Mud stains are a sign of an active, outdoorsy person. However, nobody likes having a stain on their furniture or clothes. With that said, we created a detailed guide for you on removing mud stains from clothes and carpets to hard surfaces and everything in between, so stick around.

The Ultimate Guide to Removing Mud Stains 

Mud stains aren’t so hard to remove – they need special care to be removed successfully. For example, mud stains shouldn’t be cleaned while wet. This might sound surprising to you. We’ve all been told to clean stains as soon as possible, but it’s better to wait with mud stains. Wiping a mud stain while wet will only make it worse and force it deeper into the fabric.

Additionally, if you got dirt or mud stains on dry-clean-only fabrics, it’s best to send them to a dry cleaner. As an alternative, you can use a home dry cleaning kit. Lastly, not all fabrics are treated the same way, so read this guide carefully to know exactly how to get mud stains off the affected fabric or surface. 

Removing Mud Stains from Clothes 

How to remove mud from clothes

Treating mud stains from clothes or washable fabrics can take several steps. Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Let the stain dry thoroughly to prevent smearing.
  2. With a toothbrush or a soft bristle cleaning brush, brush off the stain gently in one direction. It’s best to do this over the sink. 
  3. Apply a stain remover to the dirt stain according to the package instructions. OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder works well for several tough stains. 
  4. After applying the stain remover to the stain, rub it gently with your finger or use a toothbrush and let it sit for the recommended amount of time. 
  5. Wash your garment as you usually do, but follow the care label instructions. 
  6. Check if the stain is completely gone. 
  7. If yes, air-dry your garment. 
  8. If not, repeat the process while the garment is still wet. If you allow it to dry, it’ll set the stain and make it harder to remove.
  9. After repeating it for the second time, the stain should be gone. Air-dry your garment, and it’ll be ready to be worn again. 

Be careful. Drying your clothes in the dryer while stained will only help set the stain. Also, when using a detergent for removing dirt or mud stains, an enzyme-containing detergent is advised. Something like Tide Liquid Detergent or Persil works just fine. If you’re dealing with a mud stain on white clothes, though, bleach is your best choice, but make sure the garment is bleach-safe. I recommend OUT White Brite. It removes tough stains, including red mud, which is harder to remove than regular mud stains. The last tip for you here is to wash your stained garment apart from other clothes in the washing machine. This is to avoid transferring the stain to other clothes. 

Learn more about How to Clean Silver

Removing Mud Stains from Upholstery 

For upholstery, you need to know what type of upholstery you have. Silk, vintage, or antique upholstery should be left for professionals as it requires a different cleaning process.

Otherwise, you can clean dark or red mud stains from upholstery by following these steps: 

  1. Let the mud dry thoroughly first.
  2. Scrape the dried mud with a butter knife or spoon.
  3. Vacuum the dried mud.
  4. Mix two cups of warm water with one tablespoon of bleach-free liquid detergent.
  5. Submerge a clean microfiber cloth in the mixture and scrub the area. You can also use a soft bristle cleaning brush or a toothbrush. 
  6. With a wet, clean microfiber cloth, blot the area. 
  7. Repeat the scrubbing and blotting steps until the stain is completely gone. 
  8. Remove the detergent residue with a damp, clean cloth. 
  9. Let it air dry. 

You can also use a bleach-free stain remover to treat dark or red mud stains from upholstery. 

Check out our detailed guide on How to Remove Carpet Dents

Removing Mud Stains from Carpets 

cleaning mud from a carpet

Cleaning carpets isn’t anyone’s favourite chore, especially when you’re dealing with dirt or mud stains, but you don’t have to worry as you can remove them easily with the following steps:

  1. Let the mud stain dry completely. 
  2. Scrape the mud off the carpet with a scraper or a butter knife. You can also brush it off using a cleaning brush. 
  3. Vacuum the mud or dirt off the carpet. 
  4. If you have a steam cleaner, use it to clean the remaining stain. 
  5. As an alternative, apply an aerosol carpet shampoo to the stain according to the instructions. 
  6. Let the shampoo absorb into the stain for a few minutes. 
  7. Rub the product on the carpet with a cleaning brush or a cloth. 
  8. Let the shampoo dry thoroughly, then vacuum the carpet. 
  9. Repeat if needed. 

It’s best to test the carpet shampoo first on a hidden area before using it on the stain. I recommend using Shout Carpet Aerosol Stain. It works well on many stains and is safe for pets and kids.  You can also use a stain remover instead, like the OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover. 

Learn more about Getting Urine Smell out of  Carpet

Removing Mud Stains from Hard Surfaces 

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to remove mud stains from hard surfaces. Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Let the mud stain dry. 
  2. Scrape the mud off with a plastic scraper. 
  3. Wipe the excess off with a clean cloth. 
  4. Dip a sponge or a clean cloth in sudsy water and clean the stain. 
  5. Once the stain is removed, rinse the area well and wipe dry. 

Removing Mud Stains from Stone Surfaces 

It’s a little bit different when it comes to stone surfaces. Here are the steps to remove dirt or mud stains from stone surfaces:

  1. After the stain has dried, scrape it off with a plastic scraper or silicone. 
  2. Apply a mixture of water and washing soda. 
  3. Use a soft bristle cleaning brush or a sponge and scrub the area gently. 
  4. Rinse with a wet, clean cloth.
  5. Let it dry. 

Removing Mud Stains from Special Fabrics 

Here’s how to remove mud stains from felt, fur, and suede fabrics:

  1. Let the mud stain dry completely. 
  2. Brush the mud off with a toothbrush or a soft bristle brush. 
  3. Mix mild soap with lukewarm water and swish to create suds. 
  4. Apply only the foam to the stain and rub it gently with a sponge or a toothbrush. 
  5. Wipe with a clean microfiber cloth. 

For leather fabrics:

  1. Wipe off as much as you can of the mud when it’s still wet. 
  2. With a dry, clean cloth, buff the fabric gently. 
  3. If the mud is dry, rub it off gently with a toothbrush. 
  4. With a damp towel, wipe off the leather. 
  5. Finally, dry off the leather well with a clean towel. 

Read more: How to Wash Carpet by Hand

The Wrap-Up 

Mud stains might seem hard to clean. However, with the right tools and methods, you can quickly get rid of it. Just follow the guide we created for you, and you’ll successfully remove the mud stain, whether dark or red, without harming any of your garments or surfaces. 

Good luck!