Summer's warmer temperatures, aromatic breezes, and extra splashes of sunshine bring many people out. Opportunities to socialize expand as hangouts are extended to outdoor venues. While an afternoon picnic or impromptu game of soccer is indeed a swell time, outdoor activities can result in accidental grass stains on clothing. This is especially true if you participate in sports such as baseball and football. While Laundress Lucca is no stranger to a Padres game, her sports tend to lend towards polo, thoroughbred racing, and dressage. Make no mistake, the severity of a grass stain is just as pronounced on a line-backers behind as on a jockey's silks.
Grass stains are notoriously stubborn due to their biological makeup. When clothing rubs against grass, natural compounds like chlorophyll and carotenoids attach to the fabric and leave behind a green stain. These natural pigments bind easily to natural fabrics like cotton, khaki shorts, silk, and wool. Grass can be a tough stain on synthetic fibers like polyester as well.
Since grass stains are protein-based and organic, they are a tough component for any home laundry machine. But by knowing the weaknesses of natural stains, you can successfully remove them and get more life out of your favorite clothing. All grass stains should first be pre-treated to loosen their grip on the fabric. Then, the methods vary depending on how much the stain has set into the fabric. Perform spot testing to ensure you won't discolor or damage the materials whenever you treat a stain.
1. As soon as you notice, use an enzyme-based stain remover or a dab of detergent that contains enough to break apart the stain molecules.
2. Completely cover the grass-stained area with a thin coating of the stain remover.
3. Use your fingers and a soft-bristle brush to work the stain remover into the fabric.
4. Here is the key: wait at least 15 minutes before washing the garment. This gives the stain remover time to break down the grass stain (and any dirt underneath), so it can be flushed away in the washer.
5. Always check the stained area before you toss the clothes in the dryer. If the stain is still visible, repeat the steps. Giving it a ride in a hot dryer will only set the stain and make it more difficult to remove.
If you've missed some grass stains or just plain ignored your laundry for weeks, you'll need to pre-soak the stains before you apply the regular treatment.
1. Mix a solution of warm water and oxygen bleach like Oxiclean, following the package directions. Mix enough so that the entire grass-stained garment can be submerged.
2. Add the stained item and let it soak for at least four hours - overnight is even better.
3. Remove the item from the solution, treat the area with a stain-remover or a bit of heavy-duty detergent, and wash as usual.
At this point, if the stain is completely removed, it's time to place an order with Pacifica-Laundry.com for our pick-up-and-delivery service ASAP! Then, just have your laundry on the front porch, and we'll do the rest. After spending all that time removing grass stains, it's time to kick back and relax until we return your laundry back to your doorstep, cleaned and neatly folded.
As San Diegans, we've ripped up our lawns in favor of water-wise landscapes. However, it is still common to track turf stains indoors. Clumps of grass can easily get tracked onto the ground into the carpet. So unless your carpet is the exact same shade as the grass, you're going to have stains.
1. Vacuum away loose grass and soil.
2. In a small bowl, mix a solution of 2 cups of cool water and 2 teaspoons of liquid dishwashing soap.
3. Dip a soft-bristled brush into the solution and gently scrub from the outside of the stain toward the center. This will keep the stain from spreading.
4. Allow the solution to work for 10-15 minutes, then blot away with a paper towel.
5. Follow up by sponging the area with plain water. This will remove any sticky suds that actually attract soil.
6. Blot the area dry with paper towels and then vacuum to lift any fibers.
The same cleaning solution can be used to clean indoor and outdoor upholstery. Just take care not to get the fabric too wet. Excess moisture can cause problems with mildew growth in the cushions.
So whether it's Bermuda, Fescue, or Kentucky Rye, all grass leaves skid-ish stains and is just not part of our summer look. While a green blazer may be acceptable on the links at Augusta, it just won't do on our skinny white jeans at a Beach Boys concert on the lawn in the park.
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