How Do You Remove Makeup Stains From a Pillowcase?
That beige shadow on your pillowcase isn't dirt. It's oil carrying pigment, and the washing machine alone won't always remove it. Here's how to get rid of foundation, mascara and lipstick residue with dish soap, micellar water and rubbing alcohol before you wash.
Why makeup sticks to your pillowcase
Foundation and lipstick contain oils and waxes that hold the color in place. Waterproof mascara also contains polymers that form a film over the fabric. If you remove your makeup in a hurry, it's normal for your pillowcase to get stained every week.
The key isn't the color but the grease. Once the grease is gone, the pigment comes out with it. That's why it's best to dissolve the stain before putting the pillowcase in the washing machine.
Precautions before you start
Alcohol is flammable. Use it away from stovetops and candles, with the window open. Never mix it with bleach, as this can form chloroform. If someone is poisoned, call the Toxicology Information Service (Servicio de Información Toxicológica): 91 562 04 20.
Don't use alcohol on silk pillowcases or on any with the dry-clean-only circle on the care label, as it can dull the color. On any other pillowcase, test it first on an inside seam.
What you'll need
A spoon, cotton pads, paper towels, dish soap, micellar water and rubbing alcohol from the pharmacy.
Step by step by type of makeup
Step one: scrape off the excess with the edge of the spoon, working from the outside in. Don't use a cloth, because it only spreads the stain.
Step two: turn the pillowcase inside out and place folded paper towels under the stain. This way the makeup will come out the way it went in, without passing through more fabric.
Step three, for foundation: press a cotton pad soaked in micellar water onto the stain without rubbing. When it turns beige, turn it over and keep going until it comes away clean.
Step four, for waterproof mascara: micellar water isn't enough here. Dab with alcohol, which dissolves that film. You'll see the paper underneath turn gray.
Step five, for lipstick: dab on alcohol, working from the edge toward the center, so you don't leave a ring. Long-lasting reds dye the fiber and may need two or three passes.
Step six, for all stains: put a drop of dish soap on whatever remains and spread it with your finger. Wait ten minutes and rinse from the back with cold water. Hot water melts the wax and spreads it around.
Check the result before washing
Inspect the pillowcase when it's dry, because the stain is barely visible when wet. Hold it up to the light at a window. Don't put it in the dryer if any residue remains: the heat will set the halo.
If there's still a shadow, repeat from step three. If it's clean, machine wash it according to the care label. If the stain is still there after two rounds, take it to the dry cleaner and explain what kind of makeup it is.
In short, you don't wash a makeup stain straight away: first you dissolve it, then you wash it.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the washing machine remove makeup stains from my pillowcase?
Because foundation, mascara and lipstick contain oils, waxes or polymers that hold the pigment in place. You need to dissolve the grease first so the color comes out with it.
Can I use alcohol on any pillowcase?
No. Avoid it on silk and on pillowcases with the dry-clean symbol, because it can dull the color. On all others, test it first on an inside seam.
Should I rinse with hot or cold water?
With cold water, from the back of the fabric. Hot water melts the wax in the makeup and spreads it through the fabric.
What should I do if the stain doesn't come out after two attempts?
Take the pillowcase to the dry cleaner and tell them what type of makeup caused the stain.
Informative article written with the help of AI tools from the verified script of the video. The video is in Spanish.