How to remove foundation from clothes: 10 ways to remove stains

The vast majority of women use cosmetics every day. In particular, foundation helps even out complexion and hide some imperfections and minor imperfections. However, not a single woman has yet managed to avoid getting foundation on the collar of her favorite blouse, on a white T-shirt, sweater, dress, jeans or jacket.

Removing foundation stains from any clothing can be very difficult, especially if you have been putting off the procedure for a long time, and the stain has already become firmly embedded in the fabric. But “difficult” does not mean “impossible.” Here are a few ways to help remove foundation from clothes at home.

Wet alcohol wipes

The first and easiest way is to use alcohol wipes. Alcohol is generally a very effective remedy in the fight against makeup stains on clothes, so it will cope perfectly with foundation stains.

The method is suitable for removing stains from both white clothes and colored items. It is better not to use on delicate fabrics (silk, wool, etc.).

What do we have to do:

Take a napkin well soaked in liquid.
Blot the dirt with it (do not rub or spread the dirt across the fabric, as this will only worsen the situation).
If the stain has had time to “sit” on the item for a little while, then you can gently rub the stain from the edges to the center.
Once you have removed most of the foundation stain, change the napkin to a fresh one and go over the stained area again.
Remember that this method will only help deal with relatively fresh stains from a cosmetic product. Old contaminants will have to be removed in other ways.

Tips and tricks

When starting to fight a stain, it will be useful to remember a few simple rules:

Regardless of the product chosen to remove traces of cream, the stained area of clothing should be wetted with warm water before using it. Do not rub the stain, just dampen the cloth. This way, the risk of damage to the clothing material will be minimized.
Always go from simple to complex. First try to wipe off the foundation with laundry soap or wet wipes, only after that try “chemicals” and special products.
Zippers, buttons, hooks and other accessories on clothing can oxidize, change color, and stain the fabric. Do not apply stain remover to decorative parts.

The main principle is to do no harm. Foundation itself does not pose a serious threat to any type of fabric. But clothes can easily be ruined by choosing the wrong method for removing traces of cosmetics.

Micellar water

Another effective method that helps to quickly remove foundation from clothes. The method perfectly removes stains from jackets, down jackets, cotton and synthetic fabrics. It is suitable for both white and colored items.

To remove stains, you should only choose products that do not contain oils or dyes.

This method is great for black clothes, as it does not leave white streaks.

How to clean:

Soak a cotton swab or pad in the cosmetic product.
Blot any traces of dirt.
You can lightly rub the stain, moving from the edge to the center.
Leave the item for 30 minutes so that the micellar water has time to dissolve all the dirt.
Wash the product in the standard way in a washing machine or by hand.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste can be used for more than just brushing your teeth. It also does a great job removing makeup stains left on clothes. The product can be used on both white and colored items, but it is better not to clean delicate fabrics in this way (the paste may contain abrasives that can easily damage fabric fibers).

How to clean:

Apply a small amount of toothpaste to a cotton pad.
Lightly rub the paste into the dirt left by the foundation.
If the stain has already become embedded in the fabric, then leave the paste on the product for 3-5 minutes.
Rinse the item under running water to remove any remaining product.

It is important to know the composition

Before you begin the procedure for removing “tonal” stains, you need to understand the composition of the cosmetic product. If the cream has a liquid base without animal and vegetable fats, it will be much easier to remove it from the surface of things. However, high-quality professional products are presented in most cases with a dense texture, which, in addition to fats, includes a persistent coloring pigment. Accordingly, the darker the shade of the cream, the more difficult it is to get rid of the stain.

Advice! While the stain is fresh, you should not try to wipe it off with your hands or wash it with water. This way it will penetrate more deeply into the fabric structure. For removal it is necessary to use special folk or industrial methods.

Ammonia

This is an old and time-tested method. You can remove foundation stains from your favorite T-shirt, shirt, jeans, sweater or down jacket with ammonia:

Mix 10% ammonia with water in equal parts.
Apply the resulting solution to the foundation stain. Wet the cloth generously to cover the entire stain.
Rub the stain with a cotton swab.
Then wash the clothes in the washing machine normally or by hand.

Ethanol

It has already been said that alcohol is an indispensable fighter against stains from various cosmetics on clothes. It also copes “excellently” with foundation stains left on any type and color of fabric.

