First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off excess makeup before you apply anything.
- Blot, don't rub, so the stain doesn't spread onto clean fabric.
- Remove the oily part first with a stain stick or solvent cleaner, before you work on the color.
- Skip acetone-based removers on acetate, triacetate and modacrylic.
Makeup on delicate fabric is an oily base with color mixed in, so the grease has to lift before the color can. Silk, wool, velvet and lace all sit at the delicate end, so the gentlest method that works is the only sensible place to start. A fresh mark has the best chance, since older marks resist more and some never fully lift.
Lipstick out of dry clean only clothes is where a dry cleaner is the safer call, especially on a large mark. Foundation out of delicate clothes needs the lightest touch you have, so blot rather than rub. Makeup out of delicate clothes that's labeled washable can take a delicate laundry detergent, after a test on a seam.
Before you start
What delicates & lace can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Soaking
- Oxygen bleach
- Enzyme cleaners
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid4
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
7 items
What you'll need
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- Clean white cloth or paper towelBlots the stain without spreading color onto clean fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Dull spoon or butter knifeLifts off excess makeup without pushing it deeper into the fabric.
- Stain stick or solvent cleanerBreaks down the oily or waxy part before you touch the color. (opens Amazon)
- Waterless hand cleaner or commercial cleanerHandles oil-based cosmetics before you rinse with water.
- Bar soap or liquid heavy-duty laundry detergentTreats the color in water-based makeup on washable fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Light-duty liquid detergentHandles a stain that's still there after laundering. (opens Amazon)
- Ammonia (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Lift off the excess makeup
Use the edge of a dull spoon or butter knife to lift off any makeup sitting on top of the fabric. Work gently from the edge toward the middle so you don't push the makeup deeper into the weave.
Tip. Keep a clean cloth under the spot so the makeup doesn't soak through to the other side.
Step 2 of 6
Blot the stain from the outside in
Dab the stain with a clean white cloth, starting at the outer edge and working toward the center. Switch to a clean part of the cloth often so the color doesn't go back into the fabric.
Step 3 of 6
Check the label and test
Read the care label first. If it says dry clean only, blot what you can and stop there, because water and home solvents aren't safe on that garment. If the label allows water, test your remover on a hidden inside seam and let it dry before going on.
Careful. Acetone-based removers dissolve acetate, triacetate and modacrylic, so skip them on those fabrics.
Step 4 of 6
Break down the oily part
Treat the oily or waxy part before the color. Use a stain stick or solvent cleaner, or for an oil-based cosmetic, sponge the spot with a commercial cleaner or waterless hand cleaner, rinse with water and let it air dry. Then apply a little detergent directly to the stain.
Careful. Solvent-based products need a well-ventilated room away from flame and sparks.
Step 5 of 6
Treat the color with soap or detergent
For a water-based cosmetic, dampen the stain and work bar soap into it with your fingertips. You can also pre-treat with liquid heavy-duty laundry detergent, or with a paste of granular laundry detergent and water, and let it sit before the next step.
Step 6 of 6
Launder and try ammonia if needed
Launder the garment as the care label directs. If a stain is still there, put a few drops of ammonia in a light-duty liquid detergent solution, apply it to the stain, then rinse and launder again.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for makeup on delicates & lace
Choose a stain stick or solvent cleaner made for oily stains, and test it on a hidden spot first. Not every remover suits every fiber, so check that it matches the garment's care label.
Woolite Delicates
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on delicates & lace, 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 gone when the spot looks like the fabric around it, with no dull or darker ring. If the spot still looks greasy or dull once it's dry, the oily part is still there, so go back to the oil step before you try the color again.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your delicates & lace
Lipstick on dry clean only clothes
Lipstick is mostly oil and wax, so the oily part is what you're fighting. On a dry clean only garment, skip the home steps and take it to a dry cleaner who can work with the stain. Tell them it's lipstick so they start with the oily part and not the color.
Before you hand it over, blot any wet lipstick gently and leave the rest alone. Note the color and fabric on the ticket so the cleaner knows what they're dealing with.
Foundation on dry clean only clothes
Foundation can be water-based or oil-based, and the fabric won't tell you which, so don't guess and don't soak it. The safe move is the same as with lipstick: blot what's wet and take it to a dry cleaner when the label says dry clean only. Mention that it's foundation so the cleaner can check whether the oily part needs treating first.
