How to get makeup out of clothes

How to remove makeup from clothes

1. 1

   Lift off powder or excess dry

   Shake or gently brush off loose powder, blush or bronzer before anything gets wet. Scrape thick foundation or concealer off with a dull knife.

   Why: Dry pigment that gets wet in place spreads into the yarns and becomes a bigger, deeper stain.

2. 2

   Foundation, concealer and blush: rub in detergent

   Work heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent into the stain with your fingers or a soft brush. A paste of powder detergent and water, a prewash stain remover or dish soap also work.

   Why: Detergent emulsifies the oils that carry the pigment and holds the pigment in suspension so it rinses away.

3. 3

   Mascara, eyeliner and waterproof makeup: solvent first

   Lay the spot face down on paper towels and dab dry-cleaning solvent onto the back. Let it evaporate, then rub in heavy-duty liquid detergent.

   Why: Waxes and the film formers in long-wear and waterproof products dissolve in solvent, not water.

4. 4

   Wash in the warmest safe water

   Launder in the warmest water the care label allows.

   Why: Warm water helps lift the loosened oil and pigment.

5. 5

   Treat leftover color, then air-dry

   If a tint remains, wash again with oxygen bleach, or chlorine bleach on whites that allow it. Air-dry and check before using the dryer.

   Why: Some pigment can stay after the oil is gone. Dryer heat sets any oily residue left behind.

Why face makeup and eye makeup need different steps

Most makeup is pigment, such as iron oxides and titanium dioxide, carried in oils, waxes, silicones or creamy emulsions. Powders are pigment plus fine minerals. That makes makeup a combination stain: an oily or waxy part plus color. Long-wear and waterproof products add film formers designed to resist water, which is exactly why they're harder to wash out.

The University of Kentucky splits makeup into two groups. Face makeup, like foundation, powder and blush, comes out with heavy-duty detergent rubbed in. Eye makeup, like mascara, liner and shadow, needs a solvent first and detergent second.

By situation

Without washing the whole garment

For a quick fix on the go, lift off the excess, then dab a little liquid detergent or dish soap on with a damp cloth, blot, and blot again with a cloth dampened in plain water to rinse. Let it air-dry. Wash the garment properly when you can, since residue left in the fabric can show later.

Without makeup remover

You don't need it. Liquid laundry detergent or dish soap handles foundation and concealer, and dry-cleaning solvent handles mascara. Makeup remover and micellar water are common suggestions, but no fabric-care source covers them, and oily removers can leave their own stain.

Foundation on a collar

Collars collect foundation and skin oil together. Rub detergent into both sides of the collar, let it sit a few minutes, and wash. Take dry-clean-only shirts and formalwear to a cleaner, pointing out the collar.

Already washed and dried

Pretreat again with solvent, then liquid detergent, and rewash. Avoid the dryer until it's gone. Long-wear formulas may need a few rounds.

White vs. colored clothes

After the oily part is gone, use chlorine bleach (if the label allows) or oxygen bleach on whites for leftover color. On colors, use oxygen bleach only, and test solvents and bleach on a seam first.

Self tanner

Self tanner isn't really makeup on fabric. Its active ingredient browns by reacting with proteins, so it acts more like a dye. Rinse quickly, pretreat with detergent, then soak in oxygen bleach; it may only lighten.

What not to do

• Don't rub powder or foundation with a wet cloth. It spreads the pigment into a larger, deeper stain.
• Don't put the garment in the dryer before checking. Heat sets oily makeup residue.
• Don't use acetone-based removers on acetate, triacetate or modacrylic. Acetone dissolves these fibers.

Other methods that work

Rubbing alcohol

The American Cleaning Institute recommends 70 to 90 percent rubbing alcohol dabbed through lipstick stains on napkins, and it can help with some alcohol-soluble makeup pigments.

Caution: It can fade fabric dyes. Test first, and keep it away from flames.

Shaving cream

A popular tip because it contains soap. No source backs it, so it's traditional, with weak evidence.

Caution: Rinse it out thoroughly before washing.

Makeup remover or micellar water

Made to dissolve makeup on skin and often suggested for fabric. There's no fabric-care source for it, so it's traditional, with weak evidence.

Caution: Oily removers can leave an oil stain. Wash afterward.

Stain still there?

A greasy ring remains after washing

The oily base is still in the fibers. Dab solvent on from the back, then liquid detergent, and rewash.

Mascara smeared into a gray patch

Water spread the pigment. Let it dry, then use the solvent step from the back over paper towels before detergent.

A faint tint is left after the oil is gone

Soak in oxygen bleach, or use chlorine bleach on whites that allow it, and wash again. Mineral pigments may need repeated washing.

Safety

• Dry-cleaning solvent and rubbing alcohol are flammable. Ventilate and keep them away from flames.
• Let solvent evaporate before washing, and never put solvent-damp clothes in the dryer.

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

Questions

Makeup on other surfaces

• Makeup stains: the complete guide
• Makeup on carpet
• Makeup on white clothes

Other stains on clothes

• Stains on clothes: the complete guide
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