Using current browsers you can use it like this:
img {
-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%); /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
filter: grayscale(100%);
}
and to remedy it:
img:hover{
-webkit-filter: grayscale(0%); /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
filter: grayscale(0%);
}
worked with me and is much shorter. There is even more one can do within the CSS:
filter: none | blur() | brightness() | contrast() | drop-shadow() | grayscale() |
hue-rotate() | invert() | opacity() | saturate() | sepia() | url();
For more information and supporting browsers see this: http://www.w3schools.com/cssref/css3_pr_filter.asp