How to Get Lipstick Out of Clothes (Even After It Has Dried or Been Washed)
Scrape off excess lipstick, then work liquid dish soap or heavy-duty detergent into the stain from the back of the fabric and wait 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water, dab any color left with rubbing alcohol after testing a seam, then wash. Skip the dryer until the stain is gone.
“Lipstick is made to cling, so scrubbing just gives it more fabric to hold. Lift it, loosen the oils, then deal with the color. Patience works here, and the dryer is the only real enemy.”Her take
What not to do first
Don't rub, and don't reach for a hot tap. Rubbing pushes wax and pigment deeper into the weave and spreads the mark. Heat, including a hot wash or a tumble dryer, can make the stain much harder to shift.
Check the care label before you begin. If it says dry clean only, or if the fabric is silk, velvet, wool, cashmere or anything beaded, skip home treatments and take it to a dry cleaner quickly. Tell them it's lipstick and which side it's on.
How to treat a fresh lipstick stain
This method suits washable cotton, denim, linen and most sturdy everyday fabrics. Do it over a sink with good light, and work from the back of the stain so you push color out rather than through.
- Lift the excess with the edge of a spoon or dull butter knife. Scrape outward from the middle.
- Lay a clean white cloth or paper towel under the stain.
- Work a small amount of liquid dish soap or heavy-duty liquid detergent into the back of the fabric with a fingertip.
- Leave it 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse from the back with cool water.
- Repeat if color still lifts onto your cloth, then wash on the warmest setting the label allows only after the mark is gone.
- Air dry, and check the fabric in daylight before any heat.
How to remove a dried or set lipstick stain
Dried lipstick still responds, but it needs longer. Scrape off any crust, then apply dish soap or a stain remover and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. A longer soak in cool water with detergent, several hours or overnight, can help for a stubborn stain on a sturdy fabric.
If the mark has already been through the dryer, expect to repeat the process several times, and accept that some stains won't fully leave. For remaining color, test isopropyl rubbing alcohol on an inside seam. If it doesn't affect the dye, dab it on with a white cloth, change to a clean part of the cloth as color transfers, then rinse and wash. Don't use it on acetate, silk or wool, and keep it away from flames, since it's flammable.
How do the methods change by fabric?
Avoid nail polish remover on anything you're not sure about. Acetone can dissolve acetate fabrics and strip color. Hairspray is often recommended for this job, but formulas vary and it can leave a sticky residue, so rubbing alcohol is more predictable.
- White cotton shirt: treat as above, then soak with an oxygen-based whitener if the label allows.
- Jeans and dark denim: use less rubbing alcohol and test first, because it can lift the denim dye along with the stain.
- Polyester and blends: dish soap usually works well, but oily marks can hang on, so treat them twice before washing.
- Wool, cashmere and silk: blot only, and take the garment to a dry cleaner.
- Coat collars: treat only the affected spot, working on a towel, and leave structured or lined coats to a cleaner.
What to do at a party
You won't fix it completely at the table, but you can stop it from getting worse. Lift off what you can with a clean spoon or the edge of a card, then blot with a dry napkin. Don't rub with a wet wipe: wipes can spread the color and leave a ring.
If you can get to a bathroom, sprinkle a little cornstarch or baby powder on the mark to absorb some of the oil, then tap it off. Treat the garment properly as soon as you get home, and keep it out of the laundry basket pile where the stain can transfer.
How do you stop it happening again?
Apply lipstick after you've dressed, or drape a scarf over your neckline while you pull a top over your head. Blot once on tissue so there's less on the surface, and let long-wear formulas dry for a full minute before you hug anyone.
When you take off a sweater, stretch the neck wide with your hands so it doesn't drag over your mouth. A dark scarf or collar is more forgiving than a white one on a long night out.
Questions people ask
Does lipstick come out in the wash?
Usually not on its own. A normal wash can leave a pale mark and set what remains. Pre-treat first, and check the mark is gone before drying.
Is red lipstick harder to remove?
Often, yes, because strong pigment is easier to see once the wax has gone. Treat it the same way, but expect to repeat the soap and alcohol stages.
Can baking soda remove lipstick?
It can help lift residue as a gentle paste on sturdy fabric, but it isn't the most reliable first step. Start with dish soap, since lipstick stains are oily.
Can I get lipstick out of a white shirt?
Yes, in most cases. Use dish soap from the back of the stain, rinse, then soak with an oxygen-based whitener if the care label allows. Air dry to check.
The takeaway
Lift the wax, loosen the oils with soap, tackle the color with a tested dab of alcohol, and keep heat away until it's gone.
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