Alcohol-containing compounds can even be used on outerwear with fur inserts. However, in this case, it is best to treat the stain with alcohol immediately after you place it on the product. Delay may result in the cosmetic product simply ingraining itself into the tissue and not wanting to come out without the use of heavy chemicals.

How to clean:

Soak a cotton pad or swab in alcohol.
Lightly rub the product into the stained area, moving from the edges to the center.
Try to remove the bulk of the stain from clothing with an alcohol swab during the first use.
If you were unable to remove makeup residue from your clothes with one use of alcohol, repeat the procedure.
There is no need to wash or rinse the item after the procedure.

What will you need?

Depending on the quality of the fabric and color of the clothing, the following materials and available tools may be useful:

ammonia;
washing powder;
refined gasoline;
stain removers;
laundry soap;
baking soda;
potato starch;
children's talc;
detergent gels or other dishwashing detergents;
medical alcohol;
cotton pads, sponges or pieces of cotton wool;
container for soaking things;
automatic machine

Dishwashing liquid

Since many foundation products are based on fats, it is not surprising that dishwashing liquid works great for removing stains from these cosmetics. The beauty of these cleaning products is that they can be used on clothes of any color (even black), as well as on all fabrics (including delicate ones).

What do we have to do:

Wet the stained area with warm water.
Apply a small amount of dishwashing liquid to the stain.
Lightly rub the product into the fiber and leave for half an hour.
Gently rub away any traces of foundation with your hands and rinse the item under running water.
If there are still traces of cosmetics on the product, repeat the procedure until the stain is completely removed.
Wash the item by hand or in the washing machine as usual.

Which tone is more dangerous?

All foundations are based on a fat composition and a special dye, which determines the shade of the cream. Grease itself is very difficult to remove from clothes, and its combination with dye makes the task of cleaning the item much more difficult. It is best to start removing foundation immediately after the stain has been placed, because this way the chances of getting rid of it significantly increase. If for some reason it was not possible to do this in time, you should seek the help of special cleaning products or proven folk methods. With a water-based tinting cream the situation is much simpler, because sometimes to remove a trace of it it is enough to simply wash the item. To do this, you can use bleach powder, dishwashing detergent, or regular soap.

Some manufacturers promise that their product will not leave stains on clothes, as it has increased durability. Among these are:

Miracle Cushion from Lancome;
Teint Haute Tenue by Clarins;
The Foundation Perfect Luminous Liquid from Dolce & Gabbana;
DermaBlend from Vichy;
Vitalumiere Aqua from Chanel.

All these foundations have an airy texture, are easy to apply to the skin, do not clog pores and do not cause discomfort to the girl. Using such cosmetics, you can safely wear white sweaters without fear of staining them with yellow spots. However, it is worth highlighting one significant drawback of such products, namely their cost, because the products of Chanel, Lancome and D&G are premium class and may not be affordable for some buyers.

Laundry soap

Here is another trouble-free and reliable method. Laundry soap will help remove traces of foundation from natural and cotton fabrics, from which such traces are especially difficult to remove.

How to clean:

Treat the area of contamination with laundry soap.
Wash your clothes.
Repeat the soap treatment until the stain is completely gone.
Rinse the product in a machine or by hand.

Shaving foam

This is an unusual but very effective method. Shaving foam perfectly removes marks left by foundation from synthetic fabrics. Use foam in combination with a toothbrush to wash, for example, the collar of a winter down jacket or jacket, a ski suit, a windbreaker, etc.

Step-by-step instruction:

Apply shaving foam liberally to dirt.
Using a toothbrush, begin scrubbing away foundation stains, moving from the edges of the stain to its center.
Leave the item for 10-15 minutes.
Use a damp microfiber cloth to remove any foam.
If after the first procedure the spots are still visible, then repeat the procedure.
If necessary, wash the product in a washing machine or rinse it under running warm water.

Melamine sponge

This product can be used on leather and synthetic products. It is not advisable to clean delicate fabrics and baby items with a sponge, since it still contains toxic compounds.

Before use, protect your hands with gloves so that pieces of the sponge do not remain under your nails after use.

