How to Remove Grass Stains From Clothes

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

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Updated on 01/20/23
Reviewed by
Brandon Pleshek
Brandon Pleshek headshot.
Reviewed by Brandon Pleshek
Brandon Pleshek of Clean That Up! is a seasoned veteran of the cleaning industry with over 20 years of experience in commercial and residential cleaning. He is a member of The Spruce's Cleaning and Organizing Review Board
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Bailey Mariner

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 - 45 mins
  • Total Time: 1 - 9 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $10 to 20

Grass stains are a common part of life. Kids playing outside often get them, as do athletes, gardeners, outdoor concert-goers, and more. Fortunately, the stains are fairly easy to remove most of the time. As with any stain, the sooner you remove grass stains, the better. Dried grass stains are much more difficult to remove than fresh grass stains. But before you toss a garment that's been stained into the dryer, confirm that the grass stain is completely gone or that stain can be "set" from the heat, making it harder to remove.

Read on to learn how to remove grass stains from clothing.

 Stain type  Grass
 Detergent type  Stain remover, standard
 Water temperature  Cool to warm
 Cycle type  Varies depending on the type of fabric

Grass Stains

Grass stains are a mixture of proteins, but mostly they are made of the chlorophyll from the plant. This chlorophyll is a dye stain. Dye stains are in many opinions the toughest stains to remove. To top it all off, a grass stain may also be accompanied by sweat stains, mud stains, juice stains, or all manner of other stain removal challenges. Grass is good at dyeing clothing; this is what makes it so tough to deal with.

closeup of grass stain

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

Before You Begin

Always check the care label on the garment to know how it should be laundered. If the garment is labeled dry clean only, bring it to a professional cleaner and make sure to point out and identify the stain.

The 12 Best Laundry Stain Removers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
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Click Play to Learn How to Remove Grass Stains From Clothing and Carpet

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Soft-bristled brush
  • White cloths
  • Paper towels
  • Sponge (optional)
  • Small bowl

Materials

  • Stain remover spray or gel
  • Laundry detergent
  • Oxygen-based bleach

Instructions

Materials for removing grass stains

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

How to Remove Grass Stains on Clothes

  1. Apply Stain Solution

    Treat the stained area with a stain remover as soon as possible. If you don't have a stain remover, apply a bit of laundry detergent to the stained area.

    Applying a stain removal solution to a grass stained area

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

  2. Treat the Stained Area

    Work the stain remover or detergent in gently with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. Allow the product to remain on the stain for at least 15 minutes before you toss the clothing into the washer. This will give the stain-lifting enzymes time to work on the grass stain and any soil that has been ground into the fabric.​​

    Working in the stain solution with a soft bristle brush

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

  3. Check the Stained Area

    Before throwing the garment into the dryer, check the stained area. If there are still traces of a stain, do not put it in the dryer, move to the next step instead.

    Warning

    Before you put the clothing in the dryer, check that all the stains are gone. The high heat of the dryer will set any remaining stain and make it harder to remove. 

    Checking the stained area

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

  4. Mix a Soaking Solution

    Mix a solution of warm water and all-fabric oxygen bleach following the label directions. Completely submerge the entire garment, and allow it to soak for at least one hour and up to eight hours. Wash it as usual. Check for any remaining stain. If any stain remains, do not put in the dryer, repeat the soaking step in a fresh batch of oxygen bleach and water, and then wash the item again.

    Tips

    Oxygen bleach is generally safe for all types of fabrics, except silk and wool. Make sure the product says it's color safe if your garment isn't white.

    Mixing an oxygen bleach soaking solution

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

Additional Tips on Handling Grass Stains

If the grass stain has been on the clothing for several days or weeks, use the oxygen-based bleach soaking method to remove it.

As a last resort, you can try sponging the stained area with isopropyl alcohol. Be careful because this might remove the color of the clothing. Test it on a hem first before you use it in an obvious spot where any discoloration would be easily seen. If the hidden area holds its color, you can sponge the alcohol onto the stained area and then blot it up with a clean white towel. Continue until no more of the grass stain comes up from the blotting. Rinse the clothing completely. Wash normally. Let the clothing air dry to make sure the stain is gone.

Using isopropyl alcohol on grass stains

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

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