7 Common Messes From Beauty Products (and How to Clean Them)

Nothing beats self-care — except saving money on self-care. Heading to the spa or salon for pampering is special and relaxing, but pampering yourself at home is fulfilling in its own way. You’re saving money, feeling accomplished, and looking great. But you know why going to the pros is as relaxing as it is? You don’t have to clean up the mess when the dyeing, the polishing, or the powdering is all said and done. They have tools and protocols that make clean-up a breeze and that, coupled with their expertise, is why you pay them.

You, too, can clean up easily after some beautifying, but only if you know the right ways to tackle every mess. Here’s how to handle major at-home beauty mishaps.

Liquid foundation

Getting liquid foundation out of clothes or carpet is hard. It’s designed to stay on your face all damn day, so it’s tough stuff. According to New York Magazine, what you need is some shaving cream: Dampen the stain with cold water and rub a little shaving cream into it with a toothbrush or your fingers. If that doesn’t work, add a little bit of rubbing alcohol. As with any stain, the cold water is important here, as warm water will make it bleed deeper into the affected area.

Powder makeup

Powder foundations and eyeshadows really settle into fabrics and carpets if you spill them, and it’s even more frustrating when you’re dealing with a heavily pigmented one. Per Good Housekeeping, mix one tablespoon of dish soap with two cups of cool water and blot at the stain with a clean cloth. Don’t rub it. Keep blotting until it’s gone, then use a fresh cloth to rinse it.

Lipstick

We’ve told you a few good ways to remove lipstick stains from fabric in the past. First, if the stain is greasy, try chalk. Rub plain white chalk onto the stain to pull up the grease before popping the item in the wash. Otherwise, try mixing a tablespoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of baking soda to create a paste, spreading it over the stain, and letting it sit for 30 minutes. Wipe it away with a clean cloth and wash the fabric on a high temp.

Hair dye

Once again, the University of Illinois’ remarkably detailed stain-busting guide is here to help you if you — god forbid — forgot to wear an old t-shirt when dyeing your hair (or accidentally stained a towel you actually like). Per the university, you pre-treat your stain with heavy-duty laundry detergent, then soak the fabric in a diluted solution of all-fabric powdered bleach. If it doesn’t work or your fabric isn’t bleach-able, you’ll have to use a store-bought colour remover like this one, which is about $US10 ($14).

Clay masks

The staple of at-home self care, face masks are an easy way to pamper yourself while you take care of other business. The issue is, of course, that if you get any of the clay on your towels, it’s going to be hard to get out. It doesn’t have to be that hard though, according to Cleanipedia. Mix one cup of white vinegar and three tablespoons of salt, then spread the mixture over the clay stain and let it sit there for about half an hour. Rinse it off with cool water and wash as normal.

Spray tan

I am not only an avowed spray tan lover, but certified in doing the service, too, so I’ve dealt with the solution a lot, personally and professionally. Fortunately, all you have to do is dab the stained areas with cold water, then pretreat your stain with a mixture of laundry detergent and water, preferably for half an hour or more — then wash as normal. (And don’t forget to wear loose, dark clothing to your appointment and try to sleep in loose pajamas on dark sheets for the first night while it develops, if you can.)

Nail polish

I once spilled nail polish so badly on my carpet that the only solution was to rearrange my entire room so my dresser would cover it — or so I thought. There are better options, even if the polish has dried and it seems like all hope is lost. According to Family Handyman, first wet the stain with cold water, then spray generously with hair spray. Start dabbing, but add little splashes of rubbing alcohol as you go. Start scrubbing with a toothbrush after a few minutes and continue adding cold water. Finally, add non-acetone nail polish remover to the stain and keep brushing before switching to a cloth and dabbing until it’s all gone.