Mulch can do a lot of wonders in your garden. But on your driveway or favorite shirt?
Not so much!
Mulch stains are quite the eyesore, whether on your clothes or concrete. So, here’s how to remove mulch stains like an expert.
How to Remove Mulch Stains From Your Hands
You’ve ditched the gloves, and now you have red, black, or purple hands from handling mulch.
Luckily, there are ways to clean up without resorting to harsh chemicals. Try one of these tricks:
- Wash your hands with regular dish soap.
- Mix equal parts sugar, baking soda, and olive oil to create a scrub.
- Rub lemon juice directly on your hands or whip up a scrub using one tablespoon each of lemon juice and baking soda.
- Massage your hands with a healing lotion to remove mulch stains.
- Soak your hands in diluted hydrogen peroxide.
Remember to rinse and moisturize your hands after removing the stains to keep them soft and hydrated.
How to Remove Mulch Stains From Clothes
Here’s how to remove mulch stains from your clothes:
- Treat the mulch stain ASAP to prevent it from setting into the fabric.
- Use a blunt edge, like the back of a butter knife, to gently scrape any excess mulch from the garment.
- Soak the stained clothes in cold water with some dish soap overnight.
- Throw them into the washer and set it to the hottest water setting.
- After washing, skip the dryer and air dry the garment instead. The heat from the dryer can set any remaining mulch stains, making them harder to remove.
How to Remove Mulch Stains From Concrete
Check out the steps for removing mulch stains from concrete:
- Sweep or brush away loose mulch and dirt from the stained concrete.
- Follow the package instructions if you’re using a commercial cleaner or degreaser. Or, you can make your own by mixing water with a few squirts of dish soap in a bucket.
- Scrub the area vigorously in circular motions using a stiff brush. After scrubbing, let the solution sit on the stain for 10–15 minutes.
- Rinse the area thoroughly with clean water. You can use a hose or a bucket of water for this step.
- Repeat the process if the mulch stains prove to be stubborn. This time, mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of water.
- Soak the spot in the bleach solution for 30 minutes, then scrub and rinse.
How to Remove Mulch Stains From Your Car’s Carpet
Below are the steps to treat mulch stains on your car’s carpeting:
- Clean the car’s floor by removing all trash, debris, and personal items. Vacuum the carpet to remove dirt and caked-on mud.
- Make a solution of ¼ distilled white vinegar, one tablespoon dish soap, and hot water in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of lemon juice if you can’t stand the sour smell.
- Spray the mixture on the mulch stain and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, scrub away using an old toothbrush.
- For stubborn mulch stains, mix two tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of warm water to make a thick paste. Apply it on the spot, leave it for 10 minutes, and scrub as usual.
- After pre-treating the stain, shampoo the carpet and run a steam cleaner over the area. If you don’t have the machine, blot the moisture with microfiber towels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mulch Stain Clothes?
Mulch can leave stains on your clothes if you’re not careful. The dyes and natural pigments in mulch can transfer onto fabrics, especially if wet.
So, wear old clothes or gardening gear you don’t mind getting dirty when removing mulch.
Does Black Mulch Stain?
Yes, unfortunately.
Black mulch uses highly pigmented carbon black dye for that deep hue. Mulch colorants are made to stick to mulch, so they won’t just wash off easily.
You’ll probably end up with dark residue on your hands when working with black mulch. And if it can rub off on your skin, you bet it can stain your clothes, too.
Will Mulch Stain Concrete?
Absolutely!
Mulch can leave an ugly stain on concrete pavements and driveways. Water and colored mulch together on concrete is a recipe for disaster.
While it’s tempting to bust out the power washer, that can backfire as it pushes the stain deeper into the concrete.
Final Thoughts
So, that’s how you remove mulch stains on different surfaces like a pro!
With a few simple tricks and elbow grease, you can keep your hands, clothes, and concrete looking spotless.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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