Tips On Removing Lipstick Stains
How To Remove Lipstick Stains
Removing lipstick stains from your clothing or any other place it happens to land is a very important and somewhat of a difficult task to handle.
No matter how it got there, getting it out is not as easy as just throwing the shirt into the wash. The fact is that you need to remove the stain from where it starts, deep into the fabric.
There are some very effective methods of doing this, though, so do not worry just yet.
The next time a kiss ends up in the wrong place or the lipstick ends up in the washing machine, you will know what to do to get rid of it.
Simple First Steps To Remove The Stain
When it comes to removing lipstick stain, the most important thing to do is to blot, instead of rubbing. If you take a clean, dry terry cloth and blot the area well, this will remove much of the stain and the oils in the lipstick. Do not rub it in as this will just push the stain further into the fabric and it is likely to cause it to smear, making a larger and more difficult stain to clean.
Here is what you should do first.
- Use clean white paper towels or a terry cloth to blot the stain as much as possible.
- When this no longer helps, apply cold water to the stain to keep it from setting.
- When you can, the sooner the better, use mild detergent on the stained area. Work into the stain gently.
- Rinse with cold water.
- Apply a pre treatment to the stained area. Allow to sit for ten minutes, but do not allow to dry.
- Launder as directed by the label on the clothing. Do not dry in dryer, but allow to air dry to insure the stain is completely removed.
Removing Stains When You Are Not At Home
Removing stains like lipstick when you are not at home is difficult to do. Although you don’t carry a washer with you (or your pre treatment spray for that matter) it is important for you to do something to keep the stain from setting.
The best thing to do is to blot out as much of the stain as possible, making sure not to rub it further into the fabric. Then, rinse the stain with cold water (not hot!) Try to wash the stain as soon as you can when you get home. Most of the time, lipstick will not stain unless it goes untreated for too long.
Other Stain Removers For Lipstick
There are other ways to successfully remove stains as well. Here are some ideas to help you to do just that.
Alcohol
Did you know that rubbing alcohol can be quite helpful with lipstick? Apply rubbing alcohol to a terry cloth. Then, dab onto the lipstick stain. Use a terry cloth to blot up the stain removed by the alcohol. Make sure you pre treat and wash as directed by the label to insure that the oils come out completely.
Ammonia
You can also use ammonia to help you to remove stains. Again, blot off as much as possible with your terry cloth, then dab on the ammonia. Blot it right off with the stain. Make sure that you check with the product’s label before using this treatment to keep from staining the fabric even more so. Rinse, pre-treat and then launder as directed.
For more ways to remove lipstick look below.
More Helpful Cleaning Tips
It never fails that lipstick will get on the wrong place at the wrong time. To help you to find solutions to your needs, consider these tips.
Remove Stains From Inside The Dryer
Have you had a tube of lipstick end up in the dryer? If so, to get it out, do this. While the dryer is still warm, use a clean terry cloth to wipe off as much of the softened lipstick as possible. Then, allow it to cool completely. Unplug the unit. Next, use alcohol on a terry cloth to wipe down the inside. If this does not remove everything, dab just a bit of bleach on a terry cloth to wipe down. It will remove all of the lipstick. Take your time so your clothing is not ruined.
Remove Lipstick From Carpeting
To get lipstick stains out of carpeting, you will want to follow some of the same methods listed above for cleaning fabrics. Use alcohol on the stain to help remove it. You can also use ammonia but only if you test on a hidden area to insure that the stain is completely removed. You should have the carpeting cleaned, if not by you then professionally to remove the oils that may not come up otherwise.
Baby Wipes
Keep a container of baby wipes at your home. Baby wipes are well known as being just the thing to use for make up removal. They are cheap and work very well too!
