How to Get Mud Out of Clothes

Co-authored by Kamel Almani

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Getting mud on your clothes can be a bummer, especially if the clothing is delicate or made of a light colored fabric. To remove the mud effectively, start by shaking or scraping off the mud on the surface of the clothing. Then, pretreat the mud with detergent or stain remover and wash the clothing correctly so the mud goes away. Caked-on mud can seem impossible to get out of clothing, but with the right approach, you can remove it in no time.

Things You Should Know

Shake or brush off as much dry mud as you can. If the mud is really caked on there, use a spatula or soft brush to get it off.
Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stained fabric and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Put the item in the washing machine and run it through a hot water cycle. If the stain persists, run the item through a second hot water cycle.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Removing Surface Mud

1
Allow the mud to dry on a flat surface. Do not try to clean off wet mud, as this will only make the stain worse and potentially spread it to other areas. Lay the clothing flat on the floor or a countertop and allow it to dry out. It may take several hours or overnight for the mud to dry, depending on how thick it is.^{[1]
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2
Hold the clothing up and shake it out a few times outside to get rid of surface mud. You can also use your hand or a dry cloth to lightly brush off the dry mud. This can make it easier to get rid of the mud when you wash the clothing.

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3
Scrape off caked on mud with a spatula or a soft brush. If the mud is caked onto the clothing and appears very thick, you can try scraping off layers of it with a spatula, a soft brush, or a knife. Run the spatula over the dried mud to scrape it off, or rub the mud off with the brush until you see the surface of the fabric on the clothing.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 April 2021.}^{[3]
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- Be careful not to scrape the clothing itself, as this can damage it. Scrape off as much surface mud as you can before washing the clothing.
4
Bring the clothes to the dry cleaner if they are not machine washable. If the clothing is made of fabric that is not safe to clean in the washing machine or by hand, take it to the nearest dry cleaner. This will ensure you do not damage the clothing further by washing it at home.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 April 2021.}^{[5]
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Research source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Pretreating the Clothes

1
Apply liquid laundry detergent to the mud and let it sit for 15 minutes. Dab a small amount of liquid laundry detergent to the mud stains with clean fingers or a damp cloth. If you have powdered detergent on hand, mix the detergent with some water to create a paste that you can apply to the mud.^{[6]
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- The laundry detergent helps to break up the mud and makes it easier for it to come out in the wash.
2
Use stain remover for stubborn mud stains. Look for a stain remover made for use on mud and dirt stains at your local supermarket or online. Apply the stain remover directly to the mud with clean fingers or a damp cloth and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 April 2021.}
- Stain remover is a good option if the mud is really caked on and is very thick.
3
Soak the clothes in a detergent solution if they are very muddy. If the clothes are covered all over in mud and it is difficult for you to spot remove the stains, place the clothes in a clean plastic bin or the tub. Then, put 2-4 drops of detergent in the tub with warm water. Let the clothes soak for 30 minutes, or overnight, depending on how muddy they are.^{[8]
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- If the clothing is made of fabric in light colors like white, you may not want to soak them, as this can expose the fabric to the brown pigment in the mud. Pretreat the clothing with detergent or a stain remover instead.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Washing the Clothes

1
Clean the clothes in the washing machine in warm or hot water. Use the hottest water setting recommended for the muddy article(s) of clothing.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 April 2021.} Do not put the muddy clothing in with other items in the washing machine, as this can cause the mud to transfer onto the other items.
2
Use chlorine bleach if the clothes are white. If the clothing is made of white fabric, use chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach to wash them in the washing machine. Only use the recommended amount of bleach on the clothing, following the instructions on the label.^{[10]
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3
Wash the clothes with laundry detergent if they are dark colored. If the clothes are any other colors besides white, use laundry detergent in the washing machine to clean them. Bleach can damage colored clothing and leave marks or stains.
- Inspect the clothing after one washing cycle to confirm the mud is gone. You may need to wash the clothes more than once to get the mud out. Do as many cycles as needed until the clothes come out clean and free of mud.
4
Hand wash delicate clothes in hot water. If the fabric is delicate, you should hand wash the clothing instead in a plastic bin or the bathtub. Fill the bin with hot water and laundry detergent. Then, rub the fabric with the watery solution to remove the mud.^{[11]
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- You can also try using a toothbrush or a scrub brush to remove the mud as you hand wash the clothing.
5
Dry the clothes. Once you have removed the mud on the clothes, you can put them in the dryer on a low heat setting to dry them. If the clothes are delicate, air dry them on a clothesline or drying rack.^{[12]
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- Make sure all the mud and staining is gone before using the dryer, or the stain will be permanently set in the clothes.

Expert Q&A

Question

What stain remover is best for removing mud from white clothes?

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
Kamel Almani is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Co-Owner of WashyWash, a toxin-free and eco-friendly laundry and dry clean service based in Amman, Jordan. Kamel and his staff at WashyWash use Blue Angel certified and dermatologically-tested detergents. They also combine EcoClean and digital technology to provide an eco-friendly, convenient, and quality cleaning service. Kamel holds a BA in Design from the University of Applied Science, Amman.

Kamel Almani

Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

To get mud stains out of your clothing, use a fabric-safe oil stain remover. You could also send the garment to a professional dry cleaner.