Undeniably, if you wear makeup, you are bound to experience some foundation pouring out of its bottle and onto your shirt, eyeshadow powder falling on your collars, or lipstick rubbing off on your white shirt. And the real pain is when your makeup product is smudge-proof, it also acts very stubborn on your clothes! If you are wondering how to get makeup off clothes, you are in the right place.
How To Get Makeup Off Clothes?
To remove makeup stains, the main idea is to know exactly what ingredients are in the product that stained your clothes. If the product contains a waterproof formula, you are bound to use an oil-based remover to get rid of it. However, if it is not waterproof or water-based, then simple alcohol-based cleansers work well. Considering the makeup products, the below-mentioned are some methods you can use with the things you might already have on your shelves to remove makeup from your clothes.
Remove Powdered Foundation/Highlighter Stains
Since powdered products do not contain much pigmentation and hence are dry particles, it is easier for you to blow off the product. One thing to keep in mind is not to rub the product, as this can make it embed in the fabric, thereby causing it even harder to come off.
Initially, grab a blow dryer. The more you try to rub it with your hands, the messier it becomes. Just blow off the loose particles, and you are good to go.
But in certain circumstances, just blow drying doesn’t work. In that case, follow the steps below.
Requirements
- Liquid detergent
- Water
Steps
- Initially, make sure you remove all the powdered particles or remains. With warm water, remove the excess product that has stained the cloth. Remember, the more the water pressure, the easier it is to remove the product.
- Once the excess product is removed, use the liquid detergent to help break up the stain.
- Using a bristle brush, gently rub the detergent, so the stain is completely covered.
- Leave it for 15-20 minutes and place it in the washer with other items. This shall remove the stain.
Note that this procedure works well for poly-blend and cotton fabrics. It is advised to take the garment to the dry cleaner if it is wool or silk.
Remove Liquid Foundation/Concealer Stains
The main problem with liquid products is that they contain oil and a greasy texture that makes removing them from the clothes rugged. Just like powdered products, ensure you remove the excess without rubbing it, so it does not settle into the fabric.
Requirements:
- Shaving Cream (or)
- Liquid detergent
- Dish Soap
- Water
Steps:
- Remove the excess using tissue paper or a clean cloth. Do not rub or push the liquid material into the fabric.
- Take a good amount of color-free shaving cream and apply it directly on the stain. Make sure the entire stain is covered with shaving cream.
- Let this sit for about 10 minutes. The shaving cream dissolves the stain from the fabric and makes it look like nothing has happened. Wash it off, and you will be back with no stain. This traditional way of removing makeup using shaving cream has worked as magic. But if something else is needed, follow the next steps.
- After removing the excess product from the clothes, use dish soap or a liquid detergent to cover the stain. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. Follow the same steps used in removing powdered products.
Remove Lipstick Stains
Lipsticks must be one of the most stubborn products that cause a mess while being removed. This is primarily because of its waxy and oily nature. They act as glue to hold together the ingredients. Here comes the problem, studies have shown that these pigments are readily attracted to synthetic fibers. But we got you. Follow the below steps to get rid of lipstick stains using simple products.
Requirements:
- Cotton pad
- Alcohol
Steps:
- Take a cotton pad and dip it in alcohol.
- Rub this alcohol-soaked cotton pad over the makeup stain. Make sure you use a new cotton pad or the clean part of the cotton pad each time you rub and clean it off so that you do not transfer the stain back onto the fabric.
- Alcohol is best suggested for lipstick and creamy or oily products, as alcohol help in breaking down waxy and oily stains.
If alcohol does not work, follow the below steps to get rid of that obstinate lipstick stain!
Requirements
- Liquid detergent
- Spoon
- Water
Steps
- If you have plenty of time, consider placing your garment in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes. This will freeze the stain, and the heavy excess lipstick can be scraped off the garment using a spoon.
- Use a liquid detergent and apply it all over the stain.
- Gently rub the detergent with a bristle brush and let the detergent stay for about 20 minutes.
- Then place this garment in the washer and use as warm water as possible to eradicate the stain. (Make sure you check the warmest temperature you can use for the respective garment)
You can use the same procedure with detergent or makeup remover for mascaras and eyeliners. Make sure you act fast and keep the product from spreading since mascaras are dark and can create a mess if it’s a light-colored shirt.
Remove Eyeliner/Mascara Stains
In order to get the perfect wing, you ended up staining your clothes. And now you are struggling to get the nasty stain out of your ‘oh so new’ shirt? Removing it is the most challenging part especially when it’s a waterproof mascara/eyeliner. To remove mascara or eyeliner stains, follow the procedure mentioned earlier or follow the following steps.
Requirements:
- Ice cubes
- Spoon
- Alcohol-based hairspray
- Damp cloth / wet wipes
- Water
Steps:
- To start, scrape off the extra product from your clothes with a spoon.
- Tract an ice cube over the stain in a circular motion. This will lift the makeup from the fabric, removing the stain.
- You can also try to remove it using an alcohol-based hair spray by spraying it over the stain and letting it dry for a few minutes.
- Get rid of the hairspray by wiping it off using a damp cloth or wet wipes.
Other Methods
Apart from going for simple solutions using products like alcohol, shaving cream, etc., you can also opt for certain products like disinfectant sprays, detergent wipes, and soap sticks.
Some of them are mentioned below:
Tide To Go
This instant stain remover helps remove stains that refuse to get off the fabrics. It is designed like a pen and hence is portable. So if you are not at home and stain your clothes, this pen should definitely be in your pocket.
Meliora Laundry Stain-Removal Soap Stick
This soap stick is made up of vegetable oil and is consistent in removing oily and greasy stains. These greasy stains are the ones that make the whole procedure hard. But using this stick makes it more accessible. Follow the mentioned steps to take this burden off. Make the stain damp and rub this soap stick with a brush or a cloth. Let it rest for a few minutes, and then dab the stain with a clean cloth. Repeat this with clean cloth parts, and you will find your previously stained shirt as new as ever!
Final Verdict
Makeup might be messy but we simply can’t live without it. So next time, you get stains on your favorite dress, you have all the possible ways to get rid of them.
