How to Get Foundation Stains Out of Your Clothes

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Learn how to clean up liquid and powder foundation with our complete guide

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Oil-Free Foundation Stains

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Oil-Based Foundation Stains

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Powder Foundation Stains

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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

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Touching up your makeup and some foundation spilled onto your nice top? Whether it just rubbed off on your shirt or stained your clothes a while ago, you can remove foundation from your clothing pretty easily with the right cleaning products. Liquid and powder foundations require slightly different cleaning methods, but we’ve got everything you need to know to clean up. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through how to get rid of those pesky stains no matter what kind of foundation you were using.

Things You Should Know

Work shaving cream into stains left by oil-free liquid foundation. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol before washing your clothes for added stain-fighting power.
Treat oily foundation stains with dish soap and liquid laundry detergent before washing the garment.
Blow powder foundation off your garments, and treat any residual stains with a solution of water and vinegar.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Oil-Free Foundation Stains

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1
Scoop up excess foundation with a butter knife or spoon. If you just spilled the foundation, use the edge of your knife or spoon to scrape as much off as you can so it doesn’t set into the fabric. Try to avoid rubbing the foundation in so the stain doesn’t get any bigger.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Alternatively, try scooping or blotting up the excess foundation with some paper towel.
2
Work foam shaving cream into the stain. Use a foam shaving cream rather than gel since it removes the makeup more effectively. Squeeze the shaving cream directly onto the stain and cover it completely. Let the shaving cream sit for about 5–10 minutes to work its magic before rubbing it into the fabric with your fingers. When you’re finished, rinse the shaving cream out with cool water.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If the tag on your garment says “dry clean only,” then avoid trying to pretreat the stain and have it dry-cleaned right away.
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Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Our Expert Agrees: Shaving cream works wonders at breaking down foundation makeup that's gotten on your clothes. However, be careful not to use this on wool or other fabrics that are dry-clean only—take these to your dry cleaner instead.
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3
Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the shaving cream for stubborn stains. If shaving cream doesn’t do the trick on its own, apply it again to the stain and sprinkle in 3–4 drops of rubbing alcohol. Rub the shaving cream and alcohol mixture into your clothing and let it sit for about 5 minutes. After that, rinse the fabric out with cold water.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Test the rubbing alcohol on an inconspicuous spot of your clothing first to ensure that it doesn’t damage the fabric.
4
Pretreat residual stains with heavy-duty laundry detergent. Choose a liquid detergent labeled for treating stains so you have the best chance of getting the foundation out of your clothes. Wet the stain with cool water and rub the detergent into the fabric. Cover the entire stain with the detergent and leave it to soak in for 5–10 minutes.^{[4]XResearch source}
- If you only have powder laundry detergent, mix it with enough water to make a thick paste and apply it to the stain.
5
Wash the stained item as you normally would. If the garment is machine-washable, toss it into your washer using the standard cycle. If you have more delicate clothing that isn’t machine-safe, then wash it by hand instead.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Let your clothes air-dry rather than putting them in a dryer since the heat could make the stain set in further.
- If you still notice a foundation stain on your clothes, try retreating it with shaving cream and detergent again. If you still can’t get it out, then take the garment to a professional cleaner.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Oil-Based Foundation Stains

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1
Remove excess foundation with a spoon. If you just spilled foundation on your clothes, scrape the foundation off the fabric with the edge of your spoon. Try to lift up as much of the foundation as you can so it doesn’t set deeper into the fabric.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Avoid rubbing the foundation into the fabric since it will only make the stain larger and more difficult to remove.
Gently press the paper towel onto the treated area to soak up any foundation that soaked into the fabric. Lift the towel straight up without rubbing or wiping the stain so it doesn’t smear. If there are still stain marks, use a fresh piece of paper towel to blot at it again.^{[7]XResearch source}
3
Work water and liquid dish soap into the stain. Wet the stain with cool water and squirt the dish detergent directly onto the fabric. Rub the dish soap in with your fingers to clean the stain and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. After that, either rinse the soap out or toss your clothes right into the washer.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Dish soap is made to help cut through grease and oil, so it can help break down and remove the foundation from your clothes.
4
Pre-treat stubborn stains with liquid laundry detergent. Pour a coin-sized amount of liquid laundry detergent directly onto the foundation stain. Use your fingers or a clean cloth to work the detergent deeper into the stain, and let it sit for about 10 minutes before you wash it.^{[9]XResearch source}
- If you’re cleaning delicate clothing, check the label on the detergent to make sure it’s suitable for the fabric. Test the detergent in an inconspicuous spot if you’re worried about it causing any damage to your clothes.
5
Wash the garment as you normally would. Once you’ve treated the stain with detergent, toss your clothes in the washing machine and run a standard cycle. For delicate fabrics, take your time to gently hand-wash them to remove the stain. When you’re finished, hang the clothes up to air-dry.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If you still notice a stain on your clothes, try washing your clothes with dish soap or laundry detergent again until it lightens up.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Powder Foundation Stains

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1
Blow away the excess powder. Rather than brushing or rubbing the powder foundation into the fabric, blow away the excess powder with your mouth. If you have a larger spill, then use a blow-dryer on a low setting to get the foundation off your clothes.^{[11]XResearch source}
- For a small powder spill, a puff of air may be enough to remove the makeup without washing your clothes.
2
Work a few drops of liquid detergent to the stain. Wet the stain with a bit of cold water before applying a coin-sized amount of laundry detergent to the fabric. Rub the detergent into the entire stain using your fingers or a clean cloth. After that, wet the area with a damp sponge or washcloth to get the soap out.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Blot the stained spot dry with a clean towel after you rinse it out.
3
Try a vinegar and water solution for a stubborn stain. Combine equal parts distilled white vinegar and cool water in a bowl. Wet a sponge or washcloth in the solution and blot it onto the foundation stain on your clothes. Gently work the solution into the stain with your fingers and let it soak in for about 5–10 minutes. After that, just rinse the fabric out with cool water.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Vinegar can sometimes make fabric dyes bleed, so test the solution on an inconspicuous spot to ensure the colors don’t run.
4
Wash the clothes as normal to fully treat the stain. If your clothes are machine-safe, then put the garment in your washer on the standard cycle with detergent. For more delicate clothes, hand-wash the stains in your sink. After you thoroughly wash your clothes, hang them up so they can air-dry completely.^{[14]XResearch source}
- If you’re still not able to get the stains out or if your clothes are labeled “dry clean only,” then take them into a professional cleaner.

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Warnings

Don’t try to remove stains from clothing with an oil-based makeup remover. This will leave you with an oil stain to contend with in addition to a makeup stain.
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