The Versatile Household Staple That Gets Stubborn Lipstick Stains Out Of Fabric

We love bold lipstick, but we don't love it when the stars misalign for a moment and we snag our lips on a piece of clothing. Because lipstick is a mix of an intense pigment, beeswax or carnauba wax, and mineral oil or cocoa butter, it creates a multidimensional stain. Each of those main ingredients has to come out, ideally without ruining the fabric. And, because time and a few wash cycles may pass before we catch a small lipstick smudge, it can set in and get stubborn.

We recommend you don't try to remove a lipstick stain yourself on any item of clothing that's marked "dry clean only." Bring it to the cleaners and point out the area that needs special attention. But otherwise, you can DIY it with WD-40. Eye shadow, foundation, and mascara can also stain clothes while we're prepping for our day. To get mascara, foundation, etc. off your clothes, there's a bathroom staple that'll make removing other types of makeup a breeze. 

If you've somehow kissed your own shirt with a full mouthful of lipstick, you can remove the resulting stain. If you're doing this at home, you have a few options that we'll outline. First, though, go into the garage and grab your WD-40, some paper towels, and cloth you don't mind imprinting with the lipstick stain.

WD-40 was originally invented in the 1950s to prevent rust from forming on rocket ships. Now it's used as a lubricant for squeaky hinges or lawnmower motor blades and to restore cars to a higher level of functioning. Incredibly, WD-40 is all you need to eliminate blood stains, and it turns out, it works safely to lift lipstick in a few steps.

If it's a recent stain that hasn't been setting for months or years, WD-40 has some tips. First, assemble these items: a clean rag made from cloth you can dispose of (you'll transfer the lipstick onto it); paper towels; and your WD-40. Place your clothing stain-side-down onto the rag. Spray the WD-40 on the back of the stain, then press a paper towel into it. Or, instead of a paper towel, use another clean rag and press that into the back of the stain. Keep replacing the material under the stain until the stain has transferred away completely. Rinse your garment with running water and then wash it to get rid of the lubricant.

If the lipstick stain has been settling into the fabric for a while then get either ammonia, liquid dishwashing detergent, or rubbing alcohol (you only need one of these). With alcohol, use the same method — place the clothing face-down and dab the stain from behind. Blot, don't rub.

Or if you have dishwashing liquid that specifically fights grease, soak the stain with it for ten minutes then blot, starting around the perimeter. Don't use any detergent containing bleach. Before using ammonia, see how much of the lipstick you can rinse out under the tap, then spot clean with an ammonia-soaked Q-Tip. 

Martha Stewart recommends another process as well. First, if the stain is thick enough, scrape off the excess with a butter knife. Assemble a cloth underneath the item; get a clean eyedropper; a dry solvent like acetone or mineral spirits; a small brush like a clean toothbrush you'll then discard; rubbing alcohol; and a cleaning solution. Make the cleaning solution from one tablespoon of fragrance- and dye-free liquid detergent containing sodium laurel (or laureth) sulfate and a cup of water. Apply the dry solvent to the stain using the eyedropper, then brush. Apply the alcohol then blot with a paper towel. Repeat until the color is gone, then spray with the cleaning solution. Spot treat with an enzyme detergent, then launder. If your clothing is acetate, don't use acetone.