It’s warming to watch our children have a fun and exciting afternoon in the yard or at the park. It adds to our pride whenever we watch our kids play in a practice game in the field. On the other hand, no matter how amusing it is to watch our kids at play, washing their uniforms during laundry day can be exasperating. Your child’s clothes are so heavily soiled with grass stain that may seem impossible to clean.
Grass stain is a combination of the grass’ green chlorophyll and mud and dirt. The easiest way to remove any stain is to wash it as soon as possible. The longer you leave the stain untreated, the harder it is to remove. You can soak the clothing in water or use stain removal formulas.
A natural pretreatment solution is hydrogen peroxide. However, you have to be careful because it can have a bleaching effect on some fabrics. Test first a small inconspicuous area first before using hydrogen peroxide for stain removal.
If the stain is persistent, here’s a step-by-step guide you can try to remove tough grass stains.
- Brush off the excess grass or dirt on the clothing. Gently scrape off the mud with a plastic spoon or a dull knife. Be careful and ensure that you do not to spread the mud or grind it into the fabric.
- The use of digestive enzyme capsules or tablets can help removing the organic stains faster. Pour about 2 to 3 capsules (one teaspoon) into a small bowl. Mix a teaspoon of cold water with the enzyme powder until it the mixture thickens. It should be as thick as toothpaste.
- Spread the paste evenly on the stained area. Make sure every area is covered. Note: Enzyme paste may not be safe for all fabrics. Test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure the garment would not be damaged.
- Let the enzyme paste sit for about an hour.
- Place the clothing in the washer without rinsing the paste. Wash it using regular cycle or the recommended wash cycle and temperature setting indicated on the tag. Preferably, do not wash the stained clothing with the rest of the laundry load. Launder it separately by itself.
- After the cycle, check the garment for any sign of stain. If the stain remains, repeat the process. However, this time rub the enzyme paste onto the stain with an old toothbrush. Do not put the garment in the dryer until the stain is completely removed. The heat will set the stain and it will be nearly impossible to remove.
If the garment is made from a special or delicate fabric, like silk and wool, bring it to a professional cleaner. Also, clothes that are labeled as dry clean only should be taken to a professional dry cleaner. Do not use any stain removing method on these special fabrics to prevent damage or discoloration.
