How to Get Eyeshadow out of Carpet

In your morning rush, you drop your eyeshadow compact on the floor, dumping powdery, colorful clumps all over your light-colored carpet.

Ladies, we’ve all been there.

On more than one occasion, I have sprinkled my light-colored carpet with a beautiful shade of lavender eyeshadow.

And while eyeshadow may help to accentuate the beauty of a woman’s eyes, it does little to help the beauty of your carpet stand out.

Indeed, carpet looks better when it goes au natural.

But how do you get eyeshadow out of carpet?

At first, you may be tempted to just reach down and pinch up the powder with your fingertips. But doing so can actually cause the clumps to break apart, depositing more powder into your precious carpet.

In addition, it may only serve to press the powder deeper into the fibers of your carpet, making it tougher to get out.

Some eyeshadows are oil-based, which can pose an additional challenge for getting them out of carpet. Add to this the presence of dyes, and eyeshadow can prove a real headache when it comes to resolving a carpet stain.

Although quick action is still important when it comes to an eyeshadow stain in carpet, it’s difficult when dealing with a pressed powder stain like that left by eyeshadow, compared to a liquid stain, as it’s more difficult to absorb the powder out of your carpet to prevent it from setting in.

Fortunately, despite the challenges eyeshadow can pose, it is absolutely possible to conquer this tough stain and restore your carpet to its natural state of beauty.

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Remove excess powder

The first step to successfully conquering a powdered eyeshadow stain is to remove as much of the loose powder as possible before it has a chance to set into your carpet.

The longer the eyeshadow rests on your carpet, the more likely the dyes and oils will absorb into your carpet’s fibers. This can make it even more challenging to remove this colorful stain.

The first step to removing that powder is to use a spoon, a butter knife, or another blunt object to try to remove any remaining eyeshadow clumps or loose powder sitting atop your carpet.

The trick, though, is to perform this procedure without spreading the powder further throughout your carpet or pressing any of the powder deeper into your carpet, which can cause the stain to set in further.

Using your blunt tool, slowly and gently come underneath any loose powder and gently lift it, scraping or scooping it into a paper towel or onto a small plate placed directly beside the stain.

After you have removed as much of the powder as possible through this approach, you can use your vacuum cleaner to attempt to draw the remainder of the powder from your carpet.

However, when using a vacuum cleaner on a powder stain, like that left by eyeshadow, it’s a good idea to avoid the front to back, side to side rubbing motion typically used when vacuuming.

Instead, use one of your vacuum cleaner’s attachments placed directly on the powder to suck it up, rather than pushing it side to side.

If you do not have an attachment, place your vacuum cleaner on top of the powder and allow to sit for 10 seconds or more in one spot before picking up and placing on top of another spot, repeating the procedure until the powder has been removed.

Ideally, this will help to avoid spreading the powder further throughout your carpet and can help to avoid pressing the powder deeper into your carpet.

Finally, after scraping and vacuuming the powder, if any remains, you can use a damp, light cloth to gently blot the area of the stain until no more color appears on your cloth.

This should indicate that you have absorbed as much of the powder and the stain as possible before applying treatment.

This can help to limit the spread and reduce the severity of your eyeshadow carpet stain, but it is unlikely to eliminate the stain entirely or prevent any stain from developing.

To eradicate the stain, you will need to apply a stain treatment solution to lift the oil and dye from your carpet and vanquish the stain once and for all.

Eye makeup remover

Because eyeshadow can be waterproof in nature, it’s not designed to come out easily when it comes into contact with water. It’s oil-based nature makes it even more difficult to treat.

As a result, one of the more effective stain removal options for tackling an eyeshadow stain is to actually apply eye makeup remover to your carpet.

This product can be abrasive, however, and it may damage your carpet if used inappropriately or excessively. It may discolor your carpet, but it can also destroy the adhesive backing that connects your carpet to the floor.

As a result, it’s a good idea to test this product on a non-visible area of your carpet first before applying to the area of your eyeshadow stain to ensure it does not cause damage.

