How to Get Lipstick Marks Out

Lipstick marks ruin a dress shirt's appearance.

Although lipstick complements lips and enhances overall beauty, it doesn't look appealing on clothing. Lipstick often becomes smeared onto fabric, leaving clothing stained with shades of pink, red and other hues. Aside from colorful pigments, lipstick stains contain oils, waxes and emollients, which become embedded in fabric. The longer lipstick marks remain embedded in fabric, the more difficult and inconvenient they become to remove. Promptly get lipstick marks out of fabric to avoid permanently marring its visual appeal.

Things You'll Need

• Dull knife
• Prewash stain remover
• Washing machine
• 2 oz. all-fabric bleach

Instructions

1. Scrape off excess lipstick using a dull knife. Lightly scrape the garment to prevent fraying the fabric fibers.

2. Coat the remaining lipstick mark with prewash stain remover. Fully saturate the pigmented stain, and then let the mark soak for five minutes.

3. Rinse the lipstick stain with hot water, flushing out the stain remover.

4. Launder the lipstick-stained clothing with 2 oz. of all-fabric bleach in the warmest water the particular fabric can handle. Read the fabric's washing instructions.

5. Let the clothing item thoroughly air-dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute a stain stick for prewash stain remover. Rub the stain stick over the lipstick mark.

• Spot-test a trace of prewash stain remover on a hidden seam of the clothing to prevent discoloration.

References

• Chemical and Engineering News; What's That Stuff? - Lipstick; Rita Johnson
• "Good Housekeeping": Stain Buster -- Lipstick
• University of Illinois Extension Stain Solutions: Lipstick and Lipbalm