First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off any loose glitter with a dull knife.
- Blot with a clean white cloth or paper towel, not a colored one.
- Keep the item out of the dryer and away from the iron.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden seam first.
Glitter on clothes looks stubborn, but how much you can lift depends on how fresh the spot is and what the garment is made of. Check the care label first, because a dry-clean-only piece belongs with a professional dry cleaner, and it should go there promptly. A fresh spot on a garment is much easier to lift than one that has dried, so don't let it sit.
If the sparkle survives a gentle wash, that's when a prewash spray or enzyme pretreater earns its place. Fine glitter on clothes often needs a second round before it's gone, so don't judge the result after one cycle. Loose glitter comes off more easily while the fabric is still dry, so brush it off before you wash.
Before you start
What clothes can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
8 items
What you'll need
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- Dull knifeLifts off loose glitter without pushing it deeper into the weave.
- Clean white cloth or paper towelBlots liquid without leaving dye behind. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid laundry detergentLoosens the glitter and lifts the residue in the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme laundry presoakUsed overnight if the stain survives the first wash. (opens Amazon)
- Pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solventApplied from the wrong side for stains that persist. (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric oxygen bleachThe gentler bleach choice, only for colorfast fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Rust removerNeeded before any bleach if rust is suspected. (opens Amazon)
- Chlorine bleach (optional)Last resort, only on colorfast items whose label allows it. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Scrape off the loose glitter
Lift off any excess glitter product with a dull knife so less of it gets pushed into the fabric. Then blot the liquid with a clean white cloth or paper towel, pressing rather than rubbing, because colored cloths and sponges can bleed dye.
Step 2 of 7
Check the label and test a hidden spot
The care label tells you what's safe, so check it before you touch the stain. A dry-clean-only tag means the item should go to a dry cleaner promptly, not into your sink.
Anything else, spot-test on a hidden seam or hem. If the color changes or the fabric is damaged, stop using that product.
Step 3 of 730 minutes
Soak in cold water
Soak the whole item in cold water for about 30 minutes. For washable glitter glue, you can dampen a sponge with plain water and wipe from the outside of the stain toward the center before the soak.
Careful. Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, so keep the stain cold until you know what it is.
Step 4 of 730 minutes
Work in liquid laundry detergent
Rub a little liquid laundry detergent into the stain, let it sit about 30 minutes, then rinse. After that, wash the item with liquid detergent on the lukewarm or hot setting your label allows. Rinse and let it air-dry.
Step 5 of 7
Overnight enzyme presoak
If glitter still shows after the wash, soak the item overnight in an enzyme laundry presoak. Then wash it again and check the stain in daylight before going further.
Step 6 of 7
Pretreat and use oxygen bleach
Still seeing sparkle? From the wrong side of the fabric, dab on a pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solvent.
Follow with an all-fabric oxygen bleach only if the item passed a colorfast test. If you suspect rust, a rust remover comes before any bleach.
Careful. Leave liquid or aerosol pretreatments on only as long as the label recommends, and keep gels on bright or fluorescent items to a few minutes at most.
Step 7 of 7
Chlorine bleach as the last step
Use a dilute chlorine bleach solution only when the item is colorfast to chlorine bleach and the label allows it. Follow the package directions, and do it once everything else is rinsed out. Rinse well afterward and air-dry.
Careful. Don't use chlorine bleach on wool, silk, mohair, leather or spandex, or on rust stains.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for glitter on clothes
Look for a pretreatment spray, a dry-cleaning solvent and an all-fabric oxygen bleach, and test each one on a hidden seam first.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on clothes, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain is out when the fabric looks the same color as the area around it and no glitter catches the light. Air-dry the item and check it in daylight before deciding whether to repeat the last treatment.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your clothes
Fabric on clothing
Fabric glitter needs the cold soak and detergent steps more than scraping, since little will come off by hand alone. Blot gently from the wrong side with a clean white cloth so the stain doesn't spread through the fabric.
