Imagine if your partner leaves a lipstick mark on your shirt or mistakenly smeared it on your shirt. It doesn’t matter how beautiful a purple or red lipstick looks on your lips. It’ll be quite frustrating if it stains any of your favorite clothes. Getting rid of the lipstick stain will be such a hassle.
To prevent the lipstick from absorbing further into the strands of your cloth, you should always endeavor to treat the lipstick stain immediately. It is also recommended that you don’t dry the cloth in the dryer when trying to get lipstick out of clothes. Rather, allow air-dry the cloth. Let’s go over ways to get lipstick out of clothes!
7 Ways to Get Lipstick Out of Clothes
Fortunately, you can get lipstick out of clothes with various products and cleaning methods without leaving the comfort of your home.
However, before trying any of the methods mentioned here, check the instruction label on the cloth and spot test the cleaning product (or liquid) on a hidden part of the cloth to ensure it won’t cause damage.
Here are some easy techniques to get lipstick out of clothes without spending so much money paying for the dry cleaner. Plus, most of the products are right there in your kitchen.
1. Dish Soap
Even though products such as bleach can remove stains, they can easily damage the fabric and cause a more serious mess. Liquid dish soap is mild to use on your clothes without damaging the material’s color.
Most lipsticks contain natural oils, and you’ll need to use a dish detergent to wash off the greasy areas. The best thing about dish soap as a lipstick removal product is that you can use it on any cloth that can be washed using the washing machine.
Here’s how to get lipstick out of clothes using dish soap.
- Place the affected cloth on a paper towel with the stain facing downwards. This will help the towel to absorb all the water you’ll while dissolving the lipstick stain.
- Dab a small quantity of the dish soap directly on the backside of the stain and allow it for about ten minutes.
- Then, use a damp cloth to blot the stain. The paper towel underneath the cloth will absorb the excess water and soap. Ensure you swap the towel as it absorbs the lipstick. Changing the paper towel frequently will prevent the lipstick from transferring to other cloth parts.
- Once you’ve removed the lipstick, you can put the cloth in the washing machine and begin laundry.
- Before drying the clothing, check to confirm whether the stain is completely gone. If the lipstick stain is still visible, you’ll have to repeat the process until it is gone.
2. Lemon Juice and Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda and lemon juice can effectively remove lipstick stains from clothes. The acid in the lemon juice breaks up the lipstick, making its removal easy. Follow the steps below:
- Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice and one tablespoon of baking soda to form a thick paste.
- Apply the paste directly onto the lipstick stain and allow it to stay for about 30 minutes.
- Put the clothing in your washing machine and launder it as usual.
- Allow the piece of clothing to dry in the sun.
3. Hairspray
Hairspray is a highly effective stain remover and works very well on lipstick stains. Using hairspray as a lipstick stain remover, use an old-school hairspray, preferably, because it contains more alcohol. It is this alcohol that breaks down the stain.
Steps to follow:
- Apply hairspray on the stain and allow for about ten minutes.
- Then, use a clean damp cloth to dab the stain until it fades away.
4. Shaving Cream
The shaving cream is a premium item, available in most homes. It is very useful in removing stains from clothes, especially lipstick stains. It works like a pre-wash when you rub it into the stain.
To use shaving cream:
- After applying the shaving cream to the lipstick stain and allow it to sit for at least fifteen minutes
- Then, wash the cloth as you would normally.
- Before placing the cloth in the dryer, check to confirm whether the stain is gone. If the stain remains, repeat the process until the stain disappears.
5. Liquid Detergent
For this method:
- Begin by scraping off excess lipstick using the edge of a blunt knife.
- After that, apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent or pre-wash stain remover directly onto the stain. Ensure you apply the detergent on both sides of the stained fabric.
- Hold the stained area under running warm water to rinse the stain. Do not scrub the stain so there’ll be no further damage. Rather, blot or dab the stain gently.
- As soon as the lipstick fades away, wash the garment.
- Then, air dries the cloth.
6. Stain Remover Spray
Below are the steps to follow:
- Place an unused cloth on a level surface.
- Then, place the fabric with the stained side facing the unused cloth.
- Apply the stain remover spray on the stained spots. With one or two sprays, the stain will disappear completely.
7. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is highly concentrated and can cause damage to the fabric if not used correctly. Here are the steps to follow:
- Test the rubbing alcohol on a hidden spot to be sure it won’t damage the cloth.
- Dip a clean white cloth into the rubbing alcohol. Then, use the cloth to blot the stain to remove the lipstick. Avoid rubbing the stain to prevent the lipstick from sticking further into the cloth.
- Once the stain is gone, rinse the cloth in cold water to remove the isopropyl alcohol.
- Lastly, launder the clothing as usual and air dry.
How to get lipstick out of clothing that has been washed and dried
- Use OxiClean MaxForce Laundry Stain Remover Spray; this powerful stain remover can be used to remove anything makeup.
- A quick DIY method would be to mix 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of your dishwashing soap, and 3 teaspoons of vinegar. Dab the solution on the affected area while applying a bit of pressure, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Try as many times as is needed to get the stain off.
- If you don’t have any alcohol at hand, mineral spirits or acetone (nail polish remover) will do the trick. Apply to the stain using a soft cotton ball and then scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse the area after a few minutes and dry.
- Use a cloth or old toothbrush to apply petroleum jelly to the stain.
- If you have liquid glycerin, dab it generously into the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes or so. then rinse and dry.
- An eyedropper treats the stain with diluted ammonia, vinegar, or oxygen bleach.