How to Remove Grass Stains from Shoes

Co-authored by Carroll Kelly

Last Updated: September 30, 2021 References

Summer is a great time to play around in nature: hiking through the woods, playing sports in a grassy field, hanging out in the back yard, and a million other fun activities! However, all that recreation is sure to get your shoes covered in grass stains. Luckily, all it takes is a simple, two-step treatment of vinegar and laundry detergent to have your kicks looking brand-new again!

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Pre-Treating with Vinegar

1
Clear your kitchen sink. Thankfully, cleaning grass stains from your shoes isn't nearly as dirty a task as whatever activity got your shoes stained in the first place! Still, you will want to keep this process as mess-free as possible by performing each step over the sink.
2
Create a solution of vinegar mixed with water. Pour one-third of a cup of white vinegar into a small bowl. Then, add two-thirds of a cup of warm water from the faucet. Use a toothbrush to stir the solution.^{[1]
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- Be sure to specifically use white vinegar, as it is the safest and most effective cleaning agent.
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3
Scrub out the grass stains with the vinegar solution. Submerge the toothbrush into the vinegar solution and use it to scrub the stained areas of your shoes. Focus on one specific area of each shoe before moving on to the next, making sure that you rinse off the toothbrush in the sink in between. Keep the bristles of the toothbrush saturated by frequently dipping it back into the solution.^{[2]
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- Don't be afraid to use a little elbow grease with your scrubbing — again, as long as you are using white vinegar, it will not harm your shoes!^{[3]
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4
Wipe off your shoes with the washcloth. Use the washcloth to wipe the scrubbed areas of your shoes. This step will remove the vinegar solution from the surface, leaving behind a pair of shoes that are already noticeably cleaner! Rinse off the washcloth in the sink.^{[4]
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5
Repeat the process. You don't need to go crazy with the vinegar solution because we're only half-way through the cleaning process! However, you do want to be thorough because the vinegar will make cleaning your shoes with detergent more effective.
- Repeat once for normal stains; twice for deeper stains.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Washing with Laundry Detergent

1
Use the washcloth to apply laundry detergent to your shoes. After finishing the pre-treatment, pour a small amount of laundry detergent onto the washcloth. (If you are using powder detergent, you will need to mix it with a little water first.) Rub the washcloth over the entire surface of your shoes -- after all, since you're already getting rid of those grass stains, you might as well give your shoes an entire make-over!^{[5]
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- Any laundry detergent will work, but one that contains bleach is ideal.^{[6]
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  Research source} You can also use a cleaner designed specifically for shoes.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Carroll Kelly
  Shoe Care Specialist
  Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.}
- Allow the detergent to dry for 15 minutes.
2
Rinse your shoes in the sink. Turn on the faucet to a low-power, cold-water stream. Pass your shoes under the stream a few times, allowing the detergent to run off the surface -- make sure you rotate your shoes under the faucet so that you don't miss any spots. Then put your shoes in direct sunlight to dry.^{[8]
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3
Clean your workspace and finish your project. Luckily, most of the mess will have gone down the sink drain, but you can use the washcloth to clean up any surfaces that got dirty. When the sink area is clean, wash the bowl and ring out your washcloth. Lastly, return the materials.
- Put away the vinegar and laundry detergent.
- Store the toothbrush with the rest of your cleaning supplies -- you don't want to use it for your teeth!

Expert Q&A

Question

What gets stains out of leather?

Carroll Kelly
Shoe Care Specialist
Carroll Kelly is a Shoe Care Specialist and the Owner of Austin Shoe Hospital in Austin, Texas. With over 37 years of experience, Carroll specializes in sustainable shoes, boots, belts, handbags, and luggage repair. Carroll graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas. Austin Shoe Hospital is a family-run business that started over 105 years ago from a single horse-drawn carriage. Today they are the largest and most recognized shoe repair company in the world.

Carroll Kelly

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Windex can work well for leather shoes, since it gets all the black marks off the soles. Plus, it's a great way to clean the vinyl and shiny leather areas of your shoes.