How to Remove Hair Dye Stains

How to Remove Hair Dye Stains
Written By
KM
Kathy Mayse
Published: Sep 29, 2010
Updated: Jan 10, 2019
2 minute read
inside washing machine
goglik83/iStock/Getty Images

Hair color stains everything it comes into contact with, including flooring, counters, clothes, skin and nails. Fortunately, stain removal is possible. To remove stains from clothing, simply soak the item in 1 part color-safe bleach and four parts cool water for 30 minutes before laundering. Other items such as carpeting, upholstery, floors, counters and skin require a bit more finesse and scrubbing. For optimal results, address the stain immediately. The longer it sets, the harder it will be to remove.

Fabric, Upholstery and Carpeting

Mix 1 tbsp. dishwashing liquid, 1 tbsp. white vinegar and 2 cups warm water. Dip a corner of a clean cloth into the mixture, wring out slightly and sponge the mixture directly onto the stain until it becomes damp.

Wait 30 minutes, blotting the area every five minutes. Wet another corner of the cloth with clean water. Blot the area with the clean corner of the cloth until all cleaning residue and excess liquid are absorbed.

Using another section of the cloth, blot the stain with rubbing alcohol. Blot with clean water to finish.

Hard Surfaces

Pour a small amount of household bleach directly onto the stain.

Wait three to five minutes.

Wipe away bleach with a clean, damp cloth. Rinse the cloth and continue wiping the area until all of the bleach has been removed. If stain remains, repeat steps.

Skin

Squirt a liberal amount of color remover into a cotton ball.

Place the cotton ball against the skin, rubbing in small circles to remove the color.

Advertisement

Cleanse the area with a clean, damp cloth.

Tips

Products marketed to remove color stains from the skin will also remove color stains from hard surfaces such as counters and floors. Purchase these products in the hair-color section of most department stores or beauty supply stores.

If you do not have hair-color remover for the skin, dampen the edge of a cloth with a small amount of color. Rub the damp color over the stained portions of skin. The fresh color will lift the color stain that has dried on the skin.

Warnings

Do not mix bleach and cleaning products containing ammonia together. Doing so creates hazardous fumes.

Fingernail stains are the hardest to remove. Wear latex gloves to prevent fingernail staining.

Wear gloves while using cleaning chemicals to protect your skin.

Photo Credits

goglik83/iStock/Getty Images

Sponsored
Our Everyday Life Logo

Explore our everyday life, the best source for food and drink tips, health and general wellness, healthy relationships and much more.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.