Stains. No matter how hard we try to avoid them, they seem to show up in our lives one way or another! Take lipstick for example. I love wearing lipstick. Lipstick comes in a variety of colors and brightens up my face instantly. But sometimes my favorite lipsticks leave the worst stains on my clothes. How can I remove these annoying lipstick stains? Naturally, of course!
The majority of lipsticks are made from oil, wax, and pigment, which means there are three different stains that need to be removed before the spot of lipstick is completely gone from the fabric. Removing nude or lightly-pigmented lipstick takes just a few steps, but darker colors, like red, brown, and hot pink, may need a more intense process.
If you are lucky enough to tackle the problem right away, soap and water dabbed on can usually do the trick of removing the stains. Older stains might require a little more work. Dabbing the stain with small circular motions is better than scrubbing because scrubbing sets the stain even deeper. If soap doesn’t do the trick right away, further measures are needed.
First, try and remove as much wax and oil as you can by blotting with a clean, damp paper towel or cloth.
Next, try one of these wonderful tips:
- Dab the stained area with a cotton ball saturated with rubbing alcohol. Dab the fabric repeatedly until the stains come out. Remember not to rub the stain so it doesn’t spread.
- Dab the area with some petroleum jelly. After, apply a couple drops of white vinegar and rinse with cool water.
Rubbing alcohol and petroleum jelly work the same way by binding to the lipstick’s pigmentation and oils which loosens them from the fabric and make them easier to wash away.
- Aerosol hairspray is another option that lifts stains out of cotton and synthetic fabrics. Spray the hairspray at a close range, then blot with cold water. For silk fabrics, spray hairspray on stain, place a piece of tape over the stain then rip the tape off quickly. The lipstick separates itself from the fabric and sticks to the tape. If there is still some stain left, sprinkle some talcum powder on the stain and tap the stain with your finger. Shake off excess powder and repeat if necessary.
- Remove stains off your white fabrics by soaking them in vinegar. The vinegar breaks down the stain components and loosens them. Just soak the item in vinegar for a few minutes and launder normally. Hang dry.
- Lemon juice or lemon wedges rubbed onto the stain can also break down and remove lipstick stains. Dab repeatedly and launder as usual. Hang dry.
- Because shaving cream is aerated soap, apply a quarter-sized amount of white shaving cream to stain. Wait about 15 minutes and dab stain with a damp cloth. Next, rinse with water or club soda.
- If baking soda is your thing, scoop a spoonful of baking soda onto the stain and gently scrub the baking soda into the stain using an old toothbrush. Add a little more baking soda and a few drops of vinegar onto the spot and watch it foam. Lightly scrub spot with a toothbrush until the stain disappears. Launder as usual.
- Massage some white toothpaste into the lipstick stain. Rinse with cool water. Repeat if necessary.
Be sure to wash the fabric within a few hours after pre-treating the stain. Follow the garment’s regular laundering instructions.
