How to Get Makeup out of a Carpet

If you have ever spilled your makeup on a carpet, you will know how difficult it can be to remove the stain without making it worse. 

Make-up is designed to stick to our skin, which means it can easily penetrate the carpet fibers and create a larger smudge or worse, permanent damage.

Luckily, we are here to show you how to get makeup out of a carpet in a jiffy.

We will look at how to get powdered makeup out of a carpet and even how to deal with liquid foundation stains. We will also tell you how to deal with tougher stains, such as older or darker make-up stains.

So if you have had a make-up accident, don’t sweat it. You can still save face by following our trusted guide to removing makeup from your carpet below.

What this article covers:

How To Get Foundation Out Of A Carpet

how to get foundation out of carpet

Step 1: Remove Excess

The most important thing to do when you have spilled liquid foundation on your carpet is to remove as much excess foundation as you can.

Act quickly, to avoid the foundation reaching the underpad of the carpet or penetrating deeper, which will make it harder to remove.

You can use a butter knife or spoon and scrape away as much of the foundation as you can. Do this in a gentle scraping motion, working from the outside of the stain to the inside.

You can also use a paper towel or clean dry cloth and blot up the excess foundation.

Be careful not to rub or scrape in an abrasive manner as this will cause the foundation to penetrate deeper into the carpet.

Step 2: Absorb The Liquid Foundation

Next, you will want to absorb the residual foundation that remains. To do this, apply a bit of lukewarm water to the stain.

Dab the area with a damp cloth or towel doused in lukewarm water, or water mixed with a bit of dish detergent.

Remember to blot the stain from the outer areas and work inwards in a gentle blotting motion to avoid the stain to set into the carpet even further.

Allow the area to dry before moving on to the next step.

how to remove makeup from carpet

Step 3: Address Any Stains

If the stain persists after the above step, you need to apply a solution that can remove the foundation that has penetrated the carpet fibers. 

If you have some on hand, you can mix some coconut oil and a bit of baking soda and gently work it into the stain.

For a more stubborn stain, you will need to apply a more intensive product, such as the ones used to remove hair dye from a carpet.

For this purpose, a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution can work well. Dab a clean cloth in the solution and blot the stained area until the stain comes out of the carpet. Then, spray with clean water to remove the stain and residual peroxide completely. 

Follow this same process if you have used coconut oil on the stain. 

But, for best results, we recommend using professional carpet cleaning chemicals.

Simply apply them according to the package instructions, which generally involves applying them to the stained area and leaving it to work into the stain for a few minutes.

For liquid foundation make-up stains, something like a targeted Super Gel can work wonders in removing the stain.

how to get make up out of carpet

Remember to always test any product on an inconspicuous area of the carpet first to ensure that the carpet will not be damaged in any way. 

In other words, apply some of the product to the carpet according to the instructions and see how it reacts. 

Many carpets made from natural fibers are sensitive to certain chemicals whilst colored carpets may become bleached by the product. 

So testing it ensures that you can treat the stain with the product without damaging your carpet. 

Step 4: Vacuum

After addressing the stain, you can finish off the process by vacuuming your rug.

If you want to have your carpet look as good as new, we recommend using industrial carpet cleaning equipment, such as an Orbit Vibe Floor Machine.

how to remove foundation from carpet

If not, allow the stain to dry completely and simply vacuum your rug with a heavy-duty wet and dry household vacuum.

If the stain persists, you might need to repeat steps 2 to 4 until the desired results are achieved.

How To Get Concealer Out Of A Carpet

Step 1: Act Quickly

you have to act quickly when you have spilled concealer on your carpet.

This is because it contains powerful colorants that can be hard to remove if not addressed immediately.

So as soon as the spill happens, use a paper towel and gently absorb as much of the top layer of spilled concealer as you can.

If you are dealing with an older stain, follow the same process. Avoid rubbing the stain as this will only make it worse.

If the stain has set a bit, it means that you will probably be cleaning up dried concealer from the carpet fibers.

This may have a crumbly texture so use gloves to pick out as much of the concealer as you can before directly cleaning the stain.

Step 2: Apply Stain Remover

The next step is to remove and clean the stained area. For concealer stains, you can use one of two methods.

The first method is to mix a solution of dish detergent (one tablespoon) and two cups of lukewarm water.

Then, use a clean white cloth and sponge the stain with the solution.

This is to dissolve the makeup. Gently blot the stain until all the liquid is removed. Repeat this step as many times as is necessary.

Alternatively, you can sponge the area with a dry-cleaning solvent instead of the detergent solution.

Something like a Citrus Solvent is perfect for this purpose, especially if you want your carpet to look and smell fresh after cleaning it.

remove makeup from carpet

Sponge the stain with your solvent and gently blot it up using a clean cloth as described above.

