Tackling Stains: Getting Grass and Mud Out of Sports Kits

There’s something unbeatable about stepping out on to a field on a wet weekend morning, ready to engage in some healthy competition. The rain may be whipping about your ears, and the mud pouring in your boots, but this couldn’t be further from your mind in the heat of battle, and neither could the stains that this brings with it.

Whilst sport is something many of us enjoy, and they form a large part of a healthy lifestyle, the fun and games typically don’t stretch to washing the clothes afterwards. There are two main culprits that have historically made washing sports clothes such a hassle: these are mud and grass stains.

The first thing to remember before you begin to remove a mud stain is that you should, in fact, let it dry. If you try to scrape off the larger lumps whilst it’s still wet, more often than not you will just spread the stain. Wait till mud dries so you can easily flake off the lumps, leaving just the mark behind. Once this has been done, mix a stain removal detergent, such as Vanish Oxi Action Powder, with some water, and apply it generously to the stain. Soak the garment in hot water for up to an hour, as this will get to work with the Vanish to loosen any leftover mud or soil that has remained behind in the fibres.

Once the garment has finished soaking, put it on a regular wash in the machine with an added scoop of Vanish to ensure that all traces of mud are removed.

Unlike mud stains, the sooner you deal with a grass stain, the more likely it is to come out. It is best to first rinse with cold water – from the inner side of the fabric – to stop it setting in further. When the area is wet enough, you are ready to begin tackling the stain.

For best results, work the Vanish stain remover in to the grass stain and allow it to soak for anywhere up to 6 hours, according to the product’s guidelines. For white clothing, a specialised product such as Vanish Oxi Action Powder should be used. When the time is up, wash the clothing with a scoop of Vanish to ensure that the stain has been banished for good.

Follow this simple guide from Vanish, and don’t let worries about your clothes put a stain on your sporting performance.

1. Start by vacuuming the carpet and open the windows to allow the room to air.
2. Turn the bag upside down and pull of both sealing strips from the bottom. Hold the bag by the handle and shake to distribute the powder evenly across the carpet.
3. Work in powder with brush and allow to completely dry (approx. 20 mins).
4. Completely vacuum up dried powder. After use, reseal the bag using the adhesive tag.
5. Occasionally you may find light patches on your carpet after cleaning with Vanish Powder, as the powder binds to stain residues – but there’s no need to worry! Simply remove the residues with a soft brush and vacuum again.