How to remove lipstick stains from clothes and fabric

How to remove lipstick stains

1. 1

   Scrape off the excess

   Lift off any lipstick sitting on the surface with a dull knife. Don't rub.

   Why: Less wax and pigment to dissolve, and rubbing smears both.

2. 2

   Dab rubbing alcohol through the back

   Lay the stain face down on a few layers of paper towel. Dampen another towel with rubbing alcohol and dab the back of the stain repeatedly, checking that color moves into the towels below.

   Why: Alcohol loosens the pigment and waxy carrier, and blotting carries them out of the fabric. This is the American Cleaning Institute's method.

3. 3

   Spray a prewash and scrub

   Spray a prewash stain remover on both sides, wait a few minutes, then scrub gently with a small brush and rinse.

   Why: The prewash lifts the oily residue that alcohol leaves behind.

4. 4

   Wash, then bleach leftover color

   Wash as usual. If color remains, use an oxygen bleach, or chlorine bleach on colorfast whites if the label allows.

   Why: Once the wax is gone, a tint that's left is pigment or dye, which needs an oxidizing bleach.

5. 5

   Air-dry and repeat if needed

   Air-dry and check. Repeat the alcohol and prewash steps if a little color is still there.

   Why: Dryer heat sets remaining pigment.

Why lipstick needs a solvent before soap

Lipstick is mostly wax and oil with pigments, plus minerals such as silica. Lip gloss is oilier, and long-wear lipsticks and lip stains add film formers or dyes made to resist rubbing off. The Kentucky extension guide puts lipstick in its first group of combination stains: remove the oily, waxy part with a solvent, then use detergent, then bleach for color.

Order matters. Washing with soap first can spread the wax and set the color, and old stain bulletins warned that alkalis applied before the stain is loosened can set it. Alcohol or a dry-cleaning solvent goes first, then detergent.

By situation

Lip gloss

It's oil-rich, so blot the excess, then use alcohol or a prewash spray from the back, scrub lightly, rinse and wash.

Long-wear lipstick and lip stains

These rely more on dyes and film formers, and the American Cleaning Institute notes long-lasting products may need more work. After alcohol blotting, soak in oxygen bleach.

It went through the wash and dryer

Repeat the alcohol blotting and prewash, then use oxygen bleach. Heat-set pigment may only lighten.

Lipstick on a white shirt collar

Use alcohol and prewash, then chlorine bleach if the label allows. See lipstick on clothes for more by fabric.

Acetate, silk, wool and dry-clean-only items

On acetate, dilute alcohol with two parts water. Take silk, wool and dry-clean-only shirts and suits to a cleaner.

What not to do

• Don't rub the lipstick. It spreads the wax and pigment.
• Don't wash with soap before loosening the wax. Soap or other alkalis can set the stain before the wax is out.
• Don't dry before checking. Heat sets pigment.

Other methods that work

Dry-cleaning solvent

The Kentucky guide spot-treats lipstick with dry-cleaning solvent, then rubs in heavy-duty liquid detergent.

Caution: Ventilate, keep it away from flames, and let it evaporate before washing.

Dish soap

Emulsifies the oily part of lip gloss and lipstick, after the solvent step.

Caution: Follow with a wash.

Hairspray

A popular tip with no authoritative support. Traditional, with weak evidence.

Caution: It leaves resin behind.

Stain still there?

A pink shadow stays after washing

Repeat the alcohol blotting, then soak in oxygen bleach, or use chlorine bleach on colorfast whites.

The stain spread into a bigger smear

Work alcohol from the outside edge inward over fresh paper towels, so dissolved color moves down, not out.

Safety

• Rubbing alcohol and dry-cleaning solvents are flammable. Ventilate and keep them away from flames.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

Other combination stains

• Chocolate stains
• Grass stains
• Ink stains
• Makeup stains
• Tomato sauce and ketchup stains