Today I’m going to show you exactly how to get grass stains out of shoes. In fact, I’ve included six of the techniques that I often use, so you can try them out and stick with an option that works best for you.
And let me very clear about something:
Grass stains, especially on white sneakers, suck. They’re such a pain in the bum to clean, and some require more time and elbow grease to remove.
Unfortunately, you don’t have control over where you walk. Activities like hiking through woods, playing in a grassy field, hanging out in your backyard, or simply walking in the streets expose your shoes to grass stains.
And that’s okay.
Because in the following sections, you’ll learn how you can get grass stains out of your shoes, without trying so hard.
Let’s get to it.
How to get grass stains out of shoes
1. Clean the Shoes with White Vinegar
What do some people say about the good old vinegar?
They say it can get even the toughest stains out of anything, and they’re right. In fact, this approach is the most natural way to clean grass stains off your white sneakers, and it works well within a few minutes of application.
But there’s a catch:
You can’t use the white vinegar in its raw form. It might stain your shoes even further. You have to mix it with water to make a subtle solution.
Here’s how to use white vinegar to get rid of grass stains:
- Put one-third of vinegar into a cup and add two-thirds of water.
- Dip your toothbrush into the solution and use it to scrub the stained areas.
- Start with the intense stains and follow through until you get every inch of stain covered in the solution.
- Between the scrubs, you can rinse off the bristles to remove any stuck stain.
- Use a clean cloth to wipe off the vinegar from your shoes.
- Repeat this process until every ounce of stain disappears.
2. Use a Laundry Detergent
There’s nothing more magical than a laundry detergent at work. Whether it’s on your clothes or grass-stained canvas and white vans, it’s the quick fix.
However, you need to be careful about the kind of detergent you use. I suggest you choose a detergent that has bleach enzymes because they’re often effective than regular detergents.
Here’s how this method works:
- Apply some detergent on a piece of cloth and some directly to your shoes.
- Use the cloth to rub the entire shoe.
- Let the detergent stay on the shoes for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse with running water and then air-dry.
- Now repeat the process as many times as needed to get the stain off your sneakers.
3. Use Some Rubbing Alcohol
Booze and shoes don’t go together. But if using alcohol can clean grass stains off sneakers, it doesn’t hurt to try the method.
Besides, rubbing alcohol is a safe technique, and it works fast.
The problem with this method is it doesn’t work on all kinds of grass stains; you can only use it if the stain is fresh.
So how does this work?
Generally, alcohol will break the pigments that hold the fresh stain together, making the annoying stains easy to clean.
How to get grass stains out of shoes with alcohol
- Take a piece of cloth or cotton, ball and apply some rubbing alcohol.
- Use the cloth to rub the green stain on your shoes.
- Apply more alcohol to the cloth and intensify the scrub.
- Add some home detergent in the process.
- Wash the shoe to rinse off any alcohol stuck on the surface.
- Give the footwear enough time to dry.
Can you put shoes in a washing machine?
4. Use a Mixture of Bleach and Hydrogen Peroxide
I should warn you that this isn’t the safest technique to use on shoes stained by grass because the combination can have bad ripple effects on the footwear.
But it works really well if applied correctly.
In fact, a mixture of bleach and hydrogen peroxide is a deadly combo that’s tough on stains. So if you’re looking for a technique that works well and fast, you may want to consider this option.
Please make sure you wear some protective gear if you decide to use this mixture. Wear gloves before touching the bleach and hydrogen peroxide to prevent skin damages.
With that out of the way, here’s how to apply this technique:
- Pour ¼ of bleach and ¼, hydrogen peroxide into a bucket.
- Add a cup of water to the solution.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle or use a hand cloth to apply the solution to your shoes.
- Leave your shoes intact for about 30 minutes or overnight, and then ride them with running water thereafter.
- Air-dry the shoes to have them ready to wear.
5. Try the Traditional Dish/Liquid Soap
When there’s nothing else to work with, soap and water can still do the trick. After all, people used soap and water just fine before technology advanced and cleaning agents appeared in the market.
I do admit that this method is slow, but it definitely removes grass stains off shoes eventually.
- Apply soap to the stain-filled areas; you can also lather some water with the soap.
- Dip a toothbrush into the solution and use it to scrub the grass stains.
- Repeat the process as many times as needed to get the stain off completely.
- Rinse the shoe in running water and air them to dry.
6. Use a Cleaning Product
As you already know, technology is far ahead, and proof of that are the cleaning products on every shelf in local stores. Today more than ever, you are likely to have many cleaning agents to choose.
However, you should always go for a cleaning product that favors your shoe fabric. You wouldn’t want to stain them any further with the wrong cleaning agent, or would you?
The process of cleaning is just like how you use dish soap and water but with a few tweaks.
Here you:
- Apply the detergent directly to the shoe
- Use a soft brush to target the areas where the stain is stuck.
- Give the detergent time to work its way and break down the stain.
- Wash the shoes in clean water and dry them.
My Final Thoughts On Removing Grass Stains from Shoes
There are times when you can’t help but step on grass. It can happen when you are playing in the field, mowing the lawn, or walking over a green patch.
But now that you know the right ways to remove the stains, it should be a no brainer to clean them off your shows in the future.
One more thing:
The home remedies on how to get grass stains out of shoes, I’ve shared in this article works on any kind of footwear.
Whether you have white vans, red and white canvas, or black/blue sneakers, any of the methods we’ve discussed should suffice.
In other words, it doesn’t matter what color your shoes are, as these tips will work just fine.