One quick hug, a makeup touch-up, or a lipstick mark on your collar can leave behind a surprisingly stubborn stain. Don’t throw the garment in the washer just yet. Lipstick combines pigments with oily and waxy ingredients, so simply washing it can leave a faint pink or red shadow behind.

The trick is to remove the excess first, break down the oily residue, and treat the stain before it ever reaches the dryer. For most washable fabrics, liquid laundry detergent is a good first choice, while rubbing alcohol can help with stubborn pigment.

Before You Treat the Stain

Check the garment’s care label first.

If the item is labeled dry clean only, made from silk, wool, velvet, or another delicate material, don’t experiment with household stain removers. A professional cleaner is the safer choice.

For washable clothing, test your chosen treatment on an inconspicuous area first, especially if the garment is brightly colored.

Step 1: Remove Any Excess Lipstick

If there’s still a visible layer of lipstick sitting on the fabric, don’t rub it.

Instead, use the edge of a spoon or a dull knife to gently lift the excess from the surface. The goal is to remove as much lipstick as possible without spreading it into the surrounding fibers.

Step 2: Start With Liquid Laundry Detergent

For most washable garments, this should be your first treatment.

The American Cleaning Institute recommends pretreating lipstick stains with a prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, or a paste made from powdered detergent and water before laundering.

Here’s what to do:

1. Apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent directly to the stain.
2. Gently work it into the fabric with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush.
3. Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
4. Rinse according to the garment’s care instructions.
5. Wash normally.

Don’t aggressively scrub. You want to loosen the lipstick, not push it deeper into the fabric.

What About Dish Soap?

Dish soap can be useful when you’re dealing with an especially oily makeup stain because it’s designed to cut through grease.

However, liquid laundry detergent is the more straightforward first choice for lipstick on washable clothing. If you use dish soap, use only a small amount and rinse the garment thoroughly before washing.

This is particularly useful when the lipstick contains a heavy balm or oily gloss.

Step 3: Try Rubbing Alcohol on Stubborn Pigment

If you’ve treated the stain with detergent but a strong red or pink pigment remains, rubbing alcohol may help.

The American Cleaning Institute specifically recommends 70% or 90% rubbing alcohol for removing lipstick from washable napkins. The technique is to place absorbent paper towels underneath the stained fabric and dab the stain so the pigment transfers into the towel rather than spreading through the garment.

Use it carefully:

1. Place several layers of white paper towel underneath the stain.
2. Dampen a clean white cloth or cotton pad with rubbing alcohol.
3. Dab the lipstick from the outside toward the center.
4. Replace the paper towel underneath as it picks up the pigment.
5. Continue until little or no color transfers.
6. Rinse thoroughly.
7. Wash according to the care label.

Always test the alcohol first. Solvents can affect some dyes and finishes.

Don’t Reach for Nail Polish Remover First

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