Knowing how to get makeup out of the carpet is a key skill for anyone who gets glam regularly or is prone to slippery fingers when handling products. It's no wonder that carpet is a popular choice in bedrooms and dressing rooms, as it has a plush feeling that makes morning routines feel luxurious. However, the potential mess from eyeshadow fallouts or foundation bottle spills can make it tricky to keep clean.
When figuring out how to clean a carpet, you can take many different directions, from at-home remedies to the best carpet cleaners. While using the best vacuum cleaners is great for keeping your carpet fresh from day to day, you might need to break out something a little more heavy-duty when makeup is involved.
Makeup products have different formulas, for example, oil or water-based, so the way you approach cleaning them will vary. We've looked into the most commonly spilled items and offered step-by-step advice on removing them so that you can quickly get your carpets back in tip-top condition.
How to get lipstick out of carpet
Mallory Micetich, Home Care Expert at Angi, recommends that "clean oil-based makeup products, start by removing as much makeup from the carpet as possible. From there, you’ll want to put dish soap and a little water directly on the stain and begin blotting with a paper towel. Once the stain is gone, use a fresh paper towel to absorb any leftover liquid. Many dry or powder makeups are also oil-based, so you can follow the same steps as other liquid products."
Lipsticks are around 60% wax and oil, primarily from beeswax, mineral oil, and caster oil. This gives lipsticks their smooth, spreadable quality, but it can also make them difficult to remove from carpets.
So, whether you drop lipstick face down with no lid or your toddler creates some art with your favorite crimson, this guidance will help you remove it without too much elbow grease.
Step 1
Use a spoon or butter knife to carefully scoop up any excess lipstick from the carpet. Doing this before you start cleaning will further prevent any makeup from being trodden into the fibers.
Step 2
Mix a teaspoon of white vinegar in a spray bottle with 2 cups of warm water and two drops of washing-up liquid. Mix it carefully rather than shake it, as this will prevent bubbles.
Step 3
Squirt liberally onto the stain and leave it to sit for around 10-15 minutes.
Step 4
Using a clean paper towel or microfiber cloth, dab the mixture into the stain. We always recommend dabbing rather than smearing the stain, as this will help prevent it from spreading further.
Step 5
Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone, but be careful not to over-wet the carpet.
How to get eyeshadow out of carpet
Eyeshadow is an oil-based product, which gives it a greasy texture notorious for being difficult to remove from surfaces. This is why we recommend using hydrogen peroxide for this clean-up.
Powdered eyeshadows can also shatter easily with a light drop, which adds another risk of staining floors. Even without major breakages, powder floats freely into the air and surrounding areas when applied, making it a potentially messy activity.
Step 1:
Apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain and allow it to sit for a minute.
Step 2:
Using a dry, clean cloth, blot the stain until it lifts.
Step 3:
When the stain has disappeared, dampen a second cloth with warm water and use this to remove any chemical residue left behind.
Step 4:
Pat dry!
How to get foundation out of carpet
The foundation is one of the trickiest makeup products to remove from a carpet and one of the most commonly spilled when pumped onto the back of your hand or your face. Hydrogen peroxide can be used in the same instance as above here; however, if you're averse to using bleach on your carpet, cornstarch is a great alternative.
Step 1:
Scoop up as much foundation as possible using a spoon or butter knife to avoid pressing any standing product further into the carpet.
Step 2:
Sprinkle cornstarch liberally over the stain and let it sit for around 24 hours.
Step 3:
Vacuum up the cornstarch. If the stain remains, contact a professional carpet cleaning service.
How to get mascara out of carpet
Mascara wands gone astray can result in black, oily stains smeared across your carpet - a sight for sore eyes and an even bigger annoyance to clean. Despite a dark color that leaves a significant stain, mascara is relatively simple to remove from the carpet using dish soap and warm water.
Step 1:
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of washing-up liquid with 1 cup of warm water in a bowl. Make sure the water isn't too hot, as this can cause the carpet to shrink.
Step 2:
A clean sponge or microfiber cloth is used, dipping it into the mixture and dabbing the stain.
Step 3:
Repeat until the stain has gone.
