Lipstick, lip balm and gloss contain fats, waxes and pigments, so a stain on carpet holds on tight and water only smears it further. Drop a lipstick while getting ready in a hurry, or let a child explore the make-up bag, and the pile ends up with a bright mark.
The good news is that if you work calmly and avoid rubbing, the stain can be removed at home in a few minutes. WD-40 Multi-Use breaks down the greasy base of the lipstick, and any residue of the product is then washed out with an ordinary detergent solution.
What you will need
- WD-40 Multi-Use or pocket-size WD-40 100 ml
- A white cotton cloth or sponge (undyed)
- Rubber gloves
- Warm water with a few drops of washing-up liquid
- Carpet cleaner (optional)
- A blunt knife or plastic scraper
Important: Always test WD-40 on a hidden area of the carpet first (under the sofa or at the edge). Do not use it on silk, antique wool or hand-made rugs without advice from a professional cleaner.
Step 1
Lift off the lipstick residue
Start by removing everything you can from the pile: pieces of lipstick and lumps of wax. Lift them with a blunt knife or plastic scraper, working from the edges of the stain towards the centre.
Do not press or rub, or the fat will go deeper into the fibres and the stain will spread. If the lipstick has softened in the warmth, hold a bag of ice on it for a minute so it hardens and comes away more easily.
Step 2
Spray WD-40 onto a cloth and test
Put on gloves. Spray WD-40 Multi-Use onto the white cloth rather than directly onto the carpet and squeeze out the excess. This keeps the product from soaking into the carpet backing.
Wipe a hidden area and wait a few minutes. If the colour and texture of the pile have not changed, you can treat the stain.
Step 3
Blot from the edges inwards
Press the damp cloth onto the stain slowly and firmly, moving from the outer edge towards the middle. Blotting rather than rubbing stops the pigment from spreading into the surrounding pile.
Use a clean part of the cloth each time so you do not transfer lipstick back onto the carpet.
Step 4
Repeat until the mark moves onto the cloth
The stain will gradually transfer to the cloth. Depending on how deeply the lipstick has set, this takes anything from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Add a little more product to the cloth if needed. On an old stain, let WD-40 work for 2-3 minutes before you carry on blotting.
Step 5
Wash out the residue and dry
Once the mark has gone, remove any WD-40 residue: blot the area with a sponge dipped in warm soapy water or treat it with carpet cleaner. Then go over it with a clean damp cloth and blot dry with a towel.
Let the carpet dry in a ventilated room and brush the pile back up. In damp weather, speed up drying with a fan so no odour is left behind.
Tip: The sooner you deal with the stain, the easier it is to remove. Keep a
small can of WD-40 with your household cleaning products: it also helps with marks from wax crayons, felt-tip pens and chewing gum.
What next
The same method works for lipstick on sofa upholstery, car mats and fabric bags, provided the material passes the test. Once the carpet is clean, WD-40 Multi-Use is also handy around the house for squeaky hinges, sticking locks and zips.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».