7 Steps To Remove Lipstick From Your Clothes

Lipstick is incredibly frustrating to get out of clothes for the same reason that it helps it stay on lips for so long. The chemicals, oil and pigment that ensure lipstick can make it through the day also make it difficult to remove from fabric.

These lipstick stain removal steps can help you get those red streaks out of your favourite pair of pants or that elegant dress.

STEP 1: CONSULT THE CARE TAG ON YOUR CLOTHING

Start by consulting your clothing’s care label to confirm if it requires special treatments like dry cleaning. This method is intended only for clothes that can be machine-washed. You should also check the label for cold, warm or hot water temperature recommendations.

MOVE FAST.
Start as soon as you can after the lipstick stains your clothes. The longer you wait, the more time the oils in the lipstick will have to absorb into the fabric. This will make it harder to remove.

STEP 2: CAREFULLY SCRAPE OFF ANY EXCESS LIPSTICK

Red lipstick on a table cloth that's stained with red lipstick

You want to gently lift off any excess material. To do so, carefully scrape the fabric’s surface with a dull knife or the edge or corner of a credit card, ensuring that you do not rub the lipstick so that it sets deeper into the fabric.

STEP 3: APPLY A TEASPOON OF DISH SOAP RIGHT ONTO THE STAIN

If you can reach both sides of the fabric, you should apply the dish soap to both the front and back of the stain. Do not use water and do not rub or scrub the stain. Patience is key for this step as you need to let the dish soap sit for roughly 30 minutes.

You could substitute dish soap with laundry detergent or pre-wash stain remover. Keep in mind that neither will offer the same grease-fighting capabilities as dish soap. This capability works to release the oils in lipstick.

STEP 4: SOAK IN DISH SOAP SOLUTION

Dish soap being poured into a sink full of sudsy water. The faucet is on.

This dish soap solution can help remove lipstick from fabric.

Follow these steps:

Squirt a drop of liquid dish soap into a bucket or a glass bowl
Mix in a couple of cups of the warmest water recommended on the care tag
Soak the article of clothing for at least an hour. A good tip is that the longer the soak, the more likely the stain will be removed. An overnight soa

STEP 5: USE A SOFT BRUSH TO REMOVE THE STAIN

Once it’s done soaking, you should carefully scrub the stain with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Start working from the outside as this will prevent the stain from spreading. Try to remove as much of the stain as you can and be sure to fully rinse the soap out before putting the item in the washing machine. Dish soap in a washing machine can create excess suds and result in overflow.

STEP 6: USE YOUR REGULAR WASH CYCLE

Blue clothing inside a washing machine that's in the middle of a washing cycle.

Now it’s time to machine wash the item with the warmest water according to the care tag. You can use oxygen bleach or laundry detergent with stain removers—whatever you have on hand. If you don’t have either, add ½ cup of baking soda to the load.

STEP 7: INSPECT AND LINE DRY THE ITEM

Once the item is washed, you should inspect the stained area to gauge how successful you were in removing the lipstick.

Also, it’s important to line dry the item. This is because heat from a dryer will most likely set any remaining stain in the wet fabric.

Repeat steps 1–7 as often as necessary until you are satisfied that the lipstick stain has been fully removed. If the stain proves to be extra stubborn, your best bet is to take it to a dry cleaner.