Grass stains on your shoes can make you look unkempt and untidy. They may even draw unnecessary attention to you and make you feel self-conscious.
While it may seem like the end of a good pair of shoes, don’t lose hope just yet. You can get rid of grass stains on your shoes with some products you have right at home.
How To Clean Grass Stains Off Shoes
- Use a solution of water and vinegar to remove the stain.
- Apply a small amount of laundry detergent to the stain.
- Try a solution of dish soap and water.
- Make a paste using baking soda and water.
How To Get Grass Stains Out Of White Shoes
Grass stains are formed when substances like grass protein and chlorophyll bind to the fibers of your shoe material. This makes it a challenge to remove. However, you can try to get rid of these stains with a few steps.
To remove grass stains from white shoes, you can any of these methods below.
Use Vinegar
Vinegar can be found in almost every household and is a safe and harmless solution that can be used to get grass stains off shoes. Take 1/3 of a cup of vinegar and
Once you have your mixture take a soft cloth and mildly blot the stain. After that, use another cloth to blot the stain and remove any leftover residue. Repeat the process as many times as necessary until the grass stain is fully removed from your shoe.
Try Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergent is yet another product that is in your home already, and it works great for removing grass stains. This is because laundry detergent is also effective at removing grass stains from clothing.
When removing grass stains from white shoes, it is recommended that you use a laundry detergent that has a bleaching agent. However, be sure to read the care instructions of your shoe before using the laundry detergent as some care instructions clearly state that you shouldn’t use laundry detergent.
If that’s not the case for your shoe, simply pour a bit of the detergent onto the stain and leave it on for about 20 minutes, then rinse the shoe. If your white shoe is made of leather or suede, you can use a soft-bristled brush after leaving the detergent on and scrub the stain gently. Rinse, and you’re done.
Apply Dish Soap
You can also try dish soap to get grass stains out of your shoes and again this is something that is probably in your home already. Mix 1/3 of a cup of dish soap. Use a soft brush and rub the mixture into the stain. Rinse the shoes with warm water and leave to air dry.
Baking Soda
You can use baking soda as well to get rid of grass stains on your white shoes. All you need to do is to make a simple paste using baking soda and a small amount of water. Take the smallest amount of the mixture and place it directly on the stain.
Rub it in with gentle pressure and leave it to dry for 10 to 15 minutes. Once the time has passed, rinse it off with water. If necessary, repeat the process until the stain is gone.
Using a Bucket
If you’re not comfortable with washing your shoes in the sink, you can opt to use a bucket instead. Using a bucket is a very simple way to get grass stains off your white shoes.
After the shoes are done washing, you can throw them in the dryer for a couple of minutes to dry if they can withstand heat. If not, leave it to air dry in the sun.
How To Get Grass Stains Out Of Shoes
The methods to follow when removing grass stains from shoes will depend on the type of material the shoe is made from. Different materials will require a different approach. Be sure to follow the method that is recommended for your shoe to reduce the risk of causing permanent damage.
Let’s look at the different types of materials your shoe may be made of and what you can do to remove the grass stains.
Leather Shoes
Clean grass stains off shoes made from leather using a solution of water and vinegar on the stains. Once the solution dries, wipe the shoe with a soft cloth. If there are any remaining stains, take a damp cloth with some baking soda and wipe the shoe. Then use another clean cloth and wipe the shoe again.
Patent Leather Shoes
If you have patent leather shoes, it is recommended that you use petroleum jelly on the stains. Grab some cotton gauze with some petroleum jelly and gently rub it onto the stains to remove them. To shine your patent leather shoes, use some glass cleaner and they should look as good as new.
Fabric Shoes
Fabric shoes could be any type of sneakers or sandals, among others. However, no matter what type of shoe you have, if it is made from fabric, it will get stained at some point. Instead of putting the shoe inside a washer, which can destroy the lining, you should opt to clean the shoe by hand. You can do so by using detergent, warm water, towels, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
The process is as follows:
- Wipe the material of the shoe with a dry towel to remove any dried-on residue.
- Pour two cups of warm water into a bowl and add 1 teaspoon of dish soap.
- Dip the toothbrush in the soapy solution and gently scrub the fabric where the stain is.
- Use a towel dipped in water to remove any of the soapy residues on the shoe.
- Leave the shoe to air dry or put them in the sun, but be sure to stuff them so that they do not lose their shape.
If you have canvas shoes, then you can use detergent, baking soda, and warm water. Combine all 3 ingredients to make a thick paste. Scoop up some of the paste on a toothbrush and scrub the stain until it’s gone. Use a damp cloth to clean off any excess paste and leave the shoe to dry.
Shoes with Mesh
To get grass stains out of shoes with mesh, try doing a dry brush first. Take a dry toothbrush and try to remove dried, stuck-on residue. If that doesn’t fully remove the stain, try a mixture of vinegar and baking soda on the stain. Leave the mixture on the stain for a few minutes and gently scrub the shoe. Afterward, use a clean, soft rag to wipe the shoe.
Suede Shoes
Getting grass stains out of suede shoes involves several basic steps. For dry methods, try loosening up the stain with a pencil eraser. If that doesn’t work, try using a suede brush to scrub the stains.
If both the dry methods fail, then use one of the wet cleaning solutions mentioned above, such as vinegar and water. Just remember to use a small amount of solution on the stain. Rub in and repeat the process if needed.
Keep in mind that you should never pour liquid directly onto the stain. You can use a dropper, cotton swab, or soft cloth instead.
Final Tip
The final tip in this article is to remain resourceful. There is no one-size-fits-all method of removing grass stains from shoes. This is because shoes are made of a wide variety of materials and each requires a different approach to cleaning. If you fail to follow the rules for your shoe material type, you may risk damaging your shoe.
In the end, just be gentle, patient, follow the methods for your specific shoe type and you should be fine. If these methods prove to be ineffective, before throwing the shoes out, you can read this how-to paint shoe article.
