your canvas shoes air dry.
