How to Get Rid of Grass Stains

Your kid is out in the lawn, wearing a clean t-shirt you laundered just yesterday. After a few hours of running, tripping, and laughing, he comes in with a big smile on his face and grass stains all over his clothes. Before you can start yelling, he hands you a small flower. Oh well. Your anger might have faded away quickly, but those grass stains aren't going to.

Of the many laundry dilemmas moms encounter, grass stains are among those that currently come up. Whether they come from gardening, picnicking, or playing, these green marks always bother people. Grass stains often include various components, including organic matter, protein, grasses' juices, chlorophyll, and stable pigmented compounds like carotenoids and xanthophylls. They bind to fabric's natural fibers closely, making them very difficult to remove. Not only that, grass stains always have mud mixed in them, causing them to look more unpleasant.

Dealing with grass stains is never a picnic, but there are some ways to make it easier for them to be removed. Here are a few methods you might find helpful.

Use Powder or Liquid Detergent

Putting your clothes in the washer is the most common tactic many people turn to, but it won't work properly unless you use a good liquid or powder detergent. Find one that contains bleach and enzymes that work to remove grass stains specifically, like Tide. Its unique cleaning solvents are guaranteed to fight stains effectively and efficiently.

Get some detergent, place it directly on the affected area and scrub as hard as you can. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse with water. If the stain isn't fully taken out, don't fret. Just repeat the procedure, until no more mark remains.

Digestive Enzymes Can Do The Trick

Yes, the enzymes you see sold in health food stores can solve your grass stain dilemma in a thrice. Digestive enzymes like acidophilus react well to remove grass stains. First, brush off any remaining dirt or grass fibers from the fabric. Make the enzyme paste, by mixing a teaspoon of the enzyme (you can get this in caplets) and a small amount of water. Spread this onto the stain, while working it into the fabric using a cloth or toothbrush. Allow it to sit for an hour, then wash the clothes properly. You'll see all the grass stains are gone.

The Alcohol And Water Pre-Rinse

Rinsing the cloth before working on it also helps loosen the stain faster. Of course, you need to rinse using the right materials, in this case water and Isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Get a sponge and wet the affected area with the rubbing alcohol. Allow it to air dry, and once it is, rinse it with cold water. Put some liquid detergent into the stain, rubbing it in properly, then rinse with cold water. Let it air dry again, then wash the item again, until the stain completely fades.

Vinegar Works

Vinegar is used by many people as a natural bleach, and is very effective in removing easy to difficult stains, including grass stains. First, pre-treat the stain with white vinegar and warm water. The alcohol-water rinse mentioned above also works well. After pre-treating, rub the water-vinegar mixture directly into the stain. Another tactic is using ammonia and vinegar. Replace the warm water with ammonia and combine with vinegar. Follow the same steps above. Your clothes will be clean again.

The Hydrogen Peroxide And Bleach Solution

Everyone knows about the wonders bleach can do for laundry tasks. It also performs well on grass stains. Mix it with hydrogen peroxide, and you've got one heck of a cleaning solution. Even the worst grass stains will be gone after you try this tactic: first, mix equal amounts of peroxide and bleach together, then mix it to three parts cold water. Put this directly on the stained cloth, and allow it to sit for about an hour. Afterwards, rinse it normally. Your clothes will be free of the unpleasant green stains.

Grass Stains On Concrete

Although clothes and fabric are the most common victims of grass stains, they're not the only ones. Grass can also get on other surfaces, like concrete. For example, you walk across a grassy lawn, then step inside your concrete home, without removing your shoes. The green marks will immediately be tracked onto the concrete floor. Shoes, tires (on driveway concrete), and pet paws can track the stains all over the concrete. You can't use the methods you used for clothes for this dilemma, but there's an effective solution you can try:

Scrape away excess grass and dirt.
Put glycerin directly on the stain using a clean rag, and rub gently to lubricate residual stain material.
Prepare a solution composed of one gallon water, 1/4 cup of washing soda and 1/4 cup borax. Apply this to the stain using a nylon bristle brush, scrubbing with moderate pressure.
Rinse the brush regularly, then refresh the cleaning solution when you deem it necessary.
Flush the affected area with clean water to remove cleaning solution residue and dislodged grass. Blot the excess water with clean newspaper after.
If the stain remains, repeat the procedure again.

To help you avoid stains in the future, try using protective mats and refreshing the sealant of your concrete. This also makes stain removal easier. Remember, the base materials and surface treatments of concrete can vary, so it's safer to try this method in a small, inconspicuous location first, before doing it to the whole area. Another tip: Wear work clothes, safety gloves and protective eyewear when doing this procedure. The solution has chemicals that might be harmful to you.

When grass is green, it looks beautiful, but the same cannot be said when it stains your clothes or your concrete surfaces. If you ever encounter this unpleasant dilemma, just try any of the tactics above, and your grass will then stay outside, instead of being all over your possessions.

Tags : Home And Garden