Lip gloss can easily transfer onto clothes and leave behind stubborn stains. However, with the right techniques, you can remove lip gloss from fabrics.
Have you ever found yourself in a panic after discovering an unwelcome lip gloss stain ruining one of your favorite outfits? If you’ve ever felt the dread of realizing too late that your gloss had left behind an unwanted mark, you’re not alone. It is a beauty product notorious for wreaking havoc on clothes if precautions aren’t taken.
Whether you’re in a rush getting ready in the morning or enjoying an intimate moment that led to a gloss mishap, finding a lip stain where it doesn’t belong can instantly ruin your mood. Removing lip gloss from fabric is possible with the right know-how. In this blog post, we’ll break down the chemistry behind what makes lip gloss such a stubborn stain and share my arsenal of tried-and-true techniques for defeating this pesky beauty nemesis once and for all.
Can You Remove Lip Gloss from Clothes?
Yes, it is possible to remove lip gloss stains from clothes. It marks can be tricky because the ingredients are designed to last. But with some effort, you can lift lip gloss from fabrics. Read about: Mascara Cause a Stye
What Type of Stain is Lip Gloss?
Lip gloss contains oils, waxes, and pigments that bond tightly to fibers. This makes it resistant to water and difficult to budge with just soap and water. It stains are considered non-water-based or oil-based stains. Special cleaning techniques are needed to cut through the oily components clinging to clothes.
Stubborn stains
The longer a lip gloss stain sits, the harder it will be to remove. For fresh stains, treatment is more likely to succeed. For set-in stains, you may need to do multiple wash cycles or pre-treatments.
Step-by-step solutions
Here are some effective methods to treat lip gloss stains:
Scrape off excess
Use a dull knife or plastic utensil to scrape away any visible lip gloss on the fabric before washing. This removes the bulk of the stain.
Dish soap or liquid detergent
Dab a few drops of dish soap or laundry detergent directly on the stain. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes before washing. The degreasing agents help dissolve the oils.
Baking soda
Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and rub it in. Let sit for at least an hour before washing. The abrasiveness of baking soda works well against stubborn residues.
White vinegar
Soak the stained area in undiluted white vinegar for 30 minutes before washing. Vinegar cuts through grease and neutralizes odors.
OxiClean
Make a paste of OxiClean powder and water. Spread it on the stain and let sit overnight. The enzymes in OxiClean break down oil-based messes.
Rubbing alcohol
Saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and dab it on the stain. The alcohol dissolves the waxy lip gloss components.
Other options
Additionally, try using hairspray, laundry pre-treaters, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide on stains. Apply the product, wait, and then wash.
Wash the clothes
After pretreating, wash the garment in the warmest water safe for the fabric. Use a high-efficiency (HE) detergent and the soil/stain cycle if available.
When to avoid DIY solutions
If home treatments don’t work after several attempts, it’s best to take the item to a dry cleaner. Professionals have stronger cleaners that may succeed where homemade remedies fail. Give up if the stain seems ingrained – it’s not worth risking damage to the fabric.
How to avoid lip gloss stains
To prevent stains in the first place, use a lip balm instead of gloss. Wipe away any gloss that gets on your clothes right away with a damp cloth. Keep stain-prone clothes from touching your face when wearing lip products.
11 Effective Techniques to Get Lip Gloss Stain Out of Clothes
Here are some specific techniques:
Rubbing ammonia into the stained area
Ammonia breaks down oil-based residues like lip gloss. Saturate a cotton ball and gently rub it into the stain.
Pouring a small amount of liquid detergent
Let it soak in before washing to cut through grease and dissolve the staining agents.
Wiping the affected area with rubbing alcohol
The alcohol solubilizes waxy makeup components for easier removal.
Applying with hairspray
The chemicals in spray hair products also dissolve lipids and makeup.
Using a laundry detergent
Pre-treat stains with HE detergent and let sit for stain-fighting power.
Dabbing off with acetone and other home products
Acetone nail polish remover melts away stubborn gloss.
Making a lemon juice and baking soda paste
The acidity cuts grease while baking soda scours.
Squeezing shaving cream on the stained area
The lubricating lather helps scrape away residues.
Putting with baby powder or chalk
The absorbency wicks away waxy textures.
Spreading peanut butter
The oils counteract the staining oils for easier washing out.
Rubbing some salt
The coarse granules abrade caked-on grime.
Take Key Points
- Lip gloss stains are oil-based and need degreasing.
- Pretreat to break down the stain before machine washing.
- Scrape, scrub, or soak for stubborn stains using cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, or detergent.
- Always check care tags before using very strong chemicals on delicate fabrics.
- Patience and multiple washings may be needed for set stains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get a lip gloss stain out of clothes?
Dish soap, baking soda, vinegar, and enzyme-based cleaners like OxiClean work well.
How do you get lipstick out of clothes that have been dried?
When dry, stains are harder to remove. Apply a pre-treater and let sit overnight before washing to re-wet the stain. It may take extra cycles.
Does lip gloss wash off?
Fresh lip gloss stains can be harder to remove than dried gloss that has set into fibers. Its oily formula is meant to last. Special cleaning methods work better than just soap and water.
How do you get lip balm out of clothes?
Follow similar techniques to those used for lip gloss: spot treats with cleaners like hairspray or rubbing alcohol, or make a paste from lemon and baking soda to scrub out the fatty residues.
Final Thoughts
With the strategies covered here, you now have the power to remove lip gloss stains from clothing items you thought were destroyed forever. By understanding how to leverage the chemical properties of common household ingredients, you can safely and effectively lift even stubborn gloss residues out of delicate fabrics. Never again will lip products get the last laugh at staining your stylish ensembles.
While prevention through mindfulness of where gloss is applied remains the ultimate defense, accidents do happen. I hope the goldmine of techniques in this guide has armed you with just the right lip gloss stain solutions for any crisis. Whether the spill was fresh or had dried, a light stain or deep set, these methods address all scenarios. Feel empowered to take control of future gloss mishaps with confidence.
Your outfit is no longer at the mercy of the gloss gods. The science of solvents, enzymes, acids, and abrasives can counter any textile terrorism carried out by lip products in your care. By refusing to give up on stained items and instead tapping into practical solutions, you gain stayed power over one of fashion’s peskiest problems. Never again surrender to the frustration of a gloss graveyard in your closet.
