How To Get Grass Stains Out Of Shoes Rubber?

Many things can happen on your day out picnicking with friends. But one unpleasant experience that can ruin the whole day’s fun is if your shoe picks some grass stains. That’s why you must learn how to get grass stains out of shoes rubber.

Some of the things you can use include white vinegar, baking soda, detergent, etc. But you must also know how to use these substances appropriately to get the best results. This post will discuss different ways by which you can remove grass stains from shoes. Also, we’ll discuss some maintenance tips that can keep that beautiful pair as shiny as on Day-1.

Read along for more details.

Key Takeaways:

• Grass stains will not remain permanent on shoes if you take fast action to remove them after the incident.
• Several items can help rid your shoes of the grass stains as soon as it occurs, and these include detergent, baking soda, vinegar, grass stain remover, etc.
• Some practices can make your rubber shoes last longer, including cleaning the shoes always and using a shoe protector and sole protector always.

Are Grass Stains Permanent On Shoes?

Grass stains are not permanent on shoes. However, this depends on how quickly one can intervene in the situation. The longer you allow the stain to stay on the shoes, the more difficult it gets to remove.

This is because grass has a green pigment known as chlorophyll. This pigment easily sets and naturally sticks on surfaces. In addition to chlorophyll, grass also contains other organic compounds such as carotenoids and xanthophylls.

How To Get Grass Stains Out Of Shoes Rubber

Getting grass stains on your shoes is almost inevitable unless you opt for shoes for running on grass in the first place. If not, the vital angle to focus on now is how to get grass stains out of your shoes rubber. We have explained the fact that grass stains on shoes are not permanent. But this depends on how early you try to remove the grass stain from the shoe’s rubber.

If you allow the stains to stay for long on the shoes, you’ll have difficulty removing them. Besides, when you allow the stains to stay on the shoes for too long, you’ll have to adapt to wearing white shoes that look a bit greenish.

First off, try to wash the stains off with water and detergent as soon as you discover them. If that doesn’t work, you should try any of the remedies below.

1. Detergent

You don’t have to look too far. A common household item such as some laundry detergent and water can help you get the job done. You’ll only have to look a bit further if you allow the shoe to stay with the stain for too long.

But note that a detergent with an alkaline base will leave your shoes with a green hue. So you must know the ingredients used in producing your detergent. If you don’t know the composition of your detergent, you may want to try other methods to get grass stains out of shoes rubber.

If you’re certain that it’s safe for your shoes, below are the steps to follow:

1. Apply a small quantity of the detergent to the shoe and add some water to it.
2. Scrub the concerned area with a brush. You must note that the best results come when you brush the dirt in the direction of the fibers. It makes it a lot easier for the stains to come off the shoes.
3. After you have brushed the shoes, allow the shoe to stay with the detergent for some minutes, then rinse it.
4. If you still find the grass stains on the shoes, repeat the procedure.

Nevertheless, if you still see some stains on the shoes after several repetitions of the above procedure, try any of the methods below.

2. Vinegar

Vinegar is another substance that makes getting grass stains out of shoes rubber very easy. A key characteristic that makes vinegar suitable for this application is that it is a natural solvent. More so, vinegar is acidic. Acids are polar substances that remove stains by making the stain molecules to be polar.

This makes the stain-removal process more like a magnet’s mechanism. The charged stain molecules now get attracted to the negative and positive charges equally present in the water. Also, note that white vinegar is the most suitable vinegar for this application. Below are the steps to take it:

1. Mix some white vinegar with water. The ratio of water to vinegar in the mixture should be 2:1.
2. Allow the affected part of the shoe to sit in this mixture for about ten minutes. Then use a soft rag to clean the spot or scrub the shoe.
3. To be sure of the results, use a dry piece of cloth to clean the shoe. Once you have removed the stain, wash the whole shoe with some laundry soap and water. This will help you get rid of patches that would have appeared when the shoes finally get dried up.

3. Grass Stain Removers

One of the most effective ways of removing grass stains from shoe rubber is by using a grass stain remover. You can find a commercial grass stain remover in any shop around you. Below is a step-by-step guide on using grass stain remover:

1. First of all, you’ll need to get some hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Mix a little amount of ammonia with a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide.
2. After that, apply some grass stain remover on the affected shoe. Moreover, the mode of application depends on what kind of grass stain remover you bought – you’ll either need to dip the shoe in it or spray it on it.
3. When done, dip a brush into the mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. Then gently apply the mixture to the shoes and scrub it.
4. After a while, rinse the entire mixture off your shoes with water. You can repeat the procedure if you still find stains. Once you’re satisfied with the results, dry the shoes.

4. Baking Soda

You can also use baking soda to get grass stains out of shoes rubber. The mode of application is quite similar to using your regular laundry detergent. It also works well when used with a mixture of vinegar and water. Follow the steps below for how to get grass stains out of shoes rubber using baking soda:

1. First off, mix some baking soda with a little amount of water.
2. Use a brush to apply the mixture to the affected area of the shoes. Spread the mixture till you’ve completely covered the entire affected area.
3. Allow it to stay on the spot for about 10 minutes before rinsing it off with water. Repeat the procedure until you’re satisfied with the results.

Regular Maintenance Tips For Rubber Shoes

Apart from grass stains, many other things can go wrong with those beautiful pairs of footwear. While you can get rid of the stains, it is best to prevent the stains from getting on the shoes in the first place. Other things such as scuffs, heat damage, water damage, peeling, and many others can still make you say an early goodbye to your shoes.

We understand that wearing those shoes is inevitable, but you can still slow down the process. Below are some regular maintenance tips for rubber shoes:

1. Use A Shoe Protector

You may be working in an environment where getting your shoes stained is inevitable. In this case, you’ll need something to make those shoes more resistant to stains and scuffs. Shoe protectors come in handy in helping you avoid the situation.

Not only do shoe protectors make your shoes more resistant to damage, but it also increases the life expectancy of the shoes. Most times, these shoe protectors are readily available as sprays and are available in shoes stores. Depending on how often you wear the shoes, you may have to spray the shoes up to twice or thrice a month.

2. Use A Shoe Sole Protector

The part of the shoes that is more prone to getting stained is the soles. Sometimes, you may damage your shoe soles because of the way you walk. If your shoe gets that bad, you may end up with pains in your ankle joints. A sole protector is a film that adheres to your shoe sole and keeps it from wearing away as quickly as it should.

3. Clean Your Shoes Regularly

This is an important tip, and you should do it irrespective of how often you wear your shoes. Sometimes, your shoes might pick dirt even when you’re not using them. If your rubber shoes have leather parts that are prone to peeling due to water exposure, then you should be extra careful while cleaning them.

4. Fill Your Shoes When Storing Them

It is mostly applicable to leather shoes because it reduces the risk of the leather folding at certain parts and peeling off in the long run. It also applies with rubber shoes as it helps to prevent molds or bad odors from building up. The best shoe fillers or stuffers should be water absorbent.

Bottom Line

Folks quickly get worried when they get some grass stains on their favorite pair of shoes. Luckily, grass stains are not permanent. How to get grass stains out of shoes rubber shouldn’t be much of a concern anymore as we have mentioned the most effective ways to get rid of them in this article.

The most recommended way of going about this is by using white vinegar. You can also use other items such as detergents, a mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, etc. Lastly, we’ve mentioned some maintenance tips to keep your rubber shoes in tip-top shape for much longer.