How to Get Lip Gloss Out of Clothes

How to get lip gloss out of clothes

Lip gloss adds a fun shine to any makeup look, but anyone who’s ever worn lip gloss with their hair down on a windy day knows it’s also kind of sticky. That shine and stickiness can make stains a little troublesome. If you remember life back in the early 2000s, accidentally smearing lip gloss on the collar of your sweatshirt as you take it off is a daily risk. 

If you happen to stain your collar, pocket, or other clothing item with lip gloss or lip oil, not all hope is lost. There are some tricks you can try to get lipgloss out of clothes.

Can You Remove Lip Gloss from Clothes?

It depends. Heat sets most stains. So if you accidentally washed and dried a load of laundry forgetting about the lip gloss in your pocket (no!!!), that load of laundry will be nearly impossible to rescue. 


The good news is if you catch the stain before it goes into the dryer, there are several things you can try before abandoning hope. 

What Type of Stain is Lip Gloss?

Lipgloss is an oil stain, so removing it will require similar techniques to getting chapstick, lotion stains, or other oil-based stains out of clothes. Oil stains are tricky to remove because we all know that oil and water don’t mix, so water-based cleaners aren’t very effective on oil stains. 

Lip gloss stains also require pretreating. Oil stains can’t just be tossed into the wash, they have to first be absorbed or blotted to avoid setting in. 

Before You Get Started

Before trying to remove a lip gloss stain, test your chosen stain removal technique in an inconspicuous area. Make sure you read and follow the instructions on the garment label too. 

When dealing with any stain, especially a tricky one like lip gloss, it’s a good idea to start with the gentlest solution and work your way up as necessary. 

How to Get Lip Gloss Out of Clothes

Dissolve Lip Gloss Stains with Dish Soap

One of the best first responses to a lip gloss stain is to try to dissolve the stain with dish soap. Dish soap is designed to cut through oil – that’s why it works so well when washing oily dishes. It’s also gentle enough to use on most fabrics. 

  1. Run the stain under cold water.
  2. Apply just enough dish soap to cover the stain. 
  3. Rub the soap into the stain until it penetrates the fabric.
  4. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing clean. Repeat until the stain looks like it has lifted.
  5. Wash in a cold cycle and air dry (remember – dryer heat sets stains!). Repeat the process again if the stain remains.

Soak Up Lip Gloss Stains with Powder 

Different kinds of powder, arrowroot powder, baking powder, cornstarch, baby powder, and even chalk all work well to absorb oil stains, like lotion or lip gloss. 

  1. Apply powder liberally to the stain.
  2. Leave it overnight or longer to absorb most of the oil in the stain.
  3. Brush away the powder and repeat if the stain clearly persists. This can take several days in some cases.
  4. Once the stain is undetectable, wash in a cold cycle and air dry (remember – dryer heat sets stains!). Repeat the process again if the stain remains.

Blot Lip Gloss Stains with Rubbing Alcohol

In some cases, alcohol can be an effective tool to blot away oil stains. I’d recommend rubbing alcohol, but acetone might also be worth a try depending on the fabric you’re working with. If you’re working with a garment made of any delicate or synthetic fabrics like silk, rayon, or wool, it’s best to avoid using rubbing alcohol or acetone. 

  1. Saturate a clean cloth with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. 
  2. Blot the stain, and be sure to replace the cloth as the stain starts to lift to avoid reintroducing lip gloss to the clothing.
  3. Repeat and alternate between blotting with alcohol and cold water until the stain appears to lift.
  4. Wash in a cold cycle and air dry (remember – dryer heat sets stains!). Repeat the process again if the stain remains.

Apply Shaving Cream to Lip Gloss Stains

This method might sound a little crazy, but it works to remove oil-based foundation stains, so it’s worth trying for a stubborn lip gloss stain too. 

  1. Apply shaving cream to completely cover the stain.
  2. Work the shaving cream into the stain using your fingers or a clean toothbrush. 
  3. Once most of the stain has lifted, rinse in cold water. 
  4. Wash in a cold cycle and air dry (remember – dryer heat sets stains!). Repeat the process again if the stain remains.

Air Dry Only!

Always remember, a hot dryer cycle will set whatever lip gloss stains into fabric. This mistake will make it much harder if not impossible to remove.

Regardless of what stain removal techniques you choose, make sure to air dry your garments only on a drying rack or clothesline until the stain is completely gone. 

Handling Stubborn Lip Gloss Stains 

If you have a lip gloss stain that just won’t come out, it might be time to pull out the big guns. Products like WD-40, Goo Gone, and ammonia are your best bet. These solutions aren’t particularly pleasant to work with. 

Both WD-40 and Goo Gone have strong smells and contain heavy chemicals. You might want to wear gloves while using them, but they might be able to save an expensive pair of jeans when all else fails. 

Lip Gloss Stains In the Dryer?

If you find yourself with lipgloss smeared in your dryer, it’s a good idea to clean them off before accidentally ruining another load of laundry! Here are a few things you can do to clean your dryer

Using either a bleach (one cup bleach in one gallon of water) or vinegar (one part vinegar one part water) solution – NOT both – dip a cleaning cloth into the solution and wipe down the barrel of the dryer until your dryer is clean. 

Bleach and vinegar will break down lip gloss residue, making it easier for you to wipe it off of the dryer drum. Just remember to never use both at once, because it will create a dangerous chemical reaction. 

Let dry, and then wipe the dryer once more with water to get rid of any remaining bleach or vinegar residue.

Final Thoughts on How to Remove Lip Gloss Stains

While lip gloss and lip oil stains can be some of the most difficult to remove, it doesn’t mean you should give up on your favorites!

Simply treat stains as soon as they happen and you can enjoy lip gloss (or lip oils like these Dior lip oil dupes) anytime it suits your look.

How to get lipgloss out of clothes

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