To get lipstick out of clothes, act fast, keep your cool, and avoid rubbing. Here’s a friendly, step‑by‑step guide plus some “wish I’d known that sooner” tips.

Quick Scoop

  • Scrape off the extra lipstick (don’t smear it in).
  • Blot from the back of the fabric, not the front.
  • Use a grease‑fighter (like dish soap) or alcohol‑based product.
  • Rinse in cool water and check the stain before drying.
  • Never use heat (hot water or dryer) until the stain is completely gone.

Before You Start

  1. Check the label
    • If it says “dry clean only,” it’s safest to take it to a professional.
    • For silk, wool, or delicate fabrics, always test your method on an inside seam first.
  2. Do NOT do this
    • Don’t rub the stain in circles; that pushes color deeper into the fibers.
 * Don’t use hot water or put the item in the dryer until the stain is fully gone, or you’ll set it.
  1. Blot, don’t scrub
    • Place the stain face down on a clean towel or paper towel so the pigment is pulled out of the fabric, not pushed through.

Fast “Emergency” Method (Party or On‑the‑Go)

This is perfect for a fresh smear on a shirt or dress.

  1. Lay the item stain‑side down on a clean paper towel.
  1. Take rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, or clear vodka on a cotton pad/tissue.
  1. Gently dab the back of the stain, working from the outside in so it doesn’t spread.
  1. Keep changing the paper towel underneath as it absorbs the color.
  1. Once most of the color is out, rinse with cool water and let it air dry until you can properly wash it.

This trick is popular in stain guides and “Love Your Clothes” style videos because alcohol breaks down the wax, oils, and pigment in lipstick without too much scrubbing.

Step‑by‑Step: Dish Soap Deep Clean

Dish soap is a cult favorite because it attacks the oily part of lipstick really well.

  1. Remove excess
    • Carefully lift off any chunks of lipstick with a dull knife or the edge of a card. Don’t smear.
  2. Pre‑treat with dish soap
    • Place the garment stain‑side down on a clean towel.
 * Put a small amount (about a dime‑sized blob) of clear, mild dish soap directly on the back of the stain.

 * Let it sit 10–30 minutes so it can break down oils and waxes.
  1. Blot and gently work it in
    • Blot with a clean cloth or paper towel; don’t rub aggressively.
 * For tougher stains on sturdy fabrics (like cotton shirts), you can gently work the area with a soft toothbrush, moving from the edges inward.
  1. Rinse and wash
    • Rinse thoroughly with cool water to remove all the soap.
 * Wash in the machine or by hand according to the care label, using the warmest water that the label allows (not scalding).
  1. Check before drying
    • Inspect the spot while it’s still wet. If any pink/red shadow remains, repeat the treatment.
    • Only put it in the dryer once you’re truly satisfied—heat will lock in whatever’s left.

Other Home Methods (When You Don’t Have Dish Soap Handy)

These are popular “forum and blog” style tricks that many people swear by, but always spot‑test first.

  1. Shaving cream (foam type)
 * Lay the garment flat and apply foam shaving cream directly on the stain.
 * Gently blot it into the fabric, let it sit 10–20 minutes, then rinse and wash as usual.
 * Works best as a pre‑treat on washable, non‑delicate fabrics.
  1. Hairspray with alcohol
 * Spray an alcohol‑based hairspray onto the stain.
 * Blot with a clean paper towel until color transfers off.
 * Follow with a rinse in cold water and then normal washing.
 * Note: Many modern hairsprays are alcohol‑free; if yours isn’t, this method won’t do much.
  1. Rubbing alcohol (or hand sanitizer)
 * Apply to a cotton ball or cloth, then dab the back of the stain.
 * Continue until the color lifts, then rinse with cool water and wash.
  1. Toothpaste (for stubborn red lipstick on sturdy fabrics)
 * Use a non‑gel, white toothpaste.
 * Apply a thin layer to the stain, gently work it in with your fingers or a soft brush, then rinse with cool water.
 * Repeat if needed, then wash.
  1. Lemon juice + baking soda (old or set stains on non‑delicate fabrics)
 * Mix equal parts lemon juice and baking soda into a paste.
 * Spread over the stain and let sit about 30 minutes.
 * If the fabric is sturdy, lightly scrub, then rinse and wash.
  1. Professional cleaners or color‑safe bleach
    • For whites that are machine‑washable and allow it, you can use color‑safe bleach in the wash cycle (follow label instructions).
 * For delicate fabrics or sentimental pieces, a good dry cleaner is often the safest call.

What to Use on Which Fabric

Here’s a quick guide so you don’t accidentally wreck your clothes:

  • Cotton, polyester, t‑shirts, jeans
    • Dish soap, rubbing alcohol, shaving cream, toothpaste, or lemon + baking soda are usually fine if you test first.
  • Delicate fabrics (silk, wool, cashmere, acetate blends)
    • Avoid harsh solvents like acetone/nail polish remover unless a care expert says it’s okay, as they can damage or dissolve some fibers.
* Stick to very gentle dish soap or take it to a professional cleaner.
  • “Dry clean only”
    • Blot, don’t soak. If the item is valuable, take it to a dry cleaner and point out the lipstick stain specifically.

If the Lipstick Has Already Gone Through the Wash or Dryer

This is the “oh no” moment you see in forum posts where someone washed a lipstick in a pocket and everything comes out speckled.

  • Treat each visible stain with dish soap or a degreaser and cool water, then scrub gently with a brush.
  • You might need multiple passes; some people report that a strong degreaser can still pull a surprising amount of color out even after drying.
  • Be honest with yourself: very old or baked‑in stains may not vanish entirely, but you can usually lighten them enough to make the clothes wearable again.

Keeping It from Happening Again

A few preventative tricks that keep showing up in cleaning guides and beauty blogs:

  • Always close and check lipstick before tossing clothes in a bag, suitcase, or laundry basket.
  • Use a makeup pouch instead of leaving products loose in your purse or coat pockets.
  • Blot excess lipstick onto tissue after applying to reduce transfer.
  • Matte or long‑wear formulas often transfer less, and some natural formulas wash out more easily than heavy petroleum‑based ones.

Quick TL;DR

  • Act quickly, scrape off excess, and work from the back of the fabric.
  • Use dish soap or alcohol‑based products to break down the oils and pigments, then rinse with cool water and wash.
  • Never use heat until the stain is completely gone, and when in doubt—especially with delicate fabrics—get a professional cleaner involved.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.