First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off excess makeup with a dull edge before applying anything.
- Blot; don't rub or brush.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Keep silk out of the dryer until the stain is gone.
Makeup on silk is a combination of oil and color, and the oily part has to come out before the pigment will. Lipstick, lip gloss and foundation all fall into this group, and an old mark is the harder case. A long-standing stain may have already weakened the threads, and removing it can leave a hole, so on a heirloom piece it can be wiser to leave it alone.
Lipstick stains on silk need a gentle hand, since rubbing can leave a hole in threads that are already weak. Use a delicate laundry detergent for the wash, and keep enzyme products off it, since silk can't take them. Makeup on a silk blouse that has been there for a long time is a dry cleaner job, so don't push it at home.
Before you start
What silk & satin can take
Use with care4
- Water
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Enzyme cleaners
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Commercial cleaner or waterless hand cleanerLoosens the oily or waxy part of the makeup first.
- Mild liquid detergent, not enzyme-basedLifts the color without harming silk fibers. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white cloths or spongesBlot without leaving lint and show whether color is transferring. (opens Amazon)
- Dull spoon or butter knifeLifts off excess makeup without spreading it.
- Clean towelsBlot the stain and lay the silk flat to dry.
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Read the label and lift off excess
Check the care label first, since it overrules any method here. If it says dry clean only, skip the home steps and use the professional option below.
Scrape off excess makeup with a spoon or dull knife, working from the edges toward the center so the stain does not spread.
Step 2 of 7
Sort oily from water-based makeup
Lipstick and most liquid and cream makeup contain oils or waxes, so start with the oily step for those. If you cannot tell which kind it is, test a hidden spot and let the result decide rather than guessing.
Tip. A drop of water on a hidden spot shows whether the makeup dissolves into it.
Step 3 of 7
Lift the oily part first
Test a hidden seam, then sponge the stain with a commercial cleaner or waterless hand cleaner. Work from the outside edge inward, moving to a clean part of the sponge each time.
Skip this step for water-based makeup and go straight to the color step.
Careful. Use any solvent-type cleaner in a well-ventilated room, away from flames and sparks.
Step 4 of 7
Rinse and let it dry flat
Rinse the spot with lukewarm water, never hot, and blot it dry with a clean white cloth. Let it air dry flat before you add anything else, so you can see what is left.
Careful. Squeeze the silk gently when rinsing; never wring it.
Step 5 of 7
Treat the color with mild detergent
Dampen the color with lukewarm water, then work a little mild liquid detergent into it with a fingertip. Keep the motion light and never rub.
Wash the garment by hand in lukewarm water, then rinse out every trace of detergent.
Careful. Never use an enzyme-based (biological) detergent on silk.
Step 6 of 7
Air dry it flat
Lay the silk flat on a clean towel to dry, indoors if you can. Wait until it is completely dry before you judge the result.
Careful. Silk should not sit in direct sun to dry; sunlight damages silk.
Step 7 of 7
Check and repeat if color remains
Check the spot in good light while it is dry, pressing a white cloth on it to see if color comes off. If color remains, repeat the oily step, then the color step, and let it dry again.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for makeup on silk & satin
A stain stick or commercial cleaner made for oily stains works for the first pass. For the color step, choose a mild liquid detergent without enzymes.
Woolite Delicates
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on silk & satin, 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 oily part is gone when a white cloth pressed on the spot comes away without a greasy shine. The color is gone when the white cloth stays clean after blotting the damp spot.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your silk & satin
Lipstick on silk
Lipstick is a waxy stain, so the oily step does most of the work. Dab a little commercial cleaner or waterless hand cleaner onto the stain from the edges inward, and let it sit briefly before blotting.
If a faint pink or red shadow remains after rinsing, repeat the oily step once and then go to the color step.
Makeup on a silk blouse
A blouse usually has buttons, seams and lining, so work on the stain with the blouse laid flat on a towel. Keep the cleaner off the buttons and off any trim you cannot confirm is silk.
If the blouse is dry clean only, stop after the first step and take it to a professional.
Makeup on silk clothing and clothes
Dresses, scarves and other clothing have larger areas and more layers, so test each piece separately. Work only on the stained area and do not let the cleaner spread into the surrounding fabric.
If the stain runs through a lining, treat each layer on its own with the same steps.
Makeup on white silk
White silk shows every mark, so check the spot against a white towel after each step. If the towel picks up color, stop and repeat only the oily step before going further.