Repeat as often as is necessary to ensure the stain is completely removed.

Step 3: Vacuum

After removing the stain, use a rotovac carpet cleaner or another type of water extraction vacuum to finish off the process.

how to get makeup stains out of carpet

Or, allow the stained area to dry completely and vacuum it as you normally would.

How To Get Blush Out Of A Carpet

Step 1: Vacuum

Blush is known for its red and pink hues, which is why most people can’t go without it. But, it can be frustrating when blush stains your carpets and not your cheeks.

The good thing about blush is that it mostly comes in a dried powder form, meaning it is a bit easier to remove.

Grab a vacuum and vacuum the area where the blush powder has spilled.

Focus on vacuuming this specific area only to avoid the stain spreading to other areas of the carpet. 

If the powder does not get absorbed by the vacuum, you need to remove the powder manually with a paper towel.

If you spilled blush cream, which is a liquid form of blush, the vacuum won’t do.

Remove as much of the liquid blush as you can using a clean cloth or dry paper towel, taking care to not let it penetrate the carpet any further.

Step 2: Treat The Stain

After removing the excess blush powder or cream, you are ready to deal with the stain that remains. Luckily, there are a variety of ways to do this.

Firstly, you can dab the area with makeup remover. Don’t saturate the stain with makeup remover but rather use a cloth to gently dab the stained area with it.

You can also use shaving foam if you don’t want to waste your expensive makeup remover.

Simply apply a dollop to the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes, then gently dab it into the stain using a clean cloth. The blush should transfer from the carpet onto your cloth.

While these home remedies are useful in case of an emergency, the best way to deal with any stain is to invest in targeted chemicals that are designed to eliminate them.

Because of the red hue that a blush stain will leave on your carpet, we recommend something like Red Action, which is designed to deal with reddish carpet stains.

how to get makeup stain out of carpet

Simply apply it to the stain as described in the instructions. Be sure to always test the product on the carpet before applying it to ensure that it is safe for use on natural and synthetic fibers.

As an alternative, you can mix a dish detergent solution using a tablespoon of detergent and two cups of lukewarm water and sponge it onto the stain.

Then, use a clean cloth to dab the affected area, which should easily remove the stain.

Step 3: Post-Treatment

Because of blush’s color, it is a stubborn stain to remove. Especially on lighter carpets.

So, you may want to finish off the process with a little post-treatment and TLC to ensure your carpet returns to its original state.

For this purpose, any targeted carpet cleaner spray can work wonders.

Or, dab the area with 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to ensure the stain disappears completely. Finish off by rinsing the affected area with cold water or a specialized carpet rinse, such as Alkaline Neutral Rinse.

how to remove makeup stain from carpet

How To Get Liquid Makeup Out Of A Carpet

Step 1: Blot

Like blush, a variety of other makeup products may come in a liquid or powdered form.

And yes, it is harder to know how to get liquid eyeliner out of carpet than the powdered variation of this product.

This is because liquid makeup can easily spread and penetrate deeper into the carpet when starting the cleaning process.

So, the first step is to not introduce any additional liquid until you have removed most of the liquid product.

Use a dry paper towel or dry cloth and gently blot the affected area.

Don’t rub the stain or be impatient here, as this will allow the liquid to cling to the carpet fibers, which will make the entire cleaning process harder.

Step 2: Apply A Cleaning Solution

The type of cleansing solution that will work for liquid make-up depends on the type of make-up stain you are dealing with.

Things like light blush or liquid foundation can easily be dealt with using a solution of water and dish detergent.

But, liquid eyeliner, mascara, and darker blush will need some more serious intervention. If you want to use detergent, mix a tablespoon of detergent and 2 cups of water and apply to stain.

Then, dab the area until the water and stain are removed.

For tougher stains, replace the detergent solution with 3% Hydrogen Peroxide or a solution made with vinegar and water.

Apply peroxide or vinegar directly onto the stain and blot until dry.

Both vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide may damage carpets, especially if they are made from natural fibers such as wool.

So be sure to test this solution on a small part of the carpet first, before thoroughly cleaning the stain. Both also have bleaching properties, so they may work better on lighter carpets.

You can also opt for a concentrated cleaning solution that can be applied directly to the stain. For liquid makeup, something like PIG Out is your best bet.

how to remove makeup stains from carpet

This is because it will deal with the stain and any residual grease that remains as a result of the makeup spill.

Step 3: Rinse

After ensuring that the stain has been thoroughly cleaned and that no residual liquid makeup remains, you can rinse the affected area.

Use cold water or a carpet rinse and remove any residual product from the carpet.

Step 4: Vacuum

To finish off the cleaning process, grab a vacuum and vacuum the carpet.

