How to Remove Hair Dye Off Walls & Floors

Hair dye can cause permanent stains to some surfaces.

Hair dye is one of the most stubborn stains to remove from walls and floors. Your best bet is to try to remove the stains with a few household ingredients. Stains from red or brown hair dyes are easier to remove than stains from black dye, but be aware that there may be no way to remove old, deeply set or very dark stains.

Things You'll Need

• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Sponge
• Dish detergent
• White vinegar
• Hand soap
• Baking soda
• Soft cloth

Instructions

Painted Walls, Vinyl & Linoleum

1. Treat the area quickly, as it will be more difficult to remove the stain once it has set.

2. Apply a bit of rubbing alcohol to the stain and scrub it with a cotton ball until it fades.

3. Soak a sponge in water and liquid dish detergent. Wipe the alcohol residue with the sponge.

Carpet

1. Fill a container with 2 cups of warm water, 1 tbsp. of white vinegar and 1 tbsp. plain liquid hand soap and stir or shake to combine.

2. Dip a clean white rag in the solution and blot it onto the stain.

3. Blot the stain with a clean, dry rag. Alternate between the wet and dry rags until the stain has faded.

4. Repeat the process of blotting with wet and dry cloths using rubbing alcohol, then with cold water to rinse.

Wood

1. Mix baking soda with white vinegar until it reaches the consistency of white paste.

2. Apply the paste to the stain and rub it in with a sponge.

3. Put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz the stain.

4. Wipe the paste from the wood with a soft cloth, then rinse it with a cloth soaked in clean water.

5. Repeat until the stain has completely faded.

Tips & Warnings

• Test each method on a small, hidden area of the surface before applying the ingredients to a more visible location.

References

• Good Housekeeping: How to Remove Hair Dye from Carpet
• How To Clean Stuff: How to Remove Dyes from Finished Wood