How to clean:

Soak the melamine sponge in water and squeeze it out (without twisting!).
Now start scrubbing the foundation stain from the product, moving from the edge of the stain to its center.
Wash off the stain until it is completely gone.
After the procedure, rinse the product under running water if necessary to remove any remaining sponge.

Stain removers

Oxygen stain removers work best with traces of cosmetics on clothes. There are several forms of release of such products on the market:

sprays;
cleaning pens (pencils);
liquid;
powders (granular).

When choosing a stain remover, be sure to pay attention to the manufacturer’s notes. Not all products are universal and suitable for removing stains from children's clothing, delicate fabrics, white or colored items.

Soap Antipyatin

Already from the name of this product it is clear what it is supposed to do - remove stains. Antipyatin has long been popular among housewives because it is capable of removing even the most complex types of dirt from various fabrics (including delicate ones).

The product copes well with any stains on delicate, colored, white fabrics, as well as on children's clothing.

Liquid Vanish

The Vanish product line is the first thing most people think of when they look at a foundation stain on their favorite shirt or jacket in the mirror. To remove stains from cosmetic products from different types of fabrics, it is better to use a liquid (gel) form of the product.

Usually one treatment with Vanish gel is enough, but if you were unable to remove the stain the first time, try a second procedure. After it, even the most stubborn marks will definitely disappear.

Dr.Beckmann Expert: nature and cosmetics

This is a narrow profile cleaner with high efficiency. The products of the Dr. Beckmann Expert line attract many people because they help remove various types of stains from clothes made of any fabric and color. The range of stain removers includes several types of products, each of which is designed to remove a specific type of stain.

In the case of marks left by foundation, “Nature and Cosmetics” is suitable. It can also be used to remove lipstick or lip gloss stains from clothes. The formula of the drug is designed specifically to remove pigments, fats, and talc from tissue fibers. The composition is universal and suitable for all colors and types of fabrics.

Udalix Ultra pencil

For local treatment of stains, you can choose a convenient stain remover in a stick. This product is best not used on delicate fabrics. If you still decide, try the drug first on a small area of the product.

A fairly powerful composition helps to cope even with old stains on colored and white products. The product is used very sparingly, but requires the use of protective gloves when working.

Sano Oxygen Stain Remover

Another liquid universal composition that helps cope with even stubborn stains. The spray is convenient to apply locally to the fabric, avoiding contact with uncontaminated areas.

The product not only removes stains from colored and white fabrics, but also returns items to their original shine. However, before using on items with unstable dyes, it is better to test on a small area of fabric.

Foundation stains on clothes are a headache for every makeup lover. No matter how carefully you apply the product, it still imprints on collars, the neck of a sweater, and drips on jeans. It can be difficult to remove a pigmented cosmetic product with regular laundry detergents, so it is best to immediately use one of the stain removal methods above.

We remove stains depending on the type of fabric

Follow the general rules:

Determine the type of fabric by touch or read the composition on the tag.
Start cleaning immediately without waiting for the stain to dry.
For colored and delicate fabrics, choose gentle folk remedies or special store-bought ones. Read the instructions on the stain remover packaging carefully.

White things.

For light-colored cotton and linen items, any stain removers are suitable, even aggressive ones: bleach, peroxide, acetone. It is better to wash synthetics, silk and wool with special products for delicate fabrics.

Kids' things.

Caustic chemicals can cause irritation and allergies in a child. Acetone, makeup or nail polish remover, and dishwashing detergent are also not suitable for children's clothes. Choose special hypoallergenic stain removers for children's linen: for example, CLEAN HOME, Mepsi, Synergetic, BIO Nanny.

Black, colored clothes.

Do not wash such items with chlorine-containing products, peroxide, soda, alcohol, or acetone. It is better to choose a high-quality stain remover that will not spoil the color of the fabric. Suitable for bright things: Clean Home Active oxygen, Dr. Beckmann Pre Wash, Vanish Gold Oxi Action, Lotta Oxi.

Delicate fabrics.

Use gels for colored fabrics for washing - they do not harm even capricious materials. When treating tissue locally, you can use micellar water and makeup remover foam. Dry sprays work effectively with corduroy, velvet, velor and wool.

Jeans

may fade from the use of aggressive substances. Choose stain removers for colored clothing. Makeup removers are also suitable.