Removing grass: pick your surface
Grass is a dye stain, usually from football boots, muddy knees or grass walked in after mowing. The chemistry stays the same wherever it lands — but the safe way to treat it changes completely with the surface, which is why each pairing below has its own guide.
Not water-soluble
Water alone will not touch this stain; it needs an absorbent, surfactant or solvent stage.
Heat sets it
Keep hot water, steam and dryers away until the grass is fully out — heat fixes it permanently.
Fresh vs dried-in
Grass stains are chlorophyll and plant juices pressed into the fibre — a natural dye, which is why plain soap and water underperform. Fresh marks respond well to alcohol; dried marks have oxidised browner and usually need two or three passes.
Grass removal guides by surface
Grass on a wool carpet
very hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit), dabbed — never poured
Read the guideGrass on a nylon carpet
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit), dabbed — never poured
Read the guideGrass on a polypropylene carpet
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit), dabbed — never poured
Read the guideGrass on a polyester carpet
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit), dabbed — never poured
Read the guideGrass on a cotton rug
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit), dabbed — never poured
Read the guideGrass on a cotton sofa
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit), dabbed — never poured
Read the guide