Oh. My. Gosh. Let’s just take a moment to appreciate how FAB red lipstick is. I mean, seriously—it’s iconic, bold, and confident. A good red lip can elevate any makeup look from “meh” to slay. BUT, red lipstick on clothes? Yeah, not so much. There’s literally nothing worse than getting that perfect shade on your favorite shirt, and you’re like, “Now what?!”
Don’t freak out! I know that feeling when your heart sinks because that red lipstick stain is staring back at you like it’s laughing in your face. But before you throw that cute top in the trash, I got you covered! I’m about to share ALL the best tips to get that stubborn red lipstick out of your clothes ’cause, girl—your shirt deserves better.
Why Is Red Lipstick So Stubborn?
Okay, real talk. Lipstick has a lot going on. It’s got oils, pigments (hello, that gorgeous red), and waxes. That’s how it stays on your lips forever and ever during your night out. But, unfortunately, those same ingredients also make it suuuper tricky to get out of clothes. Pigments, in particular, are designed to stay put—which is great for your face…not so much for your cute white tee.
But don’t worry! These methods are tested, and I pinky swear you won’t need crazy fancy products. You can totally tackle this with stuff you probably already have like dish soap and rubbing alcohol. Ready for a lipstick stain removal master class? Let’s goooo!
Step One: Stop, Breathe, and Grab a Paper Towel
First off, the most important thing to remember is to act fast! The longer that lipstick sits, the harder it’s going to be to get out. So, as soon as disaster strikes, reach for a paper towel and start blotting. Don’t rub! I repeat—don’t rub! You don’t want to push the lipstick deeper into the fabric. Just blot the lipstick gently to lift off as much as possible.
Blot that stain like your life (or fave shirt) depends on it!
Blotting kinda feels like you’re doing nothing, but trust me, every little bit counts.
Step Two: Dish Soap Is Your New BFF
Now onto the good stuff! Run to your kitchen and grab some dish soap. And no, not because it’s time to do dishes (ugh, no one has time for that). But seriously, this is like liquid gold for stains. Dish soap is really effective at breaking through grease and oils (which is most of what’s in your lipstick).
- What to do: Put just a few drops of dish soap on the stain; don’t go overboard. Then gently rub the fabric together or use a soft toothbrush to work the soap into the stain. This is NOT the time to get rough. Imagine you’re giving the fabric a lil’ massage, not scrubbing it like it owes you money.
Dish soap is lowkey one of the best stain fighters. Who knew, right?!
After this, let the dish soap sit for like 10 minutes. Be patient! This part is critical for letting those oils and pigments break up and dissolve.
Step Three: Time for Some Water Magic
Okay, once your dish soap has had time to do its thing, rinse the area with cold water. And I mean icy cold, because warm water can actually make the stain worse by helping it set into the fibers of your clothes. Yikes!
Use a clean part of the fabric (or fresh paper towels) to blot while you’re rinsing. Remember, you’re lightly dabbing, not scrubbing. We’re not savages—this is a very chill process.
Step Four: Rubbing Alcohol to the Rescue
If it’s a no from the dish soap alone (ugh, stubborn lipstick is THE WORST), you’ll need to pull out the big guns: rubbing alcohol. But before you go ham, test a little spot of the fabric to make sure it won’t mess up the material. Don’t skip this part unless “faded spot” is going for like $500 on Depop (it’s not).
- Rubbing Alcohol hack: Once you’ve done a test patch, pour a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or fresh cloth and lightly dab (no, not that dab, we left that behind in 2016). You’ll be surprised how well alcohol breaks down that pigment and oils.
Wipe the area with another cloth after. You should start to see the red lipstick lift away like magic—and if you don’t, don’t panic! Some heavy-duty stains need a bit more effort. Persistence is key.
Step Five: Laundry Time, but Make It Cold
Finally, toss that stained baby into the washing machine. Make sure to use cold water! Like I said before, warm or hot water can make things worse, and we’re not trying to have a permanent red stain problem in our lives. Use your normal detergent, though if you have a heavy-duty detergent, feel free to upgrade for some extra stain-busting power.
Once it’s washed, check the stain before putting it in the dryer. The dryer can make stains permanent. So, if the lipstick is still there, repeat the dish soap and rubbing alcohol steps before throwing it back in the washer. Ain’t nobody got time for a dried-in stain.
Specific Fabrics Need Some Extra TLC
Okay, so not all clothes are created equal. Satin fabrics, silks, or anything super delicate are going to make things a little trickier. You can still use the dish soap/rubbing alcohol technique, but start with less product and a lighter touch. Gentleness is key here because you don’t want to damage the fabric. If you’re like, “Su, I seriously don’t want to mess this up,” drag that fancy top to a dry cleaner. They’ll know exactly how to handle it.
If you’re that person who just happens to get lipstick on a silk dress…please give yourself a round of applause for that level of skill. And maybe also run to the dry cleaner ASAP!
The Makeup Artist Hack: Makeup Wipes!
Here’s one for all the lazy girls out there (or, ya know, me). If you keep makeup wipes handy in your bag (which you should, honestly), they can sometimes get you out of a mini stain emergency in the middle of the day. Just like they dissolve makeup on your face, they can help lift fresh lipstick from fabrics. Don’t expect a miracle, but it’s a quick fix in a pinch.
Makeup wipes aren’t strong enough to tackle old, dried-in stains, but they’re perfect for blotting fresh smudges off in the moment. Just don’t rely on them for full-on stain removal.
A Quick Word on Stain Removers
Look, some of us don’t trust our home remedies as much as we should, so if you straight-up feel like you need to buy those dedicated stain removers from stores, you do you! They can definitely do the trick, but honestly, I feel like the whole dish soap and rubbing alcohol thing gives you the same results without spending $$ on an industrial product.
Just don’t mix stain removers with bleach or any other wild chemicals unless you’re, like, super into science and want surprise tie-dye on your shirt.
Prevention: ‘Cause Who Wants This Drama Again?
Okay, let’s be real…the real trick to getting red lipstick out of your clothes is to not get it on there in the first place, right? If you’re throwing on a bold red in the morning, use a tissue or napkin to blot and remove the extra so it doesn’t transfer like, everywhere. Another pro trick? After applying your lipstick, put your finger in your mouth and pull it out (awkward, yup—but effectively removes any excess lipstick that might smudge onto your teeth or clothes). You’re welcome!
And whatever you do, don’t try to put lipstick on while you’re rushing and getting dressed. That’s a recipe for chaos…and stains. Trust.
Final Thoughts on Red Lipstick Drama
Alright fam, so that’s it! Getting red lipstick out of clothes might feel like the universe is out to get you, but with these tips, you’ll 100% be able to save that top. Key takeaways? Blot immediately, break out the dish soap and rubbing alcohol, and COLD water is your BFF. With a little patience, you’ll be strutting in your fave outfit again in no time—lipstick drama totally behind you. Feel free to drop into the comments if you’ve got any other ace tips or if you just want to rant about how wild lipstick stains can be.
Till next time, babes! 👄💄
