Makeup & lipstickon carpet & rugs
Do NOT add water first — foundation and lipstick are oil-based, and water just spreads the pigment.
Phase 1: Immediate first aid
Use what you have right now. Nothing to buy.
Blot & isolate
Lift off excess product with the edge of a card or a dry cotton pad. Don't wipe — it smears the pigment. On carpet: work from the edges inward, and never pour liquid on.
Pantry pre-treatment
You need
1 tbsp micellar water
Method
Soak a cotton pad and press it on the mark for 30 seconds, then lift. Turn the pad and repeat — it dissolves the oils holding the pigment.
Final flush & wash
Rinse by spraying a little lukewarm water and blotting dry — repeat 2–3 times to get the residue out. Weigh a thick towel down with books for an hour, then let it air-dry and brush the pile up.
Phase 2: Deep restoration
If a faint shadow remains after the initial rinse, or for fabrics that cannot tolerate water agitation:
Residual ghost-ring or dry-clean-only fiber?
Normal washing often won't shift the last trace of a set-in stain. Treat it with a targeted spotter before it goes anywhere near dryer heat — heat locks in whatever is left.
AlbaChem Dry Spotter
Solvent-based spotter for grease, oil, wax, makeup and ink. Works without water, so it suits fabrics that can’t be wet-cleaned.
Apply a few drops with a cotton bud, tamp gently, then flush as the label directs. Patch-test first.
- Carbona Stain Devils
Pick the formula labelled for this stain type — the range is split by stain.
Build your laundry first-aid kit
Top 3 essential spotters for next time — one for each stain family.
- AlbaChem Dry SpotterGrease, oil, wax, makeup, ink
- Alba-ProBlood, urine, grass, chocolate
- Alba-TanWine, coffee, tea, tomato, curry
Always patch-test on a hidden area first. Never mix bleach, ammonia, vinegar or peroxide together. For valuables, see a professional cleaner.