First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape or lift off excess makeup before you apply anything.
- Blot; don't rub or brush, so the stain doesn't spread.
- Work on the oily part first with warm, sudsy water, before going after the color.
- Test anything stronger on a hidden spot first, and skip solvents on the sink.
Makeup on a sink is the same mix of oil and color as on any other surface, but the sink material decides how hard you can push. A fresh smear usually rinses away with plain water, while a shadow that has dried in may need a longer, careful soak. Acrylic can dull and cast iron warranties depend on proper care, so identify the surface before reaching for anything stronger.
Skip scouring pads on a bathroom sink, since fine scratches give makeup a place to hide next time. Makeup on a porcelain sink usually comes off with a soft cloth and mild soap once the shadow loosens. Stop if a faucet finish looks dull or streaky after rinsing, and don't keep trying with anything harsher.
Before you start
What sinks can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care4
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
4 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Soft cloth or spongeWashes the sink without scratching it. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid dish soapMakes the warm water sudsy for the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Facial tissueLifts off excess makeup without spreading it.
- Clean dry clothDries the sink and shows whether any color is left.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Lift off the excess makeup
Wipe up any spill, then lift the loose makeup off with a tissue. Dab it gently, since wiping across the surface spreads the color.
Careful. Brushing spreads makeup into clean areas, so blot or lift it instead.
Step 2 of 5
Wash with warm sudsy water
Dip a soft cloth or sponge in warm water with a little mild dish soap until it's sudsy. Work from the edge of the stain toward the middle so the makeup doesn't spread onto clean sink.
Careful. Cleaners shouldn't soak on the surface; rinse them off right away.
Step 3 of 5
Rinse and wipe the sink dry
Rinse the sink well with clean water so no soap film is left behind. Then wipe it dry with a clean cloth and look at the stain in good light.
Step 4 of 5
Repeat the wash on any shadow
If color is still visible, wash the same spot again with warm sudsy water. Rinse well and dry with a clean cloth once more.
Step 5 of 5
Check the spot before going further
Once the sink is dry, look at the spot in good light, since damp surfaces can hide what's left. If color remains, go to the set-in options and test the one you pick on a hidden spot first.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for makeup on sinks
Choose a mild liquid dish soap for the wash, and skip any product sold as a solvent or as a strong bleach.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on sinks, 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. 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 the same as the rest of the sink once it's dry, and a clean damp cloth comes away clean. If a faint shadow is left after drying, that's the point where the set-in options come in.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sinks
Acrylic sink or tub
The warm sudsy wash is the whole routine on acrylic, and none of the set-in options apply to it. Rinse twice if any soap lingers, and dry the surface fully so no film is left behind.
The gentle wash is the most acrylic can take, so there is no stronger step to add. Stick with it and check the spot in good light once it's dry.
Cast iron sink
The warm sudsy wash works on cast iron, and a mild abrasive cleanser can be used sparingly on a stubborn spot, but always with water and never dry. Keep the wash itself for the makeup, and rinse thoroughly afterward.
Rust on an enameled sink is a separate problem that needs its own product.
Vitreous china or porcelain sink
The warm sudsy wash is the whole routine on vitreous china, and the ammonia option doesn't apply here. Ammonia can damage the finish on this surface, so keep it away from the sink.
Rinse well after the wash so no soap film is left on the glaze, then dry with a clean cloth. Check the spot in good light before deciding whether to repeat the wash.
Faucet with a PVD finish
Wipe the faucet with the same warm sudsy wash. Never let a cleaner with ammonia, bleach or acid touch a PVD finish, even when the sink itself can take it.
If the faucet is chrome or another metal, the Metal, Chrome & Tools guide covers that finish. Rinse the faucet after washing so no soap is left drying on it.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Makeup that has been sitting on the sink for a while takes longer, because the oily part has more time to cling. Repeat the warm sudsy wash a few times before you reach for anything stronger.
If the spot has dried, sponge it with warm water first so it softens, then wash it as usual. On a cast iron sink only, an abrasive cleanser can be used sparingly to lift stubborn color, always with water and never dry.
A few drops of ammonia in warm, sudsy water can be the last step on cast iron, and nowhere else. If the color still shows, or you can't tell what the sink is made of, stop there and ask the manufacturer or a professional cleaner what's safe.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on makeup on sinks?
Most remedies people reach for on fabric don't carry over to a sink, and some would damage the finish. Only a few of these suit a sink: solvents are out, and abrasives need care.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't scrub with steel wool or wire brushes.
Steel wool, wire brushes and abrasive pads scratch cast iron, and strong abrasive cleansers dull vitreous china and damage acrylic. A soft cloth or sponge in the warm wash does the job without them.
Don't use a solvent on the sink.
Solvents damage acrylic, cast iron and vitreous china, so no sink type can take one. Stubborn oily makeup doesn't change that, so stick with warm, sudsy water.
Don't use full-strength bleach or ammonia in airjet tubs.
Chemically active solutions can damage the surface of an airjet acrylic bath. If you're unsure whether a tub is airjet, skip both products.
Don't mix bleach and ammonia.
Never let ammonia meet chlorine bleach, and rinse thoroughly between products. Mixed products can give off hazardous fumes.
When to call a professional
If the sink is acrylic and has gone dull or scratched, contact the manufacturer's customer service for repairs rather than cleaning harder. If the stain survives the set-in options, a professional cleaner is the safer next step.
Questions
Can I use makeup remover on my sink?
Not as a general rule. Solvents damage acrylic, cast iron and vitreous china, so use warm, sudsy water first and check what your sink is made of before trying anything else.
Does vinegar remove makeup from a sink?
No, vinegar isn't the right fix for makeup on a sink. Acids only suit occasional rust on enameled cast iron. Acids are only a fit for occasional rust on enameled cast iron, which is a different problem from makeup.
Is bleach safe to use on makeup in a sink?
It depends on the sink, so don't start there. Full-strength bleach can damage an airjet acrylic bath, so skip it on those tubs and stick with the wash everywhere else.
Can I scrub dried makeup off with baking soda or steel wool?
Not on most sinks. Steel wool and wire brushes scratch cast iron, and grit like baking soda isn't needed for this stain and shouldn't go on acrylic.
What if the makeup has dried on the sink?
Dried makeup takes more passes, not a harsher product. Repeat the warm sudsy wash, and move to the set-in options only if color is still visible.
What if I don't know what my sink is made of?
Stick with the warm sudsy wash and skip the set-in options that use ammonia or abrasives. If the color stays, a professional cleaner is the safer next step.
Will hydrogen peroxide lift makeup from a sink?
No, skip it. Peroxide is used for chocolate color and bleaching, not makeup on a sink. Peroxide is listed for chocolate color and bleaching, not makeup on a sink, so the warm sudsy wash is the better first step.
Makeup on other materials
Other stains on sinks
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.