Make sure the material you lay it on is fairly absorbent and that the floor, table, or counter top underneath isn’t vulnerable to stains — if you use a towel that’s too thin or work on top of a white surface, you’ll risk spreading the stain. If using a cloth or sponge, make sure it is clean before use; you don’t want to add more grime!
You have many possibilities in terms of cleaning solutions — depending on the precise nature of the stain and the fabric of your clothes, different cleaners may be appropriate at different occasions. The following cleaners are discussed in the subsection below — scroll down for more information:[1] X Research source Dish soap and water Acetone and other mineral solvents Denatured (rubbing) alcohol Ammonia Certain commercial stain removal products Home-made solutions like lemon juice, vinegar, etc. ; or a paste made by mixing baking soda and water
As you do this, take care not let your garment or the towel on the bottom move around, as this can spread the stain.
For maximum cleaning power, consider using our instructions below for pre-treating a stained garment prior to doing a load of laundry.
Note that acetone is most widely available as nail polish remover. If you want to use commercial nail polish remover as a stain remover, be sure to use the closest variety to pure acetone available that doesn’t include added dyes.
Though it’s cheap, rubbing alcohol isn’t always available in the “cleaning” aisle of grocery stores. You may need to visit a hardware store or pharmacy to find it.
In addition, it’s worth noting that ammonia can damage no-wax tiles and floors, so avoid working on these surfaces. [3] X Research source When you use ammonia, it’s very important to remember that it reacts with bleach to form toxic gas. [4] X Research source Never use ammonia to clean a garment when you intend to launder it with bleach after.
White vinegar (not balsamic or apple cider) Lemon juice Baking soda and water Eucalyptus oil Citrus peels
Don’t rub the water in — as noted above, this can spread the stain.
For added results, you may also want to work the detergent into the fabric from the reverse side. This is a useful tactic because it helps works the lipstick away from the fabric, rather than into it. Be sure to use a detergent that’s safe for your fabric — check the garment’s care label if you have any doubts.
Many cleaning resources state that it is safe to wash a lipstick-stained garment with other clothes as long as excess lipstick has been scraped off. If you’re concerned about the color from the lipstick staining the rest of the clothes, you may want to wash your garment separately to be safe.
If you have clear weather outside, you may want to consider drying your garment in the sun on a drying rack or line. The sun’s rays are known to lighten stains during the drying process. However, it’s important to note that leaving colored clothes out for days at a time can cause their colors to fade.
Don’t work jelly into more of the fabric than is necessary to cover the stain, as, in sufficient quantities, petroleum jelly can be hard to remove from fabric itself. If you are eventually left with a separate stain from the jelly, use rubbing alcohol to treat it. [6] X Research source
Note that this method works best if it’s performed right after the stain is made, before it has a chance to set. If it’s attempted after the stain has had a chance to set, it may not work perfectly.
As noted above, you’ll want to be sure to dab, not scrub, as this can spread the now-loosened stain.
Consider using the pre-treatment method above to enhance the stain-fighting power of your laundry cycle.
