The trick to removing makeup from carpet is to get it out
quickly. They are considered "spills" or "spots"
until they actually soak into the fibers of the carpet, so try
to prevent that soaking in. If you miss the opportunity to clean
a spill quickly though, here are the steps to take to remove
makeup stains.
Whether or not it is possible to remove a particular makeup
stain from carpet has to do with the type of makeup and how long
it has been there. But many can be removed using isopropyl alcohol,
other wise known as rubbing alcohol. Just be sure to get the
clear variety, not the ones that are colored green.
Apply the alcohol to a clean white cotton cloth (or a cotton
swab for small stains). Carefully dab at the stained fibers,
rubbing very gently in one direction. Blot this up with a dry
clean cloth or white paper towels, and repeat the process until
you no longer see transfer of the stain to the cloth.
Be sure to limit how much alcohol you apply. If it soaks through
the carpet to the backing it can cause damage the the glues there.
Blot up excess repeatedly, and rinse and blot several times with
water afterward as well.
Using a detergent solution after the isopropyl treatment is
a good idea. Mix a few drops of dish washing detergent (no perfumy
ones - try Joy or Dawn) with a few ounces of water and apply
this several times. Never rub hard. Just gently work the mixture
in and blot it up repeatedly.
Rinse and blot again with plain water, and dry the carpet
using a clean cloth (tamp it down, don't rub) followed by a fan
blowing across the spot.
This video will show you how to remove mascara stains that
have been in the carpet fibers for a while. Mike's technique
might surprise you...
If the procedures above fail, you might also try applying
3% hydrogen peroxide, using a cotton swab or pad and targeting
just the fibers that are stained. Leave this on for an hour,
then rinse and dry as specified above.
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