Acetone and nail-polish removers can be useful for certain stains, but they’re not a good default treatment for lipstick.
The risk isn’t worth it when safer options such as laundry detergent and, when appropriate, rubbing alcohol are available. Solvents can damage or discolor some fabrics, so avoid experimenting on delicate or unknown materials.
If you’re dealing with an expensive garment, follow the care label or take it to a professional cleaner instead.
Skip the Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda is a popular DIY stain-removal ingredient, but it’s not necessary here.
Because lipstick stains contain oily and pigmented components, a detergent-based pretreatment is a more targeted option. The American Cleaning Institute’s lipstick guidance prioritizes detergent-based pretreatment or rubbing alcohol rather than baking soda.
In other words, don’t make the process more complicated than it needs to be.
Wash the Garment Normally
Once you’ve treated the stain, wash the garment according to its care label.
Use the appropriate cycle and water temperature for the fabric. Don’t automatically choose the hottest setting just because the stain is stubborn.
After washing, inspect the garment before putting it in the dryer. If you can still see lipstick, treat it again.
Heat from the dryer can make a remaining stain significantly harder to remove.
If the Lipstick Stain Has Already Dried
Don’t assume a dried lipstick stain means the garment is ruined.
Start by gently lifting away any hardened lipstick from the surface. Then apply liquid laundry detergent and allow it time to work into the stain.
If pigment remains after pretreatment, you can move on to the rubbing-alcohol method after testing the fabric for colorfastness.
Older stains may need more than one treatment, so resist the temptation to use stronger chemicals or scrub harder.
What Not to Do
A few mistakes can turn a manageable lipstick mark into a much bigger problem.
Don’t rub the stain aggressively. This can spread the pigment.
Don’t put the garment straight into the dryer. Check the stain first.
Don’t use a solvent without testing it. Some fabrics and dyes don’t tolerate alcohol or other solvents.
Don’t mix cleaning products. Stick with one treatment at a time and rinse between different products.
Don’t ignore the care label. A delicate garment needs a different approach from a washable cotton T-shirt.
The Quickest Method to Remember
If you want to keep it simple, remember this order:
Lift → Treat → Blot → Wash → Check → Repeat
- Lift excess lipstick with a spoon or dull knife.
- Treat with liquid laundry detergent.
- Blot gently if pigment remains.
- Wash according to the care label.
- Check before drying.
- Repeat if you can still see the stain.
For particularly stubborn pigment on a washable, colorfast fabric, rubbing alcohol can be used carefully as a second-line treatment.
Final Thoughts
A lipstick stain looks dramatic because the pigment is so noticeable, but you usually don’t need a cabinet full of specialty products to deal with it.
Start with the simplest approach: remove the excess, pretreat with liquid laundry detergent, wash according to the care label, and inspect the garment before it goes anywhere near the dryer. If a stubborn pigment remains, rubbing alcohol can be an effective next step when the fabric can safely tolerate it.
The biggest mistake is usually not the lipstick itself—it’s setting the stain with heat before you’ve finished treating it.
