Muddy dog walks, rainy school runs, country weekends and unexpected puddles, in Britain, a mud stain is never too far away.
The good news? Mud stains are usually easier to tackle than they look. And unlike many stains, there's no need to rush to the sink. In fact, the best thing you can do first is let the mud dry.
From brushing away dried dirt to treating the stain and washing your clothes properly, here's our simple guide to getting mud out of clothes while caring for the fabric underneath.
Step 1: Let the Mud Dry
It might feel counterintuitive, but resist the temptation to start wiping away wet mud.
Allow it to dry completely first.
Trying to rub or wipe wet mud can spread it across the fabric and work the dirt further into the fibres. Once dry, you'll be able to remove much more of it before you even start treating the stain.
Take the garment outside or over a sink, shake off any loose soil, then gently brush away the remaining dried mud.
Our Natural Bristle Clothes Brush is ideal for this. Use light strokes in one direction rather than aggressively scrubbing the fabric.
Step 2: Treat the Mud Stain
Once the surface dirt is gone, you might find the stain underneath is much smaller than you thought.
For any stubborn marks that remain, reach for Tough Love Stain Removal.
Always check the garment's care label first, then use Tough Love according to the instructions on the packaging. For coloured or particularly precious pieces, we'd recommend testing any stain treatment on an inconspicuous area first.
If the stain is particularly stubborn, it may need a second treatment. A little patience is much kinder to your clothes than aggressive scrubbing.
Step 3: Wash With Everyday Laundry
Once you've pre-treated the stain, wash your garment according to its care label.
For everyday machine-washable clothing, use our Everyday Laundry to wash away the remaining dirt and leave your clothes beautifully clean.
Our concentrated, non-bio formula is made for the clothes, bedding and towels you wash most often, giving you an effective clean as part of a more considered laundry routine.
And don't be tempted to squeeze one more thing into an already-full machine. Leaving enough room in the drum allows your clothes to move freely and helps water and detergent circulate effectively.
Top tip: For particularly muddy clothes, always remove as much dried soil as possible before they go into the washing machine.
Step 4: Check Before You Dry
Before reaching for the tumble dryer, take a close look at the stained area.
If you can still see a mark, treat and wash the garment again before applying heat, as drying can make a remaining stain more difficult to remove.
Once the stain has disappeared, dry the garment according to its care label. Air drying is a great option for many clothes and uses less energy than tumble drying.
What About Mud on Wool, Cashmere or Silk?
Delicate fibres need a little extra care.
Let the mud dry and gently brush away the surface dirt, taking care not to scrub or pull at the fibres.
For washable wool, cashmere, silk and other delicate garments, follow the care label and wash with our Liquid Detergent for Knitwear & Delicates rather than Everyday Laundry.
Tough Love is suitable for delicates too, making it a useful option when a stain needs a little extra attention. Just make sure you follow the product instructions and the garment's care label.
Avoid rubbing, twisting or wringing delicate fibres. Wool and cashmere should also be reshaped while damp and dried flat to help them keep their shape.
For dry-clean-only or particularly precious pieces, we'd recommend consulting a professional cleaner.
Can You Remove Mud Stains From White Clothes?
Yes. Mud might look particularly dramatic on white clothes, but the same method applies.
Allow the mud to dry, brush away as much dirt as possible, treat the remaining mark and wash according to the care label.
There's no need to automatically reach for chlorine bleach. A targeted stain treatment followed by a thorough wash may be all that's needed, and is a much more considered place to start.
Mud Stains, Sorted.
Mud happens. Fortunately, it doesn't have to stay.
The trick is simple: let it dry, brush away what you can, treat what's left and wash with the right detergent for the fabric.
With a little patience and the right care, even a muddy mishap doesn't have to mean the end of a favourite piece.