Grass-stained jeans are a sign of a day well-spent. You won’t find us discouraging you from getting your jeans dirty. Find out how to get the grass stains out of your jeans now, so you can come up with the best ways to put stains on them again tomorrow.
Here’s what you need to know:
Are Grass Stains Permanent?
Grass stains aren’t permanent if you act fast to remove them before they’re set in.
Grass has natural pigments that adhere to the fibers in clothing in a very similar way to the pigments in store-bought fabric dye. It’s no wonder grass stains are so tough to get out.
The Best Cleaners for Removing Stubborn Grass Stains From Jeans
To combat difficult grass stains in your jeans, start by knowing which cleaners will help and which will make things harder. Some common cleaners are great for grease and other stains, but will only make grass stains set in. Stay away from ammonia, degreaser, and alkaline detergents.
Helpful cleaners for grass stains include:
- Non-chlorine bleach
- Vinegar
- Enzyme detergent
- Rubbing alcohol
- Dawn dish soap
- Baking soda
These simple, largely natural cleaners are tough enough to demolish turf stains on your jeans. We also covered many of these in our article on How To Get The Smell Out Of New Jeans. But even armed with the proper tools, to effectively combat a stain, you have to know how to use them.
6 Steps To Remove Grass Stains From Your Jeans
1. Soak the Jeans in Cold Water
First, submerge your dirty pants in a tub of cold water and let them sit for 30 minutes. This will help begin to loosen the pigments form the fibers. The soak will also help remove any excess dirt and grass.
2. Pretreat the Grass Stain With Vinegar
Pull your jeans out of their soaking tub and lay them on a flat surface. Mix together 1 part white vinegar with 1 part warm water. Then saturate the stained area fully by pouring it or dabbing it on with a clean cloth. Let the vinegar water to sit and work on the stain for five minutes.
3. Spot Treat the Stain With Detergent
Take non-chlorine bleach or other enzyme detergent and apply it directly to the grass stain. If you’re using powdered detergent, mix it with water to make a paste and spread it over the stain. Massage the cleaner into the stain with a soft-bristled brush for 1-5 minutes.
4. Let Sit
Sit back and relax for 10-15 minutes. Allow the enzymes to go to work on the grass stain.
5. Rinse and Check
Run cool water over the treated area and check to see if all signs of green have disappeared. If not, repeat steps 2-4 and throw in the laundry alone on the delicate cycle.
6. Hang Dry
When you’ve won the battle against your jean’s grass stain, hang them up to dry. Only dry your jeans once you have the stain completely out. If you’re struggling to get the last bit of green pigment out, hanging your jeans to dry in the sun might do the job. But beware, drying grass-stained jeans -- especially in the clothes dryer -- can set the stain and make it nearly impossible to remove.
Do You Use Hot Water Or Cold Water To Remove Grass Stains?
Speaking of setting in stains, always use cold water when treating grass stains. Using hot water when washing your jeans will also encourage the grass pigment to set into the denim fibers.
How Do You Get Grass Stains Out Of Jeans Without Washing Them?
There are lots of reasons you may not want to wash your jeans, but you should still treat a grass stain promptly to avoid a permanent turf brand on your denim. A useful cleaner for removing grass stains without fully washing your jeans is rubbing alcohol.
Cleaning a grass stain on your jeans with rubbing alcohol is similar to the method outlined above. Here’s how it’s done:
- Use a sponge or cotton ball to saturate the stained area with alcohol.
- Wait for it to dry and rinse it with cold water.
- Put some liquid detergent on the area and rub it in until the stain has faded.
- Rinse with cold water and hang to dry.
Grass stained jeans - before and after
Jeans That Resist Grass Stains
When you play hard, grass stains on your jeans are a common occurrence. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a pair of jeans that resisted grass stains?
Lucky for all of us, DUER’s Live Free pants are made with a coating that repels stains, so you can keep playing hard. Focus on your adventures, not your laundry. Check out our collection on men’s and women’s jeans today.