For this purpose, a specialized carpet vacuum or carpet cleaning brush machine will work great.

how to get concealer out of carpet

How To Remove Old Makeup Stains From A Carpet

Step 1: Apply Chemical

Dealing with old makeup stains is similarly difficult to getting dried toothpaste out of a carpet.

This is because the stain has had time to set and the elements that make up your makeup have now had time to bind with the carpet fibers, making the stain that much harder to remove.

The good news is that you can still get rid of the stain. The bad news is that you are going to need something strong to ensure that the stain can be thoroughly removed.

Start by gently applying Hydrogen Peroxide or Isopropyl Alcohol directly onto the stain. This works in the same way that nail polish remover works for getting nail polish out of a carpet.

The peroxide or alcohol will break down the chemical compounds in the make-up making it easier to remove.

You can also apply a carpet cleaning spot remover, such as PIG Out to break down the stain.

Since all these treatments are quite harsh in terms of their chemical composition, it is imperative to test them on a small part of the carpet before applying them to the stain.

Step 2: Dab

how to get black makeup out of carpet

After applying the product, let it sit for a bit to allow it to work thoroughly into the stain. Then, dab or blot the affected area with a white cloth or paper towel.

Do not use a colored cloth as this may transfer the color from the cloth onto the stain.

Dab until the stain has completely been removed from the carpet. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as many times as necessary to clear the stain.

Or follow Step 2 with a round of dish detergent cleansing by mixing dish detergent and water and sponging it into the stain.

Then, using a cloth, dab up the water solution from the stain.

Step 3: Rinse

Because old makeup requires strong products, you will want to ensure that you rinse all of the remaining products out of the carpet.

You can do this using cold water or a carpet rinse. Ensure that the stain has been completely removed before conducting this step.

How To Get Black Makeup Out Of A Carpet

how to get liquid foundation out of carpet

Step 1: Remove Excess Black Makeup

When it comes to makeup, black makeup stains may be the most intimidating.

This is especially true if you spill black makeup on a lighter carpet.

Black makeup stains are usually the result of spilled eyeshadow, mascara, or eyeliner. 

If the stain is from black powder, vacuum up as much of the powder as you can. Take care to not vacuum too hastily as this will allow the powder to spread.

For a liquid stain, use a white paper towel and blot the stain to absorb as much of the black residue as possible.

Step 2: Clean The Black Stain

Once the excess black liquid or powder has been removed from the carpet, you are ready to tackle the black stain.

One of the most popular ways to remove black stains is to use a solution of half a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of vinegar.

Gently dab the stain with this solution working from the outside of the stain to the inside using a clean white cloth.

If you don’t want to use vinegar, you can apply Hydrogen Peroxide or eye make-up remover onto a cloth. firmly dab the stain with it.

When using Hydrogen Peroxide, you can apply it directly onto the stain for tougher stains. 

But when using eye makeup remover avoid direct contact with the stain as the eye makeup remover can penetrate the carpet and damage the underpad of your carpet or rug. Instead, apply eye makeup remover to a cloth before transferring it to the stain. 

As a general rule of thumb, Hydrogen Peroxide works best for eyeliner, vinegar works best for eyeshadow and eye make-up remover works best for mascara stains.

For an all-around solution, try to opt for a carpet stain solution or general carpet shampoo, such as a Concentrated Defoamer Powder, to address the stain.

how to clean makeup off carpet

These type of cleaning solutions not only removes and cleans the stain but also addresses any residual grease that remains, making it perfect for liquid-based products such as liquid eyeliner.

Step 3: Rinse and Vacuum

To finish off the process, you need to rinse the area you have cleaned using either cold water or a dedicated carpet rinse. This is to ensure that any residual black makeup is thoroughly removed from the carpet.

Then, vacuum the affected area using a household vacuum or specialized water extraction vacuum.

Conclusion

After reading this guide, it should be obvious that makeup stains can easily be dealt with using the right products, household ingredients, and methods.

For more stubborn stains, it is always best to enlist the help of professional chemicals or equipment for the best results.

There is also a higher chance that these types of cleaners have been tested on carpets, making them safer to use.

So, what are you waiting for? Are you ready to find the perfect carpet cleaning solution for dealing with your makeup stains?

Did you find our blog helpful? Then consider checking other guides:


Featured collection

View all
Orange Label Carpet & Upholstery PreSpray
4.4
Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
14 Reviews
from $ 55.65
Groutmaster Tile and Grout Cleaner Prespray
4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
659 Reviews
$ 63.00
Black Label Sweet Breeze™ Prespray
4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
331 Reviews
from $ 55.65
USOR UNCHAINED (Urine Stain & Odor Remover) With EcoCide
4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
577 Reviews
$ 39.97