First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Lift off excess makeup before you apply anything to the wall.
- Blot or brush; don't rub, or the color spreads.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
Makeup on a wall, such as foundation on painted drywall, leaves a greasy film that smears across the paint if you press on it. Whether the wall is matte paint, coated vinyl, plaster or wallpaper sets the limit on water, and matte finishes are the easiest to damage. A faint shadow can outlast the rest of the mark, so expect a light patch to fade over a few rounds rather than vanish after one wipe.
Removing a foundation stain from a wall starts with checking the finish, since flat paint and coated vinyl take water very differently. Don't rub a matte wall hard, because you can wear the finish away in one spot. If the foundation still shows after gentle attempts, call a professional rather than reaching for something harsh.
Before you start
What walls can take
Use with care4
- Water
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Soaking
5 items
What you'll need
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- Soft dry cloth or brushLifts off loose makeup without pushing it into the paint. (opens Amazon)
- Clean cloths or non-abrasive spongesHold warm sudsy water and rinse without scratching the wall. (opens Amazon)
- Mild dishwashing liquidMakes the warm sudsy water that does most of the lifting. (opens Amazon)
- Household ammoniaA few drops in the sudsy water handle color that stays after the first wash. (opens Amazon)
- Clean dry clothWipes the wall dry after each rinse.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Test a hidden spot first
Dab a little warm sudsy water on a hidden part of the wall, like behind a door or under a shelf. Let it dry, then look for dulling, lifted paint or any color transfer before you touch the stain.
Tip. A corner behind furniture works well for this.
Step 2 of 6
Lift off the excess makeup
Use a dry cloth or soft brush to wipe or sweep away any loose makeup from the surface. Blot as you go, working from the outer edge of the spot toward the center so the color doesn't spread.
Careful. Rubbing spreads makeup across clean paint and smears the color.
Step 3 of 6
Wash with warm sudsy water
Dip a cloth or sponge in warm sudsy water and wring it until it's only damp. Dab the stain, rinsing the cloth often so you lift the color rather than move it around.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse and wipe dry
Rinse the spot with clear water on a cloth or sponge wrung almost dry. Then wipe the wall dry with a clean cloth.
Tip. Check the cloth in good light; if it still picks up color, the stain isn't finished.
Step 5 of 6
Add ammonia if color remains
If a shadow of color is still there, add a few drops of ammonia to a fresh batch of warm sudsy water. Wipe the spot with light strokes rather than pressing.
Careful. Ammonia must never meet chlorine bleach, so rinse thoroughly between steps.
Step 6 of 6
Finish with a final rinse
Rinse well with clear water to clear out all the ammonia, then dry the spot with a clean cloth. Look at the wall in daylight before you call it done.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for makeup on walls
If a faint shadow is left once the wall is fully dry, a stain-blocking primer applied before repainting keeps it from showing through.
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 walls, 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
Color should come off onto the cloth with each pass, and the spot should look even once it's dry, with no water ring around it. If the paint looks dull or rubbed while you're working, stop and let it dry before you judge the patch.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your walls
Vinyl or coated paper wall
Coated paper and vinyl walls take the same wash as painted drywall, so the steps above still apply. Keep the cloth barely damp and wipe in short, light passes so the coating isn't left wet.
Dry each small area before moving on, so water doesn't sit under the coating. The ammonia step is still the last pass if color stays, followed by a clean rinse.
Wallpaper
Wallpaper needs the lightest touch of any wall, so test a hidden seam before you touch the stain. Some textured papers cannot be washed at all, so use only a damp cloth and stop if the paper starts to lift or the color bleeds.
If the paper is washable, dab with a barely damp cloth and warm sudsy water rather than wiping. Leave out the ammonia step on paper, since each extra pass adds moisture the paper may not handle.
Flat or matte paint
Flat and matte paint shows wear first, so use the lightest wash the stain allows. Plain water on a well-wrung cloth is the first thing to try before any warm sudsy wash.
Stop after a few light passes, since repeated wiping dulls a flat finish. A faint shadow is easier to live with than a dull patch.
