For washable clothes, gently lift away excess makeup, pretreat the mark, and wash at the hottest temperature the care label allows. Check the stain before drying; if it remains, treat and wash again rather than putting the garment in a hot dryer. For dry-clean-only or delicate items, follow the garment’s care instructions instead of using a general home-wash method.
How to remove makeup from washable clothes
- Check the garment care label. Confirm that the item is washable and note its temperature and cleaning instructions. If it is dry-clean-only, delicate, or otherwise unsuitable for home laundering, use the care route stated on the label.
- Lift off excess product. Use a spoon or dull edge to gently remove makeup sitting on the fabric. Avoid rubbing, which can work it farther into the fibers.
- Pretreat the mark. Apply a prewash stain remover or liquid laundry detergent as directed on its package. For cosmetics or lipstick, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) also describes a paste made from powdered detergent and water. For foundation, Clorox suggests gently working dish soap or detergent from the stain’s outside toward its center to loosen oily components; test an inconspicuous area first if you are unsure about colorfastness.
- Wash according to the label. Use the hottest temperature the garment permits—not a universal hot setting. Follow the garment and stain-treatment product instructions.
- Inspect before drying. If the mark is still visible, repeat pretreatment and washing as the labels allow. Keep the garment out of the machine dryer until the stain is gone, since heat may set a remaining mark. Air-dry while checking the result.
ACI’s general guidance is to use a prewash stain remover on makeup and launder at the hottest water temperature safe for the fabric. ACI also notes that less time for a stain to soak in generally makes it easier to remove, though older stains can still be treated: ACI’s Stain Removal Guide and Ask ACI: Make Up Stains.
Foundation: loosen the oily mark, then check it
Foundation formulas vary, and some contain oily components. After lifting off excess, use liquid laundry detergent or an appropriate prewash treatment, then wash at the garment’s label-approved temperature. Clorox also describes a product-specific color-safe pretreatment and soaking approach for larger foundation stains; any measurements or soak duration in that guidance apply to the named product, not as a universal recipe. See Clorox’s foundation stain guidance.
Lipstick: treat as a potentially stubborn stain
For washable clothing, start with gentle removal of surface product, pretreat, and launder according to the garment label. ACI notes that lipstick may need another round of pretreatment and laundering if the mark persists.
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ACI’s method for white cloth napkins
For white cloth napkins, ACI describes placing the stained side face down on absorbent towels, then dabbing the back with 70% or 90% rubbing alcohol so pigment transfers to the towels. Follow with prewash spray, rinse, wash, and air-dry. This is guidance for its napkin example, not a blanket method for all clothes: check the garment label and test an inconspicuous spot before using alcohol on other textiles.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other makeup and treatment choices
Face makeup and other cosmetics do not all have the same formula, so a treatment that helps with one product may not work identically on another. For washable items, ACI’s general approach is prewash stain remover followed by laundering at the hottest temperature safe for the fabric. The practical options supported by the guidance are:
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- Prewash stain remover: Use only in a way compatible with the garment and according to the product label.
- Liquid laundry detergent: A pretreatment option for washable items; check the stain and garment instructions.
- Powdered-detergent paste: ACI lists this as an option for cosmetics and lipstick; use it in keeping with the garment’s care instructions.
There is no single treatment established here as best for every fabric or cosmetic formula, and complete removal cannot be promised. Results depend on the product, fabric, how long the stain has been present, and whether it has already been exposed to heat. Tide also advises following the garment’s care-label temperature directions in its makeup stain guidance.
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