How to Remove Lipstick Stains from Clothes at Home

So, picture this: you just pulled together the most fire fit, you’re rocking your favorite lipstick (like, the one that instantly puts you in that mood—y’all know which one I’m talking about), and boom, you drop your lipstick on your all-white, freshly-washed, super cute top. Like, IS THIS A JOKE?? We’ve all been there, babes. Lipstick stains on clothes are a whole mood killer, especially when you’re trying to slay the day. Fear not though, ‘cause I got you covered! Let’s fix this, so you can be back serving looks in no time. 

Step 1: Act Fast, Girl!

Alright so first things first, your initial reaction LITERALLY makes all the difference in saving your fave outfit from becoming a “fix-it-later” pile disaster. And trust me, the quicker you act, the better your chances are of giving that lipstick stain an eviction notice. 

Alright, here’s what you do: grab a paper towel and gently blot the stain. Key word? Gently. Seriously, don’t rub it or you’ll make it worse. You don’t wanna, like, smear the lipstick everywhere and make the stain bigger. Dab it, babes, like you dab your highlight: light but intentional. 

Blot, don’t rub! Rubbing is the enemy of stained clothes and will spread that lipstick everywhere.

Step 2: Don’t Be Afraid to Use Hairspray

Yep, you read that right! Hairspray is not just for keeping your curls in place or the flyaways at bay. It’s actually a MAGICALLY underrated trick for getting rid of lipstick stains. Here’s how you do it:

1. Pull out your trusty hairspray (the stuff we use when we want our hair to not move in a hurricane).
2. Lightly spray the stain—like don’t drench the fabric, just a light mist is good.
3. Let it sit for a minute or two (sip a Starbucks or scroll TikTok while you wait).
4. Take a clean cloth or sponge and start dabbing (again, remember: NO rubbing).
5. Now, rinse it under cold water and let’s see some of that magic.

You’ll notice the stain loosening up! Hairspray 1, lipstick stain 0! 💅

Step 3: Hit ‘Em With Dish Soap and Some Cold Water

Girls, y’all know dish soap cuts through grease like A BOSS, and guess what? Lipstick is all like, oils and waxes, so dish soap is killer at breaking it down. Here’s how to make the dish soap magic happen:

1. Take some plain ol’ dish soap (nothing fancy…just whatever you have from washing dishes).
2. Put just a small amount right on the stain.
3. Gently work the soap into the fabric with your finger or a soft toothbrush. A tiny little swirl gets the job done. (Lowkey feels like you’re getting ready to paint your face but reversed, lol).
4. Rinse with cold water.

Cold water is key here ‘cause hot water can, like, melt the lipstick deeper into the fibers of your shirt or whatever you stained it on. Cold water helps “kick” the lipstick out, not pull it in.

Step 4: Nail Polish Remover to the Rescue

Okay, let’s pull out the bad boy: nail polish remover (NON-ACETONE, babes)! This stuff is a life saver, but I gotta warn ya—non-acetone is the superstar here. Acetone might wreck your fabric, ruining your whole vibe.

Here’s what you do:

1. Take a cotton ball or Q-tip (whatever’s convenient really).
2. Get some non-acetone nail polish remover on that stain. Don’t drown it in remover; just enough to dampen things.
3. Gently dab at the lipstick. You know the mantra already: dabbing > rubbing.

Tbh, nail polish remover works wonders, especially if the lipstick is one of those matte formulas that take a diamond drill to even budge (you know, like the ones that last all day before you even think about reapplying?).

Step 5: Get Some Makeup Remover (Yes, I Said Makeup Remover)

Jokes aside, the same stuff that takes makeup off your face could be your STAIN-FIGHTER, too! If it wipes off your eyeliner, liquid lippy should be no problem. Micellar water or makeup remover wipes are both A+, but micellar water is probably just a tad better for this. Why? ‘Cause the tiny cleansing molecules in micellar water straight up trap oil and dirt (smart little baddies, fr) WITHOUT needing to rub or scrub.

1. Soak a cotton ball or pad with your fave makeup remover.
2. Dab (again dabbing—we’re feeling like beauty chemists over here).
3. Depending on how bad the stain is, you might need to repeat the process a few times. Be patient during this phase.

Step 6: White Vinegar and Baking Soda Combo

Okay, NOW we’re pulling out the DIY big guns. The vinegar and baking soda combo is one those classic hacks that saves a lot of things in life (stains, smells, household drama, you name it). If your lipstick stain is givin’ you zero signs of retreat, try this out:

1. Pour white vinegar over the stain until it soaks the fabric.
2. Take some baking soda and sprinkle a bit on top.
3. Watch that fizz go wheee! 🙌 (Yes, it’s kinda fun to see, ngl.)
4. Gently scrub the spot with a toothbrush again. It’s like magic scrubbing your stain out—it’ll foam, and you’ll feel like you’re in a TikTok demonstration.

Let it sit for a few minutes, rinse with cold water, and BAM! Stain gone, hopefully! 

Step 7: Laundry Detergent That LOVES Lipstick

You know that laundry detergent you’ve got sitting around that can handle your dirty gym clothes? Yup, now it’s rescuing your lipstick-stained sadness. You don’t need to get fancy-fancy detergent for this—just any liquid laundry detergent that works best for your typical loads will do.

Here’s the plan:

1. Rub a small bit of detergent directly onto the stain.
2. Throw the outfit in the washing machine ASAP on a cold setting. (Hot = no no).
3. Check the stain once it’s done, ‘cause if it didn’t totally disappear, it’s better you rewash before drying!

Super important moment here: Do NOT toss the item into your dryer if you still see the lipstick hinting at you ‘cause that heat will make things PERMANENT. Like, that ain’t coming out anytime soon permanent. 😬

Don’t throw stained clothes into the dryer! Heat will set the stain in, and then you’ll be mad forever, and nobody has time for that!

When to Bring in the Pros

Alright, so let’s be real: as much as we want to be DIY beauty queens, sometimes, if you’ve used like every hack I mentioned above and the lipstick stain is still giving you the side-eye, it might be time to bring out the big guns (aka, professionals). That’s like, your last resort though, especially if the clothing item is expensive or super sentimental. The pros have tricks they likely won’t even tell us about (rude, but what can you do?).

But here’s to hoping they won’t be needed ‘cause listen: you’re a boss—you got this.

Bonus Vibes: Lipstick-Stain-Proof Your Life

Now that we’ve learned all the ways to fix lipstick mishaps like the pros we are, can I just throw in a quick tip for not even spilling lipstick in the first place?

Literally, try to keep your lipstick in your cute lil’ makeup pouch (you know, with all your lip glosses, brushes, and the like). If you’re doing touch-ups on the go, maybe just like… pop a tissue under your chin or neck if you’re feeling clumsy. It’s not groundbreaking, but hey, any lil’ prevention helps keep you stress-free from stain drama.

And there you go! Now you’re basically a lipstick stain removing QUEEN. You can totally rock that perfect red or nude lip without the fear of a wardrobe meltdown if that lipstick happens to jump outta your hand like mine does (seriously, makeup just has a mind of its own sometimes, right?).

Just remember: don’t panic if you make a mess. Lipstick stains might try to come for you, but at least now, you’re ready to win the fight. 💪 Plain and simple: stains don’t stand a chance, babes! 💋