How to Remove Lipstick From a Silk Dress

By: Melissa King

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Lipstick color tends to fade from your lips after a few hours of wear. Unfortunately, getting it off your clothes isn't nearly as easy. That's especially true when the lipstick mars delicate fabrics, such as silk. Silk is easily damaged, so it's out of the question to clean a silk dress with harsh stain removers. The upside is a basic household product will do the trick.

Step 1

Cut a piece of transparent packing tape or masking tape large enough to cover the stain.

Step 2

Dab the lipstick stain with the tape to lift it off the fabric. Use a new piece of tape after every few dabs to avoid transferring lipstick back onto the dress.

Step 3

Sprinkle a bit of talcum powder or chalk dust over the stain if any lipstick remains. Dab the stain with a clean piece of tape until you've removed as much lipstick as possible.

Step 4

Fill a large bowl or sink with cold water. Add a 1/2 capful of mild laundry detergent, then mix well until suds develop.

Step 5

Soak the stained part of the garment in the sudsy water for 30 minutes. If necessary, use a heavy object or a white towel to keep the dress submerged.