Wearing white clothes is always a risky business, particularly in summer when more time is spent outdoors.
While there are the occasional drips from ice creams to contend with, one of the more difficult summer stains to get out comes from simply sitting on the grass. Grass stains are particularly troublesome as they contain chlorophyll, the natural green pigment in grass that acts as a dye. Unlike artificial dyes, chlorophyll can bind more strongly to fabric fibres, which makes it much more challenging to get out. And the longer a grass stain stays on your clothes, the longer it has to set into the fabric,c and so a regular wash is unlikely to lift it out.
The first and most important thing to do when you get a grass stain on your clothes is to rinse it in cold water – make sure you don’t use hot water as this risks making the stain permanent. Once you’ve done this, cleaning experts recommend dabbing the stain with rubbing alcohol (also known as isopropanol) to lift it out.
The alcohol helps to dissolve the chlorophyll in the grass, breaking down the stain and making it much easier to remove. This method doesn’t require much scrubbing, as experts say you should simply dab the stain using a clean cloth or cotton ball, ensuring the whole thing is covered, and then allowing this to sit for a few minutes.
After it’s soaked in, simply rinse the treated area with cold water to remove the alcohol and then wash your clothes as normal.
Dick Van Dyke Appliance World says: “You might not think it, but rubbing alcohol is a powerful tool for lifting stains, especially grass stains! But since rubbing alcohol can potentially discolour or bleach fabrics (like silk, wool, or brightly colored clothes), it’s best to test an inconspicuous area of the fabric before trying this method (but whites should be safe!).
“Using a cotton ball or cloth, dab rubbing alcohol directly onto the grass stain. Allow the alcohol to penetrate the fabric for a few minutes, which helps to break down the stain.
“Rinse the garment thoroughly with cold water to remove the alcohol and loosened stain. Wash the garment as usual to ensure the stain is completely removed.”
Experts recommend air drying the item of clothing once it’s been washed, rather than throwing it in a dryer, as the heat can set any stain that might be remaining.
If the stain hasn’t been completely removed, repeat the process and leave the garment to soak a little longer if the stain is particularly stubborn.