How to remove makeup stains: You can save your clothes with these ingenious techniques

A commonly accepted truth is that no matter your hand-eye coordination, makeup can spill and smudge. And when that happens, you wonder what’s the best way to get it out of your clothes without making the stain look worse. We have some ingenious solutions to remove makeup stains quickly and easily.

How to remove makeup stains quickly and easily

Wondering if it’s possible to remove foundation, lipstick and mascara from your clothes? Then you’ve come to the right place! Follow these simple steps to get rid of makeup stains for good.

Eliminate foundation stains

While there are different types of foundation, most consist of a base that binds many color pigments. The main difference in the treatment of liquid and powder foundation lies in the initial removal of excess on the surface.

Liquid foundation:

The best product for removing foundation stains is shaving cream, especially if the stain has set into the material. The ingredients in shaving cream help loosen the stain before washing. Simply moisten the area with cold water and apply the shaving foam directly to the stain. Rub it in gently with your fingers or a soft toothbrush and leave it on for ten minutes. Then wash the garment in warm water.

Another method is to remove the stains with liquid detergent or dish soap.

• Wipe off the excess liquid with a paper towel, being careful not to get it deeper into the fibers.
• Rinse the garment with warm water to dilute the stain.
• Cover the stain with liquid detergent or dishwashing liquid for oily-based foundation stains. Rub it in with your fingers and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
• Put the garment in the washing machine without rinsing off the detergent on the stain or the dish soap. Wash clothes at the warmest temperature recommended on the care label, as warm water will dissolve the stain better.

Powder foundation:

The key to treating a powder foundation stain is to remove as much excess as possible before dampening the stain.

• First, shake off as much of the powder foundation as possible.
• Run warm water over the back of the stain. The higher the water pressure, the easier it is to remove the stain. Once the excess is removed, apply the same general washing guidelines as with liquid foundation.

How to remove makeup stains: lipstick

To remove a lipstick stain from a garment, spray enough hairspray on the area to make the fabric around the lipstick look wet. Let the hairspray dry for about 20 minutes, then blot the stain with a soapy sponge or damp cloth. Do not use hairspray without alcohol for this technique, as it will not work.

Another method is to treat the lipstick stain with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizing gel. First, lay the garment stain-side down on a paper towel. Blot the stain with a cotton ball or a clean cloth that you have moistened with the alcohol. But don’t rub it. Rinse the stain with cold water before washing the fabric as usual.

How to remove mascara and eyeliner from clothes?

Since mascaras are made of oils, waxes, and dyes, you’ll need to pre-treat the stain with some detergent first. Since most mascaras are dark, it’s extremely important to treat them right away and be careful not to spread the stain. For waterproof makeup stains, you can even try using an oil-free makeup remover as a pre-treatment. Otherwise, you can use this guide to remove mascara and eyeliner from clothes.

You need:

• clean cloth
• liquid detergent
• Makeup remover
• Toothbrush with soft bristles
• stain remover
• water

Step-by-step instructions:

Pre-treat the stain with liquid detergent that contains surfactants and enzymes to dissolve the stain. Pour enough detergent onto the garment to cover the stain, use a toothbrush to gently work the detergent into the stain and leave on the fabric for 20 minutes.

Rinse the stained area with hot water. Machine wash the garment at the maximum temperature recommended on the care label. If the stain remains, repeat the steps before drying.

How to treat other makeup stains

Use liquid detergent to remove eyeshadow and blush from clothes. Luckily, powder stains are a little easier to remove. Choose a liquid detergent without bleach for the stains before washing as usual.

An alternative to detergent that can be just as effective is a gentle makeup remover.

To get rid of concealer stains, all you need is a bar of soap. First, moisten the concealer stain with water. Rub the soap directly over the area until a thick layer of soap covers it. Use your fingers to gently work the soap into the fabric until the stain is gone. Rinse the area with hot water to remove all soap.