How to remove makeup from clothes

How Makeup Ruins Your Favorite Shirt (Don’t Panic)

You got ready for class, looked good, then somehow your foundation or lipstick decided to redecorate your collar. It happens. Before you throw that shirt in the “maybe I’ll wear it again” pile, let’s talk about stain survival tactics.

Step 1: Act Fast and Remove the Excess

Makeup stains are sneaky. The quicker you start the rescue operation, the better your chances. Here’s what to do first:

• Gently scrape off any chunkier or powdery bits using a dull knife or spoon. Don’t rub, you don’t want to push pigment deeper.

• Brush or shake off loose powder or residue.

• Turn the garment inside-out and rinse from the back side if you can. Push water through the fabric instead of across the stain.
  
  

Step 2: Pretreat Before Washing

Once you’ve removed what you can, time to treat the stain before hitting the washer:

1. Apply a stain remover or liquid detergent directly to the stain.

2. Let that pretreatment sit. About 5 to 15 minutes is long enough to start breaking up oils, pigment, or waxy bits.

3. Use a soft brush (or even your fingertip) to gently work the detergent in, especially for creamy or oily makeup (foundation, concealer, etc.).

4. Wash the garment following its care label, using the warmest safe water for that fabric. If it’s delicate or specifies cold wash, follow that.

5. After washing, inspect the stained area before putting it in the dryer. If you still see traces, repeat the pretreat-wash cycle. Once heat touches those bits, the stain may become permanent. 

Step 3: Tricks for Tough or Set-in Makeup

Sometimes the stain’s been there for a while (oops), or it’s a lipstick that’s been through a few wears. Here are extra hacks:

• Powder makeup (blush, bronzer): Use a lint roller or gently brush off loose pigment before treating.

• Micellar water or gentle makeup-remover liquid: Especially good for liquid foundation or creamy products. Dab with a cotton pad, blot carefully, then rinse.

• Dish soap + cold water works well for oily / cream makeup stains. Apply a little dish soap directly, gently work it in, rinse, then launder as usual.

• Rubbing alcohol can help with lipstick that's stubborn. But test it first on a hidden part of the fabric to make sure it won’t damage color or material.

• Avoid the dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone. Heat is like a “lock-it-in” button for stains. 

When You’d Rather Skip the Laundry Drama

Hey, life is busy. Class, projects, work, social life… who has time to scrape, pre-treat, and re-wash five times just to remove foundation from a collar? That’s where Get Fresh Start Laundry comes in.

We’ve got your back with stain-fighting solutions for makeup (and everything else that ruins your clothes). Whether it’s foundation splatters, lipstick smudges, or powder explosions, we treat garments like they matter.

Here’s how we help:

• Free, contactless pickup & delivery right where you are

• Professional-grade treatment using powerful detergents and systems that care for fabrics

• Fast turnaround so your clothes come back clean, fresh, and ready to wear

• No hassle, no stressing about whether you scrubbed enough or left it in too long

You focus on your schedule. We’ll focus on making sure your laundry doesn’t have any evidence of your makeup (or life) getting messy.