Plaster walls
Plaster takes the same steps as painted drywall, so start with the dry lift and the warm sudsy wash. Work quickly, and dry each rinsed area promptly rather than letting moisture sit in the wall.
Use the ammonia step only if the color stays, and rinse it out fully before the spot dries. Check the spot once it's dry, and repeat the wash only if a shadow still shows.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old makeup stain has had time to dry into the paint, so one quick wash may not be enough. Repeat the warm sudsy wash and the ammonia step, rinsing well between passes so the color doesn't come back.
If the stain has dried, dampen the spot with warm sudsy water and give it a minute to soften before wiping. A baking soda and water paste rubbed gently with a non-abrasive cloth can help a stubborn spot, but test a small area first and skip it on flat or matte paint.
If the shadow still shows once the wall is completely dry, the pigment has likely sunk into the paint, and more washing won't fully bring it back. That is when a stain-blocking primer before repainting is the realistic fix.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on makeup on walls?
Plenty of home remedies float around for makeup, but most were written for fabric or other surfaces. Here is how each one fits a painted wall, so you know which ones to leave alone.
Helps2Skip3Avoid1
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.
Ammonia + Baking soda
The ammonia maker's safety sheet says not to mix ammonia with other household chemicals, and Poison Control warns against mixing ammonia products with other cleaners.
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 heat-dry the spot
Drying heat can bake the makeup into the paint and make it harder to lift later. Let the wall air-dry after the final rinse instead.
Don't leave suds on the wall
Soap left behind dries into a dull film that makes the spot look worse. Rinse until the wall feels clean, then wipe it dry with a clean cloth.
Don't brush loose makeup across the paint
Brushing lifts the excess but also drags color across clean paint. Press a dry cloth gently on the spot and move to a clean section of it with each pass.
Don't wipe ammonia over a wide area
Ammonia is only for the shadow that stays after the sudsy wash, and only on a small patch. Keep it away from any bleach in the house, and rinse the spot well before it dries.
Don't soak textured wallpaper to get it clean
Some textured papers can't be washed at all, so test a hidden corner before you wet the paper. If the paper is grasscloth or heavily textured, a professional cleaner may be the safer route.
When to call a professional
Wall paint doesn't usually need a pro for makeup, so start with the paint counter at a hardware store, where staff can help you match a touch-up for a dull patch. If the wallpaper is grasscloth, a professional cleaner may be necessary.
Questions
Can I use ammonia on a painted wall?
Yes, but only as the last step for color that stays after the warm sudsy wash. Add a few drops to the sudsy water, wipe, and rinse well afterward.
Why does a shadow stay after the stain looks gone?
Pigment can sink into the paint, and a wash only lifts what sits on the surface. Let the wall dry completely and look again before you try another pass.
Can I use bleach on makeup on my wall?
No. On walls, chlorine bleach is for mildew only, so skip it for makeup. The warm sudsy wash is the tool for makeup, so there is no need to reach for bleach.
Is makeup remover safe on my wall?
It can be, but test a hidden spot first, since solvents need care on painted walls. Start with a warm sudsy wash, the first thing to try before anything stronger.
How soon should I treat the stain?
Right away is best, because a fresh stain comes off more easily than an old one. Blot the excess first, then start the steps as soon as you can.
Will cleaning dull my matte paint?
It can, since matte paint is the most sensitive to heavy pressure and extra water. Wring the sponge nearly dry and use light strokes. A patch that looks shiny or rubbed once it dries usually means you pressed too hard, and a touch-up is the usual fix.
Can I clean makeup off wallpaper?
Check the paper's label first, because not all of it can take water. If it's washable and smooth, use a sponge with just a little warm water, skip any abrasive, and dry the spot right away. Textured grasscloth may need a professional cleaner instead.
Do I need to repaint if a faint mark stays after cleaning?
Not always. If the wash brings the wall back to an even look, repainting may be unnecessary. If a mark still shows, seal it with a stain-blocking primer before you repaint over it, so the color doesn't come back through the new coat.
Makeup on other materials
Other stains on walls
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.