How to Remove Grass Stains From Carpet and Furniture

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
mary marlowe leverette spruce gardening board
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary has been a Master Gardener for 30+ years and a commercial and residential gardener for 50+ years. She is a former Clemson University Extension Agent.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Published on 01/23/23
Vacuuming up loose soil on carpet

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 30 - 45 mins
  • Total Time: 3 hrs, 30 mins - 5 hrs
  • Estimated Cost: $0

When you engage in summer activities or have busy kids running around, grass stains can turn up on carpet, rug and furniture upholstery. Getting grass marks off of anything that can't go through the washing machine requires a bit of time and patience. But you can get grass stains out of carpet and rug with just a few household items that are likely already on hand.

Here's our easy guide to getting grass stains out of carpet and upholstery.

 Stain Type  Grass
 Detergent Type  Dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, oxygen bleach
 Water Temperature  Cool

When to Call a Professional

If the carpet or upholstery is vintage or silk, contact a professional upholstery cleaner for recommendations.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Vacuum
  • Clean white cloth or cellulose sponge
  • Bowl

Materials

  • Dishwashing or laundry detergent
  • White paper towels
  • Oxygen bleach (if necessary)
  • Acetone (if necessary)

Instructions

How to Remove Grass Stains on Carpet

  1. Vacuum Up Loose Grass and Soil

    Start by vacuuming up as much loose grass and soil as possible.

    Tip

    Use a hose attachment, so the weight of the vacuum doesn't crush the grass into the carpet fibers.

    Vacuuming up loose soil on carpet

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

  2. Mix the Cleaning Solution

    Mix a solution of 1 tablespoon dishwashing or laundry detergent with 2 cups of cool water.

    Mixing a solution to clean the carpet

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

  3. Treat the Stained Area

    • Dip a clean white cloth or cellulose sponge into the solution, and wring to remove excess liquid. Working from the outside edge of the stain toward the center, sponge the solution onto the stain, gently working it into the carpet fibers.
    • Allow it to work for 15 minutes.
    • Blot with a dry white cloth or paper towel until all of the liquid is absorbed.
    Treating the grass stained area on the carpet

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

  4. Rinse the Stained Area

    • Dip a clean, white cloth into a small bowl of plain water.
    • Rinse the stained area until no more suds are present.
    • Blot dry with a clean white cloth.

    Warning

    Don't skip this step. It is important to remove any soapy residue because it can actually attract and hold soil.

    Rinsing the stained area with a cloth dipped in plain water

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

  5. Air-Dry the Carpet

    Allow the carpet to air dry, and then check for any remaining stains. If you still see stains, mix a solution of oxygen bleach (a variety that is safe for your carpet type) and water following the package directions. Repeat the cleaning steps with this solution until the stain is gone.

    Allowing the carpet to air dry

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

  6. Vacuum the Carpet

    After the carpet is completely dry, vacuum it well to lift the carpet fibers.

    Vacuuming the carpet to lift the fibers

    The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

How to Remove Grass Stains on Furniture Upholstery

Outdoor furniture upholstery is particularly prone to getting grass stains just because of where it's used. Follow the same steps as suggested for removing grass stains on carpet for upholstery.

A few things first: Take care not to saturate the fabric with the cleaning solution, which can damage the cushions and cause mold to form in them. If possible, remove the cushions before cleaning the fabric. If the fabric is machine-washable, toss it in the washer after treating the stain.

Grass stain on upholstery cleaned with cloth and dry cleaning fluid in glass bowl

The Spruce / Jesi Lee

Additional Tips

If the stains remain on the furniture upholstery, you can use acetone (if you use nail polish remover make sure it doesn't have conditioning oils) to remove the stains. Always test these products in an inconspicuous area to make sure they don't remove color from the fabric.

  • Put the acetone on a clean white cloth and blot gently, working from the outside edges of the stain toward the center.
  • Dip a clean white cloth in plain water and blot the stained area gently to rinse it.
  • Allow the upholstery to air dry.