Rinse out the detergent completely, because any residue can leave a dull patch on white silk.
Makeup on a silk pillowcase
Makeup on a pillowcase usually sits on the face side, so treat only that stained area. Pillowcases are washed often, so rinse thoroughly before drying to keep residue off the skin.
Dry it flat, away from heat, and check the label before you wash it again.
Lipstick on silk clothes
Lipstick on clothing usually lands on the collar, cuffs or front, so check those spots for transfer. Start with the oily step, using a light touch from the outside edge of the stain.
If the lipstick has gone deep into the fabric, repeat the oily step rather than working harder on the same spot.
Lip gloss on silk
Lip gloss is mostly oil and shine, so the oily step lifts most of it. Use a small amount of cleaner, blot it out, then rinse with lukewarm water and check for leftover tint.
Lift any loose glitter off with a dull edge before you treat the spot, so it does not get pressed deeper.
Foundation on silk
Foundation can be water-based or oil-based, so test a hidden spot first to see which step it responds to. If it dissolves under a little water, go straight to the color step; if it only lifts with the oily cleaner, start with the oily step.
Most foundation has both tint and oil, so treat the oily part first and then the color.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old makeup stain has had time to bond with the fibers, so it will not lift as easily as a fresh one, and some will not respond at all. Expect to repeat the steps more than once, going back to the oily step each time before the color step.
If the stain has dried and still shows after the first round, a diluted ammonia treatment is the next option. Mix equal parts ammonia and water, add a few drops to a light-duty liquid detergent solution, and dab it onto the stain. Ammonia can damage silk, so use it sparingly and test a hidden spot first.
If the stain was dried in a dryer, heat has likely set it, so it may need more rounds to come out. If it still shows after these rounds, it is realistic to stop and take it to a professional, because old stains may not come out completely.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on makeup on silk & satin?
Many home remedies are suggested for makeup stains, but most are not safe on silk. Silk can take only gentle methods, so most remedies are a poor fit and stay off it.
Skip2Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the makeup in
Rubbing pushes pigment deeper into silk and can damage the fibers. Blot, dab, or lift instead, and start from the outside edge so the stain does not spread.
Don't use chlorine bleach on silk
Chlorine bleach is not safe on silk, and it is not an option for wool, spandex or mohair either. Stick with the mild steps here.
Don't put silk in the dryer or iron it
Heat sets a stain and can make it much harder to remove. Keep silk out of the dryer and away from the iron until the spot is gone and checked in good light.
Don't use rubbing alcohol on silk
Alcohol can mark silk, especially dyed silk that has not been tested. It is often suggested for lipstick, but it is not a safe choice for silk.
When to call a professional
Dry cleaning is the preferred method for silk, so use a professional dry cleaner when the label says dry clean only. Go to one as well if a hidden-spot test shows color transfer or color change, or if the stain remains after home treatment.
Questions
Can lipstick come out of silk?
Yes, most lipstick comes out with the oily step followed by the color step, though a faint shade can remain on some dyes. Work from the edges inward and repeat the oily step rather than pushing harder.
Is baking soda safe to use on silk?
No, it's too abrasive for silk. Mild detergent does the color work more gently.
Can I use white vinegar on silk?
No, skip vinegar, since it can change the color of some dyes. Test a hidden seam first with the mild detergent, and stop if the color shifts.
Does dryer heat make a silk makeup stain worse?
It can, because dryer heat sets the stain and makes it more permanent. Treat the spot again carefully before any heat, and go to a professional if color still shows.
Can I hand wash silk to remove makeup?
Hand washing in lukewarm water is the gentle choice, and it should be brief. Squeeze rather than wring, and check the care label first, since it decides what is allowed.
Should I use ammonia on silk?
Only as a last resort, and only diluted with an equal amount of water and used sparingly. Ammonia can damage silk, so test a hidden spot first.
Can makeup on a silk pillowcase be washed out?
Yes, treat only the stained area with the oily step and then the color step, rinse thoroughly, and let it air dry flat. Check the care label first and keep the pillowcase away from heat.
Is a faint mark on white silk normal after treatment?
Yes, on dyed silk a faint shadow can remain even after careful treatment. If it is noticeable, take the piece to a professional cleaner rather than repeating harsh steps.
Makeup on other materials
Other stains on silk & satin
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.