Carpets give a home a certain charm of warmth and luxury, don’t you agree? However, it does take some safeguarding to keep it that way, especially if you get a lipstick stain on it. You need to know how to get lipstick out of the carpet before the spot works into the carpet spoiling the design.
Key Takeaways:
You can use hairspray, Windex, acetone-based nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, or white vinegar to easily lift lipstick stains out of a carpet. Apply to a test portion of the carpet first, then apply to the stain if using Windex or hairspray. Leave for 15 minutes, then dab carefully with a clean cloth, stroking back and forth, before rinsing and blotting to dry.
You can also use hydrogen peroxide at 3% on a rag, but take care – blot and leave the stain for up to an hour.
If your lipstick stain is fresh, scrape the top layer off, spray with a solution and leave to soak for five minutes. Scrub, massage and blot, and leave to dry with a rag over the top and a heavy object to weigh down.
Removing Lipstick Out of Carpet with Household Items
Lipsticks can last up to twelve hours, and some even need a makeup remover to get it off. However, it may be good news for your lips, but for your carpet, it is dreadful news.
No, don’t scream or cry! If it happens, we have tried and tested ways using household items that have one or two ingredients that work perfectly as stain removal. There are loads of things in the home that can help to get out lipstick on the carpet.
Here we have some tried and true ways that can help save your mat.
Method of Removing Lipstick Stain with Hairspray
The first step you should do is a fabric test on your carpet. Your rug has different fabrics that react differently to certain things; therefore, this part is crucial. Choose a hidden part and apply the hairspray if the cleaning solution does not damage the spot, then it should work on the stain. However, if it does swap it out with acetone-based nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, or Windex.
Applying the Cleaning Solution
When using a hairspray or Windex, you can spray it directly on the stain. However, using any of the other products use small amounts directly on the lipstick stain. Leave the solution to sit for about 15-minutes and take a clean cloth to dab the area. Do not go rubbing it hard; do it with gentle rubbing and press the fabric down to help absorb the stain with the cleaning solution.
Once the stain is no longer visible, you need to rinse off the solution with a clean cloth dipped in cold water. Squeeze the rag lightly to apply the water to the stained area to help dilute the cleaning solution.
Blot the spot and leave to dry.
Use a Carpet Shampooer
Carpets need regular cleaning to look fresh and have a long life. The best way to achieve this is to regularly have them cleaned. Using a carpet shampooer is also an effective way to remove tough stains, like lipstick. Here are our carpet shampooer reviews 2021.
Removing Lipstick out of a Carpet with Hydrogen Peroxide
Have you tried everything from hairspray to the carpet solutions mentioned above? Is the lipstick stain stubborn and still not removed? Then you need to take action with hydrogen peroxide! A fact is that the other products help to break down the stain, but may not eradicate it.
What the hydrogen peroxide does is bleach out the last bit of the lipstick stain. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide as anything less may not work. On the other hand, if the percentage is higher, it may damage the carpet. Place a small amount of the solution on the stain.
Alternatively, you can place a small amount on a cloth if your hands are as unsteady as ours. Make sure the spot is soggy and use the rag to wet it properly. Leave the stain for up to an hour, and once done, look at the lipstick stain again. You should note some change, but may still be visible.
How to Get Lipstick out of Carpet When the Stain is Still Fresh
Is your carpet looking like a coloring board with your toddler’s faces looking the same? Then there is no need of fluttering around in panic. Here time is of the essence to remove the lipstick stain immediately. All you need is what you have in the cleaning closet, a dry-cleaning solvent, or a carpet cleaning product.
- Start by scraping the top layer of the carpet to remove the lipstick stain chunks by using the dull end of a spoon or knife
- Try to remove most of it but do not rub the stain into the carpet
- Take the cloth and spray it with the cleaning solution and press it on the stain
- If the spot becomes too stained, then switch sides and wash the fabric off and repeat the process
- Leave the cleaning solution to sit in the carpet for five minutes and wash out the solution with a tiny amount of detergent mixed in a glass of water
- Apply to the spot and scrub out the cleaning solution using a cloth, but make sure the stain is gone before scrubbing it
- Rinse with a wet cloth and massage spot while blotting the stain as much as possible
- Place a dry rag over the stain and place a heavy object on it to help absorb the water and leave to air-dry
Conclusion
The sooner you remove a lipstick stain out of the carpet, the easier it will be to clean. If you have dropped your lipstick or your child got hold of it, use one of the techniques we’ve listed to help remove it from the rug. If you are interested in similar guides, check out how to get nail polish out of carpet here.