Don't test water on the garment to find out, since the label already rules it out. If you're unsure which kind you have, the product's own label or maker's website may say.
Makeup on delicate clothes
Delicate fabrics like silk, wool and lace need the gentlest version of each step. Skip chlorine bleach and enzyme detergent, and don't rub the fabric to speed things up. Velvet needs the same no-rub, blot-only approach, with no added pressure on the nap.
If the garment is silk or satin, the Silk & Satin guide goes deeper on that fabric. Test any remover on a hidden spot first, and wait for it to dry before you judge the result.
Foundation on delicate clothes
Foundation can be water-based or oil-based, and you can't tell from the fabric. Treat it as oil-based first, so the oily part comes out before anything wet touches the stain. Start with the oily-part step, then use the water-based steps only if the fabric's label allows water.
Skip the stronger options in the set-in section unless the label clearly allows them. Let the garment dry fully before you judge the result.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old makeup is harder to remove than fresh makeup, and some stains won't come out at all. On a garment that can take it, repeat the oil step and then the color step, checking the result after each round.
Once the makeup has dried, blot it the same outside-in way and work the oil out with a solvent cleaner, letting the spot dry before you judge it. For stubborn oil-based makeup, flush with a dry-cleaning solvent under a clean pad, changing the pad until nothing more lifts, then finish with detergent with a few drops of ammonia and a water rinse.
If the stain is still visible after laundering, a dry cleaner who handles wedding gowns and historical pieces is a better call than more home scrubbing. Stains that remain after washing a museum or heirloom piece are best left alone, because the fibers may already be weakened.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on makeup on delicates & lace?
Most kitchen and pantry remedies are built for food, grease or fresh spills, and several of them can harm delicate fabric. Each remedy shows what to keep off delicate fabric, and why.
Skip3Avoid3
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the makeup in
Rubbing pushes the color deeper into the fibers and spreads the stain onto clean fabric. If you feel the urge, stop and blot instead.
Don't tumble-dry or iron until the stain is gone
Heat from a dryer or iron sets the stain and makes it harder to remove later. Check the spot in daylight once the garment is dry, and only then decide whether it's gone.
Don't use chlorine bleach on delicates
Chlorine bleach isn't safe on wool, silk, spandex or mohair, and it's too harsh for heirloom fabric. Leave it out of every step on these garments.
Don't mix stain removers
Ammonia and chlorine bleach must never meet, since mixed products can give off hazardous fumes. If you need more than one product, rinse the garment thoroughly between them.
When to call a professional
Take the garment to a professional when the label says dry clean only, or when a hidden-area test shows color transfer. For heirloom or vintage pieces, use a dry cleaner who specializes in wedding gowns and historical items, or a conservator, and never wash them in a machine, even on a gentle cycle.
Questions
Can I get makeup out of dry clean only clothes at home?
Usually it's better to let a dry cleaner handle it. You can blot what's wet and lift off excess makeup, but water and home solvents aren't safe when the label says dry clean only. Tell the cleaner what the makeup is so they can start with the oily part.
Will lipstick come out of dry clean only clothes?
It can, but on these garments the oily part is the dry cleaner's job. Blot any wet lipstick gently and leave the rest to them.
Is foundation oil-based or water-based?
There's no way to tell from the fabric, and the bottle may not say. Treat it as oil-based first by removing the oily part, and use water-based steps only if the label allows water.
Can I use a stain stick on dry clean only clothes?
Only if the label allows solvent-based cleaning, and even then test a hidden spot first. A stain stick is a home product, so if the label says dry clean only, go straight to the dry cleaner.
Why should I wait for the garment to dry before checking the stain?
A wet garment hides how much color is left, so it's easy to misjudge the spot. Let it dry completely, then check it in daylight.
What if the stain is still there after washing?
Repeat the oil step and then the color step, checking after each round. If it's still visible once the garment is dry, a dry cleaner who handles delicate pieces is the next step.
Can I steam velvet with makeup on it?
Keep an iron and steamer off velvet, since heat and pressure flatten the nap. Let the piece air dry once the stain is out, away from any heat source.
Makeup on other materials
Other stains on delicates & lace
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.