How to Clean Up Halloween Make-Up & Face Paint Stains

The weather is cooling off and trick-or-treating is around the corner. Children have been debating their costume choice for weeks. Will they be a goblin or a witch? Will they wear a mask or makeup? If they pick makeup or face paint, don’t be worried about all of the stains that may appear on their costume! We have some tips for you to remove Halloween makeup stains & face paint from clothes with Purex® detergents.

For non-oily make up stains such as eye shadow and blush, lightly brush the powder off the clothing or costume. The sooner you act on the stain, the easier it will be to remove. Then blot the stain with a damp cloth and launder with your favorite Purex® detergent. Be sure to check the care label on the clothing for washing instructions & use the correct water temperature. Purex® Free & Clear detergent is a great option if you are looking for a hypoallergenic detergent. It’s unscented, having no dyes or perfumes, making it a great option if you or someone in your family has sensitive skin.

If the stains are from oily makeup, gently blot the stain, and do not rub! Then pretreat with Purex® liquid detergent. Let the stain sit for five minutes and launder as usual. For Halloween makeup stains, both Purex® scented liquid detergent or convenient Pacs would work.

With face paint on clothes & fabrics, it’s a similar process to the steps listed above. Pre-treat the stain with liquid detergent & let the stain sit for five minutes. Then launder with Purex® detergent, following the care instructions for the clothing item. If the stain is still visible, follow the steps above before running it through the washer.

For a more in-depth guide on how to remove paint stains, check out Purex® stain lab article, how to remove paint stains.

In both cases, check the stained area before transferring the clothes to the dryer as the heat from the dryer will set the stain and make it very difficult (or impossible) to remove the stain. If the stain persists, repeat the pre-treatment steps above before washing the garment again.

For stubborn stains, rub a little mineral oil on to the stain. Let it sit for approximately twenty minutes, then launder as usual. For tougher stains, we recommend using Purex® Advanced Oxi + Coldwater Power liquid detergent. It’s a powerful cleaning solution that removes tough stains due to its formula and dirt-lifting technology. Before using mineral oil on the stain, apply a bit in an inconspicuous area to make sure it does not alter the fabric or color. This should help to loosen the stain and allow it to wash out.

For white fabrics, you can also add chlorine bleach to your wash. For colored fabrics, please use some color-safe bleach.

As always, happy stain fighting and happy Halloween! For other Halloween based stains, check out how to remove Halloween candy stains from clothes & fabrics.

Explore Purex® laundry detergents, Pacs, and fragrance boosters that leave your clothes smelling great, fresh & all at a great price!

We understand that life gets messy and want to make laundry as easy as possible for you. With quality & value continuing to be at the core of our product development, we continue to create highly effective laundry detergent & supplies. We tested some of the toughest stains to keep your clothing looking brand new. View our Stain Lab for our best recommendations to get life's toughest stains out of your clothing.