The Easiest Way to Remove Makeup Stains From White Shirts, According to Experts Your guide for saving white shirts from everyday makeup mishaps. In This Article View All In This Article Why Makeup Stains Can Be Difficult to Remove How to Get Makeup Out of White Fabric Common Mistakes Close Credit: Halyna Romaniv / Getty Images Applying makeup while wearing a white shirt can be a risky endeavor; it could either go off without a hitch, or you’ll end up with foundation and bronzer splattered across your crisp button-down. And if you’ve bet (and lost) this game a few too many times, join the club. That’s why we consulted with cleaning and laundry experts to learn their favorite methods for removing makeup stains from clothing without damaging the fabric, and some common mistakes to avoid. Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of AspenClean Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and chief product officer of Steamery This Martha-Approved Morning Beauty Routine Is How She Gets Her Signature Glow Why Makeup Stains Can Be Difficult to Remove Unlike other stains, makeup doesn’t just sit on the surface of your clothing. Instead, it binds to the material, Lewenhaupt explains. And this is by design. “Foundation and bronzer are formulated to stay on your skin throughout the day,” says Lewenhaupt. “They’re often oil-based and contain pigments that bind to surfaces. Once they get into fabric fibers, they sink in instead of staying on the surface.” Sokolowski adds that many cosmetics contain silicones, waxes, and long-wearing pigments like iron oxides and mica. And if the shirt in question is absorbent or made of a delicate silk, these ingredients grip even more tightly to the fibers—bad news for your wardrobe. How to Get Makeup Out of White Fabric If there’s one thing you take from this article, it’s that you need to act fast after staining a shirt with makeup. Sokolowski explains that fresh foundation stains are much easier to remove than baked-in ones—so the sooner you act, the better. But always pause to check your clothing’s care tag; some fabrics (like delicate silk) might be best cared for by a professional dry cleaner. Materials Needed White microfiber clothsDegreasing dish soap or liquid laundry detergentBaking sodaBaby powderSoft-bristled toothbrushA spoonWarm water Instructions Using a spoon, lift off any surface product. Be careful not to further smear the stain. Take a white microfiber cloth and carefully blot—don't rub—the stain. If the makeup is an oil-based product (think foundation or creamy concealer), sprinkle baby powder on the stain and let sit for 10-15 minutes to absorb oils. Brush off the baby powder. Apply a small amount of dish soap or laundry detergent to the front and back of the stain. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Do not allow the soap to dry completely. Fill a basin or sink with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. If you’re washing a delicate item, use cool instead of warm water. Allow the clothing to soak for a few hours. After soaking, use a soft toothbrush to work from the outside of the stain inwards to prevent it from spreading. Sokolowski says to avoid aggressive scrubbing so the fabric doesn’t fray or weaken. Rinse the clothing item with cool water thoroughly to remove all soap. Wash the item on a gentle cycle using cool water. (Hot water will further set any remaining pigment.) After the wash cycle is over, thoroughly inspect the garment. If the makeup is still visible, repeat steps 5-10. Do not dry the item in the dryer until the stain is completely removed; the heat from the dryer can permanently set the stain. Don't Miss Out of Soap? Here's How to Wash Clothes Without Detergent, According to Experts 5 Ways to Remove Deodorant Stains, According to Cleaning Experts 5 Common Makeup-Removing Mistakes to Avoid Before embarking on your stain removal journey (good luck!), keep these common mistakes top of mind. Rubbing the makeup product: Both of our experts emphasized the importance of not spreading the stain on the fabric’s surface. Only blot and never rub the stain.Treating the stain from one side: Sokolowski says this pushes the stain inwards, deeper into fabric fibers.Letting stains sit: The longer a stain sits, the harder it’ll be to remove.Using a one-size-fits-all approach: Not all stain removal methods are appropriate for all fabrications. Lewenhaupt stresses that delicate fabrics, like silk and cashmere, require extra attention. In some cases, this might mean a professional dry cleaner.Going straight for the bleach: Sokolowski explains that this can yellow the stain and cause permanent damage to the fabric. Explore more: Cleaning & Organizing Laundry & Linens