We’ve all been there – you’re getting ready in a hurry and somehow manage to get makeup or lipstick on your nice top or dress. The bright pink or red color stands out clearly against the fabric. Or maybe your makeup spilled in your bag and now there’s foundation and powder ground into your jeans.
Don’t panic! With some handy stain removal tricks, you can likely get that makeup completely out of your clothes. Keep reading to learn my best tips for removing makeup stains of all kinds.
Act Quickly for Best Results
When you first notice a makeup or lipstick stain, start working on removing it right away. The longer it sits, the more likely it’ll become a permanent stain. Even waiting a few hours can make it harder to get out.
As soon as you spot the stain, get to work pretreating it before throwing it in the laundry. Just tossing stained clothes in the wash as-is can actually set the stain by heating it with the water and detergent.
Pretreat With Stain Remover
The first step is always to pretreat the stain with a stain remover or spot cleaner. This helps start breaking down the makeup before washing.
Look for a pretreat spray or stick formulated for grease, oil, and makeup stains. Some popular options:
- Shout Advanced Gel Stain Remover
- OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick
- Carbona Make-Up and Lipstick Stain Remover
- Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover
Spritz or roll the stain remover directly onto the makeup stain. Let it soak in for at least 5 minutes before laundering as usual.
Use Dawn Dish Soap
A handy homemade stain remover for makeup and lipstick stains is Dawn dish soap. The surfactants in Dawn help cut through oil, grease, and fat – making it ideal for breaking down makeup formulas.
Try this easy technique:
- Apply a small dollop of Dawn directly to the dry stain.
- Gently scrub the dish soap into the stain using a toothbrush or stain removal brush.
- Let the soap sit for 10 minutes so it can lift the stain.
- Rinse the area under cold running water.
- Pretreat again with a commercial stain remover or dab more Dawn if the stain remains.
The scrubbing motion helps remove more of the staining pigments. Just don’t rub too hard or you may damage delicate fabrics!
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is another household staple that can remove many types of stains, including makeup. Try this method:
- Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts water.
- Dip a clean rag into the solution.
- Dab it onto the stain and let it bubble for 5-10 minutes.
- Rinse with cold water and check if the stain lightened.
- Repeat as needed before washing.
The bubbling action helps lift staining pigments from the fabric. Be sure to always spot test hydrogen peroxide on an inconspicuous part of the garment first since bleaching can occasionally occur.
Use Non-Gel Toothpaste
Believe it or not, plain non-gel toothpaste can help remove some makeup stains too. Just don’t try this with gel toothpaste since the thicker formula may leave a residue.
Here’s how:
- Gently rub a dab of regular toothpaste into the stain using your fingers or an old toothbrush.
- Let the paste sit for 10-15 minutes to work.
- Rise thoroughly under cool running water.
- Check if the stain reduced and repeat if needed.
The toothpaste acts as a gentle abrasive to loosen the staining pigments without damaging the fabric.
Rub With Baby Oil or Petroleum Jelly
For oil-based makeup stains from mascara, lipstick or foundation, try rubbing them with baby oil or petroleum jelly before laundering. This helps dissolve and lift oil-based stains.
Simply massage a small amount of baby oil or petroleum jelly thoroughly into the stain. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes then rinse with cool water and wash as usual. The oil in the products helps break down the staining oils.
Use Salt for Liquid Lipstick Stains
Salt can be a quick solution for lifting moist lipstick stains before washing. The coarse grains help draw out some of the staining pigments.
Try pouring a pile of table salt directly onto the lipstick stain as soon as it happens. Gently rub the salt into the fabric, allowing 5-10 minutes of dwell time. The salt may turn pink or red as it extracts the stain. Rinse the area well before laundering.
While salt may not remove a stain completely, it can help lighten it before washing when you’re in a pinch!
Wash With Laundry Detergent Booster
Once you’ve pretreated the stain, washing the item with an extra laundry booster adds even more cleaning power against makeup stains. Detergent boosters help get traces of makeup out that pretreatments couldn’t catch.
Some booster options are OxiClean powder, Borax powder, or Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. Add 1-2 tablespoons of booster directly in with the detergent.
Then wash as usual with the warmest water safe for the fabric and check if the stain lifting. Repeat washing with boosters as needed.
Dry Under Sunlight
After washing makeup-stained clothes, try drying them in direct sunlight rather than the dryer if possible. The sun’s UV rays have natural whitening and bleaching effects to help fade stains.
Lay the clothing flat on a towel or rack to dry in the sunlight. Check occasionally and flip over. Often an hour or two is enough to notice lightening but you can leave it longer.
Just take care not to over-dry delicate fabrics. Sunlight can occasionally cause fading with some fabric dyes over time so it’s best for lightening stains on white or light-colored laundry.
When All Else Fails, Try Dry Cleaning
For tough makeup stains that resist all your home removal attempts, take them for professional dry cleaning. The harsh solvents used can penetrate deep stains that regular detergent can’t touch.
Point out the stained area so they know to focus on it directly with stain removers. This costs more than home washing but may be your last chance for clothes or fabrics you really love.
As with any dry cleaning, first check the garment tag to ensure it lists dry cleanable fabrics and solvants. If not, ask the cleaner first if they can safely attempt stain removal without damaging the material.
In Conclusion
No need to ditch clothes with makeup spatters if you follow these removal tips and tricks. The most important thing is to act fast as soon as it happens. Pretreat, soak, scrub and wash while stains are still fresh and you stand the best chance of getting lipstick and foundation out for good.
With some elbow grease and patience, you can likely rescue your favorite stained shirt or dress to wear again. Give stains multiple rounds of treatment if needed and inspect carefully after washing. It may take more than one try but it’s worth attempting yourself before throwing in the towel.
References
[1] https://www.consumerreports.org/cleaning/how-to-remove-lipstick-stains-from-clothes-a2317448337/
[2] https://www.themakeyourownzone.com/remove-lipstick-stains-from-clothes/
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.