If the sparkle is still there after the detergent step, move on to the pretreatment and oxygen bleach steps, and skip the bleach entirely on wool or silk.
Loose or excess on clothes
Get the loose glitter off before any liquid touches it. Scrape with a dull knife, then blot with a white cloth. Don't rub it into the fabric, and keep the item out of the dryer, because heat can bake loose pieces into the weave.
When the loose pieces are gone, jump to the cold soak. The remaining steps don't change.
Fine on clothes
Fine glitter is easy to miss and spreads quickly, so check the item under good light before you start. Work from the outside of the mark toward the center with a damp sponge, keeping the water cold.
Fine dust tends to hide in the weave, so the 30-minute cold soak and the liquid detergent step are the ones to repeat if you still see sparkle.
Doll clothes
Small items are easy to tear, so scrape and blot gently and test any product on a hidden seam first. Work over a bowl or basin so you don't lose tiny pieces down the drain.
Use the same cold soak, detergent and air-dry steps, and keep the doll clothes out of the dryer.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Glitter that's set in takes patience, so give every step extra time. Begin with the cold soak and the detergent, and go further only if sparkle is left.
Glitter glue that dried is stubborn. Scrape off any crusted part before the detergent step. On old or dried stains, the overnight enzyme presoak is next, and colorfast items can then get an oxygen bleach soak for one hour per the package directions.
The dryer is the enemy here: once the item has been through it, the heat has set the stain and it may not come out completely. Some sparkle can stay after several rounds, and a dry cleaner can take on what you can't.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on glitter on clothes?
Most household remedies don't belong in glitter cleanup on clothes, so the steps only use the ones that fit. The rest aren't worth using on clothes for glitter, so you can skip them.
Works1Skip5
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put it in the dryer
Heat sets the stain and may make it impossible to remove, even if the glitter looks loose. Let the item air-dry until you can see that the sparkle is gone.
Don't rub the stain with bar soap
Soap sets many stains and leaves a film that makes the next treatment less effective. Use liquid laundry detergent as the steps describe.
Don't use bleach at full strength
Undiluted bleach can weaken the fabric so it tears or wears out sooner. Always dilute it according to the package directions.
Don't mix ammonia with chlorine bleach
Mixing them releases toxic fumes, so rinse thoroughly between any two removers. Never combine chlorine bleach with another remover in the same wash.
Don't use acetone on acetate
Acetone and nail polish remover dissolve acetate, triacetate and modacrylic. If the label names one of these fibers, take the item to a dry cleaner instead.
When to call a professional
As soon as you notice the stain, take dry-clean-only items to a professional dry cleaner. Tell them what the fiber is and what the stain is. A washable piece should go there too if the stain is big, the item is bulky, or the fabric is fragile.
Questions
Can I put glitter clothes in the dryer to shake the glitter loose?
No. Heat sets the stain and may make it impossible to remove. Scrape off the loose pieces with a dull knife and let the item air-dry.
Is hot water better for glitter glue?
Not at the start. Begin with cold water because the stain is unidentified, and hot water can set protein stains. Use the hottest setting the care label allows only at the final wash.
Will the glitter come out in one wash?
Sometimes, but many stains need the cold soak, the detergent wash and, if needed, an overnight enzyme presoak before they lift. Repeat the treatment as needed rather than heating the stain.
What if the glitter is still there after the wash?
Move on to the pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solvent, then the all-fabric oxygen bleach if the item is colorfast. If the sparkle still shows after that, a dry cleaner can try what you can't.
Can I iron the glitter off?
No. Ironing applies heat, which sets the stain and may make it impossible to remove. Keep the iron away until the item is clean.
Which glitter treatments are safe for wool or silk?
Stick to the cold soak and liquid laundry detergent steps, and skip both bleaches. Test on a hidden seam first, since wool and silk can't take oxygen or chlorine bleach.
Does glitter ever come out completely?
Often, but not always. Fresh glitter lifts more easily than old glitter, and a stain that has been dried or heated may not clear completely.
Glitter on other materials
Other stains on clothes
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.