Spring is almost here and I seriously can't wait to wear my favorite ensemble: dresses and sneakers. But with plants growing in full force again, it might be time to learn how to get grass stains off sneakers. Believe me, my pair of Converse have been through a lot, but every season I manage to keep them clean and slick before putting them away. Why? Because I learned exactly how to remove them properly.
I remember when I bought a brand new pair of white vans in high school and on the first day of wearing them, I got them completely covered in grass stains. Why did I run through grass? Because it was either get my shoes dirty or get detention. So I chose to sacrifice my shoes. Yes, I was a pretty good kid.
After that day, I researched how to get grass stains out of my sneakers and since then, have used the same routine of removing those horrible stains every spring/summer season. Like most stains, it takes real dedication to get them out, but thankfully grass stains aren't that difficult to get rid of if you use the right tools and solutions.
In case you find yourself with inevitable grass stains on your shoes, learn how to remove them with these techniques below. You will need:
A Toothbrush
Colgate Extra Clean Toothbrush, $5, Amazon
Make sure you have a toothbrush to scrub down all the creases and corners of your shoe. Using the bristles will help make sure the stains are thoroughly scrubbed out. I usually just use an old toothbrush.
A Washcloth
Tranquility Washcloths, $13, Bed Bath & Beyond
It's always a good idea to have a washcloth handy to wipe away the stains once you scrub them all out. Any old washcloth should get the job done.
A Bucket
Sterilite 5 Quart Handy Pail, $2, Usplastic
Instead of using my sink, I'll usually just wash my shoes in a plastic bucket. It's easier for me to use and clean up after I'm done removing the stains. When I'm done, I'll throw in the dryer for a bit or let them air dry.
As far as cleaning solutions go, you can choose from the following:
Vinegar
Heinz Distilled White Vinegar, $3, Amazon
Vinegar and water is probably my favorite to use when removing the stains from my sneakers. The solution is natural and easy to work with when you have to scrub for a while. It's super safe and really efficient. I like to pour a little bit of it on my sneakers over my bucket and then scrub through. I'll also put some vinegar in a cup and dip my toothbrush in it, then I'll go back and forth in scrubbing. I'll also use my washcloth in between as well.
Laundry Detergent
Tide Plus Bleach Detergent, $13, Amazon
You can use the above technique, but instead of vinegar, use regular laundry detergent. A lot of people recommend using laundry detergent with bleach and certain enzymes to remove the stain. Simply Good Stuff said, "Usually it is the ones with a color safe bleach or regular bleach that prove to be most effective with stains caused by grass and other plants."
Quick N' Brite Cleaner
Quick n Brite Cleaner 64 Oz. Liquid, $30, Quicknbrite
Although I haven't personally used this type of cleaner, Simply Good Stuff said Quick n Brite "goes to work quickly to break apart this type of organic staining so that it is easily removed." I'm almost convinced to go buy a bottle of the solution to clean my sneakers, as they also explain that it works well on pretty much any type of material and that it's really simple to use.
Water And Dish Soap
Dawn Ultra Original Scent Dishwashing Liquid, $3, Target
And of course, if everything else doesn't sound appealing to you, you can always use regular water and dish soap to remove your grass stains.
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