First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off any excess makeup before you apply anything.
- Blot with a clean cloth; don't rub or brush.
- Dab a stain stick on the oily part before you work on the color.
- Check the care label before any water touches the pillow.
Makeup on a pillowcase is oily first and colored second, so the oily part comes out first, then the color. The fill matters as much as the case, since down and feather pillows need more care than polyester. An old mark has no dedicated method, and a pillow that still stains or smells after cleaning may be due for replacing.
Mascara on a pillowcase usually needs a prewash stain stick worked in before the wash. If the pillow is filled with down or feathers, go easy on the scrubbing so the fill doesn't clump. Old mascara stains on pillow cases may need a second pass with the stick before they come out.
Before you start
What pillows can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid2
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
7 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Stain stick or solvent cleanerLifts the oily or waxy part before any water touches the color. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid detergentA little dabbed on the stain before the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Detergent made for downMade for down fill, so the wash doesn't leave residue. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white clothsBlotting keeps the stain from spreading, and white cloth won't pass color back onto the fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushFor problem spots when hand washing a down pillow. (opens Amazon)
- Pillow protector (opens Amazon)
- Cellulose sponge (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Remove the case and read the label
Strip the pillowcase and any pillow protector first. Then read the sewn-in care label, because it decides whether the pillow can go in the machine, be hand washed, or needs a dry cleaner for its shell.
Careful. If the care label is missing or unreadable, don't guess; use the cold, gentle approach and dry on low.
Step 2 of 6
Scrape off the excess and blot
Lift away loose makeup with the edge of a spoon or a dry cloth before you apply anything. Blot the stain with a clean white cloth, working from the outer edge inward so it doesn't spread.
Tip. Switch to a fresh section of cloth every few blots so the color doesn't move back onto the fabric.
Step 3 of 6
Lift the oily part first
Dab a stain stick or solvent cleaner onto the oily part and press it in gently with a clean cloth. Blot until the cloth stops picking up makeup before you move on to washing.
Careful. Test any remover on a hidden spot first. Skip acetone-based removers on acetate, triacetate and modacrylic, since they dissolve those fabrics.
Step 4 of 6
Wash polyester and down-alternative pillows
Dab a little detergent on the stain, then wash on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold water. Wash two pillows together so the load stays balanced, and leave foam and hybrid pillows out of this cycle, since the card on pillows explains their sponge route.
Careful. Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood, even when the stain is unidentified.
Step 5 of 6
Treat down and feather fill gently
Machine wash down only if the label allows it, using a detergent made for down at a low temperature with an extra rinse. For hand washing, use lukewarm water and a little detergent, work problem spots with a soft brush, and rinse until the suds are gone.
Careful. Never twist or wring a wet down pillow. Press the water out instead.
Step 6 of 6
Check, then dry on low
Check the stain in good light before the pillow goes near the dryer. If it's still visible, air dry the pillow, then repeat the stain stick treatment and the wash. Once the stain is gone, tumble dry on low or air-fluff with no heat until the center is completely dry.
Tip. Down may need several low-heat cycles, and a center that still feels cool or damp will clump or smell.
Careful. Dryer heat makes a visible stain more permanent.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for makeup on pillows
Pick a stain stick labeled for oily or greasy stains, and choose a detergent made for down if you have a down or feather pillow.
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
Seventh Generation Laundry Stain Remover - Free & Clear
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on pillows, 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 cloth stops picking up color and the fabric looks the same as the area around it. Once the pillow is fully dry, there's no odor from the center, and it's ready to use again.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Pillowcases
A pillowcase is the easiest part of this, because it can be washed without the pillow inside. Mascara's oily part still needs the stain stick first, so blot it before the case goes in the wash.
If a faint shadow remains after one cold wash, repeat the stain-stick pass and wash the case again. Once the color is gone, dry it the way the care label allows.
Mascara on pillows and pillowcases
When mascara has gone through the case onto the pillow itself, the pillow needs its own treatment. Foam or hybrid fill gets a sponge route: unzip the cover, wash it on a cold, delicate cycle, and sponge the foam with warm, soapy water.
Polyester and down-alternative pillows follow the steps above in full, starting with the stain stick on the mark. Down pillows follow the same steps, with the hand-wash route for problem spots.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old mascara that has already been washed and dried needs a second round, not a harsher cleaner. Repeat the stain stick treatment on the oily part, let it sit before you blot, then wash the case again in cold water.
Dried mascara usually takes more than one pass, so expect that. Work from the outside in with a clean cloth, and switch to a fresh section often so the color doesn't move back onto clean fabric.
If the stain already went through a dryer cycle, expect it to be harder to lift. A faint shadow on the case after repeated cold washes is a realistic result, but a stain or smell that stays in the pillow itself means it's time to replace the pillow.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on makeup on pillows?
Few kitchen remedies are worth trying on makeup on a pillow. A stain stick, a little detergent and cold water do the work, so most other remedies aren't needed.
Helps1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the makeup into the fabric.
Rubbing or brushing works the oily part and color deeper and spreads them onto clean fabric. Blot with a clean cloth and turn to a fresh section often.
Don't machine wash or soak a foam pillow.
Foam can't release all the water it absorbs, and the trapped water can grow mold. Only the cover goes near the washer, while the foam core gets a sponge.
Don't bleach or iron a down pillow.
Down can't take bleach or an iron, so skip chlorine bleach on any pillow. Stick with the cold detergent wash and low dryer heat.
When to call a professional
If a new pillow arrives damaged or defective, contact the maker before you clean it. A feather pillow can be sent for professional cleaning, where the feathers are removed and sterilized with UV light.
Questions
Can I machine wash a pillowcase with makeup on it?
Yes, once the oily part is lifted and the care label allows a machine wash. Use cold water on a gentle cycle, and if a shadow remains, repeat the stain-stick pass before drying.
Will mascara come out of a pillowcase once it has dried?
Often, but usually not on the first try. Repeat the stain stick treatment and wash the case again in cold water, and expect a faint mark to remain in some cases.
What should I do if mascara gets into a foam pillow?
Wash only the cover on a cold, delicate cycle, then sponge the foam itself with warm, soapy water. Let the whole pillow dry flat, without a dryer.
How long should a pillow dry before I use it again?
Until the center is completely dry, with no cool damp spots, odor or clumps. Down may need several low-heat cycles, and you shouldn't use the pillow until it's fully dry.
Should I replace a pillow with a mascara stain?
Not if the stain is only on the case, since the case can be washed and the pillow kept. Replace the pillow if a stain or smell stays in the fill after treatment.
Can a down pillow be dry cleaned?
Only if its shell fabric has to be dry cleaned. Tell the cleaner about the makeup first, since dry cleaning can strip a down's natural oils.
Makeup on other materials
Other stains on pillows
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.