Use a little patience and you will find that the overall reward of clean clothes with their extended life will be the overall reward.

The ideas provided to try to remove grass stains does not apply to those clothes that say dry clean only. Those clothes should be taken to a dry cleaner as soon as you can.

If you see a stain, try to get it cleaned as quickly as possible. A stain that has only been there a few minutes is more likely to come out than one that has been there a couple of days in the heat of a bathroom laundry basket.

Grass stains are known as "dye stains" - one of the most difficult kinds of remove. So why are they so stubborn? The main component of the stain is the green chlorophyll pigment present in all plants, which is released in the grass juices.

However, the stain will also contain other relatively stable pigmented compounds, such as xanthophylls and carotenoids, which together make up a mixture of protein and other organic matter.

This is especially lethal on natural fabrics, such as cotton, as the chemical compatibility of the staining pigments and fabric fibrils means that molecular bonds are formed. In other words, the stain "penetrates" the fabric at the most basic level and forms tight bonds there.

With synthetic fabrics or those treated with a protective coating, such as Scotch Guard, the stain sits on the surface of the fabric and therefore is much easier to dislodge. In addition to the pigments, brown dirt and other organic matter will also be mixed into the stain, making it particularly difficult combination of substances.

Heat tends to set a stain to where removing the stain is nearly impossible. Therefore, in this same instance washing clothing and then drying that clothing with the stain will likely have that stain permanently.

While you are working on the stain, you will want to be in an area that is clean and you can easily see what you are doing.

Try following these steps to get the grass stain out:

1. Clean the stain area of any debris or particles of dirt and grass
2. You can now choose between
a. Using a mixture of your regular detergent and some water put directly on the stain,
b. Or you can use a little fabric stain remover
c. You can also try a little bleach and hydrogen peroxide (for white clothes)
d. Alternatively, another way is digestive enzymes from your health food store.

What ever option you use, let this set for about 15 minutes, rinse, let air dry and try again. This will show you if the stain will likely budge. Then wash like normal. What ever you do, do not dry the item until the stain is removed to your satisfaction.

One quick tip to keep in mind. Each material will react differently; therefore try the solution you choose in a small inconspicuous area to not damage the entire piece.