How to Get Makeup out of Clothes: Foundation, Lipstick, and Mascara
14.07.2026
To get makeup out of clothes, blot (don't rub) the stain, then work a small amount of liquid dish soap or laundry detergent into the fabric from the back, rinse with cool water, and launder as usual. Skip heat until the stain is fully gone. Foundation, lipstick, and mascara each need a slightly different first move.
What you'll need
- Liquid dish soap or liquid laundry detergent
- Rubbing alcohol or a small bottle of unscented micellar water
- A clean white cloth or paper towels (colored cloths can transfer dye)
- An old toothbrush or your fingertips
- Cool running water (your bathroom or kitchen sink works fine in a small apartment)
- The garment's care label — check it before you start
Step by step
- Act before it dries and skip the dryer. Heat sets makeup stains, so keep the item away from the radiator and out of the dryer until the mark is gone.
- Lift the excess. For foundation or lipstick, gently scrape off any surface product with the dull edge of a spoon. For powder or blush, shake or tap it off outdoors or over the sink so you don't grind it in.
- Blot, don't rub. Press a clean white cloth onto the stain to absorb what you can. Rubbing pushes pigment deeper into the fibers.
- Treat oily makeup with dish soap. Foundation, lipstick, and concealer are oil-based. Work a drop of dish soap into the stain with your fingertip, let it sit 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse from the back under cool water so the makeup pushes out, not through.
- Tackle mascara and long-wear formulas with alcohol. Dab a cloth with a little rubbing alcohol and blot the stain, moving to a clean section of cloth as pigment transfers. Micellar water is a gentler alternative for delicate fabrics.
- Rinse and check. Hold the fabric under cool water and look at it in good light. If a shadow remains, repeat the treatment before washing.
- Launder as directed. Wash on the warmest setting the care label allows, then air-dry and inspect again. Only use the dryer once the stain is completely gone.
What NOT to do
Don't reach for hot water on foundation or lipstick — heat sets the oils. Don't drape a wet, treated garment over a steam radiator to speed drying; the heat can lock in any residue you missed. On silk, wool, and anything labeled "dry clean only," skip the rubbing alcohol and heavy scrubbing, which can strip color or distort the weave — blot lightly and take it to a cleaner. Never scrub colored fabric with a colored cloth, and don't mix rubbing alcohol with other cleaning products. Finally, resist wringing the fabric, which frays fibers and spreads the stain wider.
When to call a pro
DIY handles most fresh makeup marks on cotton and synthetic blends, but some jobs are worth handing off. A set-in lipstick stain on a silk blouse, a dry-clean-only coat, or a full hamper of laundry you don't have time for in a small apartment are all better left to someone with the right setup. If stain treatment is part of a bigger reset — say you're prepping for a move-out inspection or just want your place and your wardrobe handled at once — book apartment cleaning with CleanWhale and let a professional take it from there.
FAQ
Can I get dried, old makeup out of clothes?
Sometimes. Rehydrate the stain by soaking it in cool water, then work in dish soap and let it sit longer than you would for a fresh mark. Older, heat-set stains are harder and may need a couple of rounds — or a professional cleaner if the fabric is delicate.
Does rubbing alcohol damage clothes?
It's generally fine on cotton and synthetics, but test it first on a hidden seam. Avoid it on silk, wool, acetate, and anything dry-clean-only, where it can lift dye or damage the fibers.
How do I remove a lipstick stain specifically?
Scrape off the excess, blot with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol to break down the waxes and oils, then treat any remaining color with dish soap and rinse from the back before washing on the warmest safe setting.
Will makeup stains come out in a normal wash?
Not reliably on their own. Oily makeup often survives a regular cycle and can set permanently in the dryer, so pre-treat and confirm the stain is gone before you machine-dry.
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