How to remove foundation stains from clothes

by Abbas Jahangir · July 10, 2024

Thanks to the color pigments, the foundation evens out the complexion, doing a great job with this task. But it sometimes leaves marks on clothes that don’t decorate a white blouse or sweater at all. Don’t be upset, you can deal with such stains even at home.

Which will make the task easier

Here are some rules that will help you wash off foundation:

Before you start cleaning, you need to pay attention to the composition of the cosmetic product, this will determine the method of removing stains. If it does not contain fats, then the task is simplified. However, foundation most often has a greasy base plus a pigment dye.
It is better to start removing stains immediately. Old stains are much more difficult to wash out of clothes.
When you see a dark stain on your clothes, don’t immediately try to wipe it off with whatever you have at hand, like napkins. This will only make the problem worse. The cream will rub firmly into the fabric fibers and spread even more, and you won’t be able to do without special products.
To remove a stain, work from the edge of the stain to the center, trying not to rub it into the fabric.
Before using the chosen stain remover, it is necessary to conduct a test on an inconspicuous area of the item being cleaned, for example, on an inside seam.

Selecting a method depending on the material

Each type of fabric has its own cleaning method.

Cotton

Such fabrics are the most difficult because natural cotton fibers deeply absorb the fatty base of the cream. Here you can use laundry soap. To do this, wet the stain and soap it, and then clean the dirty area with a brush. After waiting a few minutes, the item should be washed in a convenient way.

Synthetics

When removing stains from such items, use a regular stain remover. For white fabric, chlorine-containing bleach is suitable. A synthetic item can simply be soaked in hot water for a couple of hours, and then the stain can be rubbed off.

Wool

You can remove foundation stains from woolen items without soaking or washing. Just sprinkle the stain with starch and wait until it absorbs all the grease. At the end of the procedure, brush off the grains from the clothes. If the stain has not completely disappeared, you can repeat the cleaning.

Silk

For silk, you can use Antipyatin soap, which is specially designed to remove various stains. It is necessary to moisten the stained area and rub it with soap. After that, carefully wash the silk item by hand.

How to use improvised means

To remove fresh traces of water-based foundation, it is better to use a stain remover (you need to take into account the type of fabric), and then wash in warm water with soap or dishwashing liquid. To make the task easier, you can soak the item briefly in water with diluted washing powder.

For such stains, the measures taken are usually quite sufficient. But with old stains, you need to act a little differently.

Dishwashing liquid, which is ideal for removing grease, is what you need in this case. You need to apply it to the dampened stain from the foundation. Wait 30-60 minutes for the product to start working. To be on the safe side, you can sprinkle some soda or salt on top. In the end, all that remains is to rinse the stain with warm water.
Purified gasoline from a hardware store will help wash foundation off things. To clean, apply it to the stain and press cotton pads on the front and back of the item. The dirt will dissolve and be absorbed. After a few minutes, if necessary, wipe the stain with a sponge soaked in the same product. At the end of the procedure, wash the surface. This method is not suitable for silk or velvet items.
Soda with ammonia. Foundation can be removed using a 10% solution of ammonia. To do this, apply alcohol to the stain area and sprinkle baking soda on top. After drying, scrape off the grains with an old toothbrush. If necessary, you can then apply dishwashing liquid to the area and then rinse with warm water. Starch or talc are suitable instead of soda. But they are effective for fresh stains.
It is good to clean fur items or very dense fabrics with medical alcohol. The grease from the foundation will not be absorbed into them, so to remove the stain, it is enough to wipe it with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol.
Liquid makeup remover works well as a stain remover even for the most delicate fabrics. It does not contain any aggressive components, as it is intended for human skin. This means it will not ruin delicate items. Moreover, the substances in its composition will cope with fat and coloring pigment. Micellar water is an example of this. It is a soft and, at the same time, effective cleanser.

Using a sponge or cotton swabs soaked in the selected liquid, treat the dirt, replacing them with new ones as they get dirty. After finishing the work, carefully wash off the marks with warm water and soap, preferably household soap.

Foundation on white or black items

Here everything is much simpler. For light-colored clothes, you can use different methods, oxygen bleach is especially effective. Hydrogen peroxide can remove traces left on white.

For dark items, use gasoline or dishwashing liquid.

But old foundation stains are not easy to remove from jeans. It is better to act immediately, without waiting for the stain to dry. The same products are suitable: gasoline, ammonia with soda, dishwashing liquid or makeup remover.

To reduce the risk of staining your clothes with foundation, try to apply makeup only after you have already put on your blouse. If you have any doubts about the correctness of the chosen product, it is better to use dry cleaning services.