How to Remove Lipstick from Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

A lipstick tube opened in your bag and smeared on your shirt. Or you hugged someone wearing lipstick and now there’s a pink mark on your collar. Lipstick is a combination of oil, wax, and pigment, which makes it a challenging stain. The oil and wax bond with fabric fibers, and the pigment leaves a visible mark. But with the right treatment, lipstick can be removed from most washable fabrics. The key is breaking down the oil and wax first, then removing the pigment. Here’s how.

Lipstick stains on clothes are marks caused by a combination of oil, wax, and pigment that bond with fabric fibers. The oil and wax make the stain water-resistant, while the pigment creates the visible color. Removing lipstick requires breaking down the oil and wax with a solvent or surfactant, then removing the pigment.

To remove lipstick from clothes, scrape off excess lipstick, apply dish soap or rubbing alcohol to break down the oil and wax, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash in warm water with an enzyme detergent. For stubborn stains, use OxiClean Max Force Spray. Check before drying.

Step-by-Step: Fresh Lipstick Stains

Step 1: Scrape Off Excess Lipstick

Use the edge of a butter knife or credit card to lift any excess lipstick from the surface. Don’t rub, as rubbing spreads the lipstick.

Step 2: Apply Dish Soap

Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap directly to the stain. Dish soap breaks down the oil and wax in lipstick.

Step 3: Work It In Gently

Press the dish soap into the stain with your fingers. Don’t rub, as rubbing spreads the pigment.

Step 4: Let It Sit for 10 Minutes

The dish soap needs time to break down the oil and wax.

Step 5: Rinse with Warm Water from the Back

Hold the stained area under warm running water from the back of the fabric. The warm water helps melt the wax and flush it away.

Step 6: Wash in Warm Water

Wash the garment in warm water with an enzyme detergent like Tide Free and Gentle. Check before drying.

For Stubborn or Set-In Lipstick Stains

If dish soap alone doesn’t remove the lipstick, try these stronger treatments:

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol dissolves the oil and wax in lipstick.

Step 1: Apply rubbing alcohol. Soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and dab it onto the stain.

Step 2: Blot, don’t rub. Press the cotton ball onto the stain and lift. The alcohol dissolves the oil and wax, and the pigment transfers to the cotton ball.

Step 3: Move to a clean cotton ball. Repeat with a fresh cotton ball until the stain fades.

Step 4: Wash. Wash in warm water with enzyme detergent.

The drawback: rubbing alcohol can affect some fabric dyes. Test on an inconspicuous area first.

OxiClean Max Force Spray

OxiClean Max Force Spray contains enzymes that break down oil and pigment.

Step 1: Spray the stain. Spray until saturated.

Step 2: Let it sit for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Wash. Wash in warm water with enzyme detergent. Not safe on silk or wool.

Hairspray (Old Method)

Older hairspray formulations contained enough alcohol to dissolve lipstick. Modern formulations have less alcohol, so this is less reliable. If you try it, spray the stain, let it sit for 2 minutes, then blot with a clean cloth and wash.

Baking Soda Paste

Mix Arm and Hammer Baking Soda with dish soap to form a paste. Apply to the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, scrub gently with a toothbrush, then wash.

Lipstick on Different Fabrics

Fabric	Best Treatment	What to Avoid
Cotton	Dish soap, rubbing alcohol, OxiClean	Hot water before treatment
Polyester	Dish soap, rubbing alcohol	Acetone
Denim	Dish soap, OxiClean	Hot water
Silk	Professional cleaning	All home treatments
Wool	Dish soap (gentle), professional cleaning	Rubbing alcohol, OxiClean
White cotton	Dish soap + chlorine bleach (for pigment)	Hot water before treatment

What Not to Do

Don’t rub. Rubbing spreads the pigment and pushes it deeper. Blot or press gently.

Don’t use hot water first. Hot water can melt the wax deeper into the fibers. Use warm water after treating with dish soap.

Don’t put the garment in the dryer. Dryer heat sets lipstick permanently. Always air dry and check first.

Don’t use acetone on synthetics. Acetone dissolves some synthetic fibers.

Don’t use bar soap. Some bar soaps contain oils that make the stain worse.

Don’t wash with other clothes. The oil and pigment can transfer to other garments.

FAQ

How do you remove lipstick from clothes? Scrape off excess lipstick, apply dish soap to break down the oil and wax, let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse with warm water from the back, then wash in warm water with an enzyme detergent. For stubborn stains, use rubbing alcohol or OxiClean Max Force Spray.

Does dish soap remove lipstick from clothes? Yes. Dish soap breaks down the oil and wax in lipstick. Apply it full strength to the stain, work it in gently, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse and wash.

Does rubbing alcohol remove lipstick from clothes? Yes. Rubbing alcohol dissolves the oil and wax in lipstick. Apply it to the stain with a cotton ball, blot (don’t rub), and repeat until the stain fades. Test on an inconspicuous area first.

Can you get dried lipstick out of clothes? Yes, but it’s harder. Apply rubbing alcohol to dissolve the oil and wax, then use OxiClean Max Force Spray to break down the pigment. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash in warm water with enzyme detergent. Repeat if needed.

Can you put lipstick-stained clothes in the dryer? Don’t put lipstick-stained clothes in the dryer until the stain is completely gone. Dryer heat sets lipstick permanently. Always air dry and check first.

How do you remove lipstick from delicate fabrics? For silk and wool, take the garment to a professional cleaner. Don’t use rubbing alcohol, OxiClean, or acetone on delicate fabrics. For gentle treatment, apply a small amount of dish soap and blot gently.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Lipstick Stains from Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Remove Lipstick from Clothes.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “How to Get Lipstick Out of Clothes.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. OxiClean. “Makeup Stain Removal Guide.” oxiclean.com.