Mud-drenched clothes can be annoying, especially if they're soft or made of light-colored fabrics. To remove mud stains effectively, start by shaking off or scraping off any remaining mud on the surface of your clothes. Then, apply the remaining mud stains with detergent or stain remover, then wash according to the label so that the mud is completely removed. Dried mud looks impossible to clean, but with the right method, you can clean it up in no time.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Removing Mud on Clothes
Step 1. Allow the mud to dry by placing the clothes on a table or flat surface
Do not try to clean mud that is still wet as this can make the stain more difficult to remove and spread to other areas. Lay the clothes on a flat surface or on a table to dry off the mud. For the mud to dry, it may take several hours or overnight, depending on the thickness.
Step 2. Shake or brush off as much of the dry mud as possible
Hold the garment and flick it a few times outdoors to remove any dry mud that may be on the surface of the garment. You can also use your hands or a dry cloth to gently scrape off the dry mud. This will make the process of cleaning the mud easier when the clothes are washed.
Step 3. Scrape off the dried mud with a spatula or scrub with a soft brush
If the mud is clumping together and it looks very thick, you can scrape it off with a spatula, soft brush, or even a knife. Scrape off the dried mud with a spatula, or scrub the mud with a brush until clean until only the surface of the clothes is visible.
Be careful not to scratch the fabric as this can damage the clothes. Scrape off as much mud as possible before washing it off
Step 4. Take the clothes to the laundry if they are not machine washable
If the clothes are made of fabrics that cannot be machine or hand washed, take them to the nearest laundromat. This step ensures that your clothes won't be damaged by washing yourself.
Part 2 of 3: Handling Residual Mud Before Washing Clothes
Step 1. Apply liquid detergent on the mud stain and leave it on for 15 minutes
Apply a small amount of liquid detergent to the mud stain with clean hands or a damp cloth. If you only have powdered detergent, mix the detergent with water to make a paste that you can apply to mud stains.
Detergent will help break down the mud stains and make the washing process easier
Step 2. Use a stain remover for stubborn mud stains
Purchase a stain remover for mud or dirt at a supermarket or online. Apply the stain remover directly to the mud with clean hands or a damp cloth, then let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
Stain removers are a good choice if the mud is thick and has dried on the clothes
Step 3. Soak the clothes in the detergent solution if the mud stains too much
If your clothes are completely covered in mud and you're having trouble removing them, put them in a tub or plastic bucket. Then, put 2-4 drops of detergent into a tub filled with warm water. Soak clothes for 30 minutes, or overnight, depending on how heavy the mud stain is.
Do not soak light colored clothes, such as white, as these can be exposed to brown pigment from the mud. Therefore, clean clothes by simply applying a detergent or stain remover instead of soaking them
Part 3 of 3: Washing Clothes
Step 1. Wash the clothes in the washing machine in warm or hot water
Use the hottest recommended water setting to remove mud particles from clothing. Do not put dirty, muddy clothes with other clothes in the washing machine as this can transfer the mud to other clothes.
Step 2. Use bleach that contains chlorine for white clothes
If the clothes are white, use chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach to wash them in the washing machine. Use only as much as recommended by following the instructions on the clothing label.
Step 3. Wash the clothes with liquid detergent if the clothes are dark in color
If the clothes are dark or any color other than white, use detergent in the washing machine to wash them. Bleach can damage colored clothes and actually leave marks or stains.
Check the clothes after one wash to make sure the mud is clean. You may need to wash your clothes more than once to completely remove the mud. Do as many times as needed until the clothes are clean and free of mud
Step 4. Wash soft fabrics by hand using hot water
If the fabric is soft, you should hand wash it in a bucket or tub. Fill a bucket or tub with hot water and detergent. Then, rub the clothes with a detergent solution to remove the mud stains.
You can also use a toothbrush or clothes brush to remove mud stains when washing clothes by hand
Step 5. Dry the clothes
Once the clothes are clean of mud, you can put them in the dryer on the lowest heat setting to dry them. If the clothes are made of a soft material, dry the clothes as usual.
