How To Remove Make-Up Stains From Carpet

Ever had your lipstick or foundation drop onto the floor and wondered what to do?  

The trick to removing a makeup stain from carpet is quick action. The longer the spill is on the carpet, the more it will penetrate into the carpet fibres.

This creates a coloured, oily residue in the carpet that stain that can be difficult to remove and can leave a dirt attracting residue.

How to Get Makeup Stains Out of Carpet 

Act quickly! The likelihood of removing the makeup stain has a lot to do with the type of makeup and how long it has been there. Most make-up products are oil based and can be broken down with isopropyl alcohol, otherwise known as rubbing alcohol. (Isocol is an easy to find brand in your super-market or chemist).  

Just be sure to use clear rubbing alcohol. We suggest the following process to remove make-up stains: 

Step 1 - Remove the excess makeup

Scrape up as much of the makeup as you can with a knife or spoon. 

Step 2 - Apply isopropyl alcohol

Apply isopropyl alcohol to a clean white cotton cloth (or a cotton swab for small stains). Carefully dab at the stained fibres, placing downward pressure on the fibre. Do not rub the stain as this may spread the stain.

Step 3 - Blot dry

Blot the stain using a dry, clean cloth or white paper towels, and repeat the process until you no longer see transfer of the stain to the cloth. Avoid using excess alcohol, as if you use too much it may soak through the carpet to the backing, causing damage to the latex glue that bonds the carpet fibres to the backing. 

When you no longer see continuing colour transfer to the cloth, re-apply a small amount of alcohol and blot again with a clean dry cloth. 

Step 4 - Rinse

Rinse the carpet with water by blotting the area with a wet sponge. Then blot dry with a clean cloth. 

Step 5 - Use Electro 3 Carpet Stain Remover

If a stain remains, use Electro 3 stain remover. Spray directly onto the stain and wipe off with a white cloth (repeat 2 to 3 times following instructions on the bottle). If you do not have Electro 3 Stain Remover then you may wish to use a mild generic carpet stain remover and follow the instructions on the bottle. Alternatively mix a few drops of dish washing detergent (fragrance free) with 250ml of warm water of water and apply this several times. Never rub hard, just gently work the mixture in and blot it up repeatedly. 

Once you've done this, rinse again with cold water and blot dry. If you can, create airflow with a fan to speed up the drying process. 

Warning: Always use a clean, dry, colourfast cloth otherwise a stain may transfer from the cloth to the carpet. If you have used a generic stain remover, ensure you flush the area with clean water and blot dry with a towel. Some stain removers can act to unset carpet dyes if they are not removed from the carpet.  

If you follow all these steps and still have a stain, call Electrodry. Electrodry Carpet Dry Cleaning are usually able to remove makeup stains, as long as they do not contain permanent dyes.