Apply a small dab of eye makeup remover to a cloth, rather than directly to the carpet, and gently blot the area of the eyeshadow stain. Reapply eye makeup remover to the cloth as necessary and continue blotting until the stain is removed.

When finished, be sure to rinse the area thoroughly using cold water and dabbing with a cloth to ensure all eye makeup remover has been washed from your carpet. Leaving any product in your carpet can result in damage to your carpet.

Dish detergent

If you don’t have any eye makeup remover, or if you would prefer to avoid using it due to the risks it may pose to your carpet, another good option to start treating your stain is the use of a non-bleach dish detergent.

These products are great at breaking up greasy, oily stains from your cookware and the same can be true for stains left on your carpet.

Mix one tablespoon of clear, non-bleach dish detergent with two cups of warm water and, using a spray bottle, apply to the area of the stain.

Be careful not to apply too much. You want to avoid over-saturating your carpet, but too much dish detergent can leave a sudsy mess, as well.

It’s better to start lightly and re-apply as necessary.

Once you have applied the solution, allow it to sit for at least 5 minutes, giving the dish detergent a chance to begin working on your stain.

Then, using a clean, light cloth or towel, gently blot the affected area, reapplying solution as needed and repeating the blotting motion until the stain is removed.

Once complete, rinse the area thoroughly, making sure not to leave any detergent in your carpet, as this can result in dirt collection and additional staining.

Dry cleaning solvent

Another potential option that may work well on an oil-based stain like that left by eyeshadow is the use of a liquid dry cleaning solvent. These products should be used sparingly on your carpet.

Apply a dab of carpet-safe dry cleaning solvent like ForceField Dry Cleaning Fluid for Fine Fabrics to a clean, dry cloth and gently blot the area affected by the stain, repeating and reapplying solution as needed.

Be careful not to use too much product on your carpet.

Dry cleaning liquids are often considered a good option for use on carpet-based stains, as they do not contain water and, as a result, may not contribute to the spreading of your stain.

Continue this process until the stain is gone and rinse thoroughly when finished, taking care to follow the instructions on the product.

Laundry detergent

A mild laundry detergent may be recommended to treat an oil-based eyeshadow stain in your carpet, as this can be a tough stain to penetrate and break up.

While laundry detergent is not generally recommended for use on carpets, some milder varieties may be effective and, when used appropriately, can avoid damage to your carpet.

In a spray bottle, combine 5 small drops of a mild laundry detergent with one cup of cold water, applying to the stain.

Then, gently blot the stain with a light-colored cloth until the liquid has been fully absorbed.

Reapply solution and continue blotting until the stain is removed or until color no longer appears absorbed into the cloth from the stain.

Once this process is complete, be sure to rinse your carpet thoroughly.

Hydrogen peroxide

Another potential option that can work well for tackling tough carpet stains is the use of 3% hydrogen peroxide. This product serves as a mild bleaching agent and can work well to break up a stain, lift it from your carpet’s fibers, and lighten the spot of the stain.

However, hydrogen peroxide is a bit of a double-edged sword when it comes to a carpet stain. It is not appropriate for use on dark carpets and should be avoided on wool or silk carpets, as it can cause damage and discoloration.

Combine one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide with two cups of warm water in a spray bottle and apply to the area of the stain. Allow it to sit for several minutes to give the hydrogen peroxide a chance to begin working.

Gently blot the area with a dry cloth and reapply solution as needed until the stain is gone.

Rinse and dry the area thoroughly when finished, making sure not to leave any hydrogen peroxide in your carpet.

Ammonia

An alternative to hydrogen peroxide that offers similar benefits is ammonia. This product should be used only in a well-ventilated area and you should avoid its use around pets and children.

Never use ammonia in combination or contact with chlorine bleach, as the fumes created can be dangerous and deadly.

Combine one tablespoon of ammonia with a half cup of warm water and apply to the stain. Gently blot the area, reapplying solution as needed, until the stain is gone.

Thoroughly rinse when complete.

Shaving cream

If you’re still having trouble ridding yourself of that pesky eyeshadow stain and restoring your carpet’s natural glow, then one final option may be the use of shaving cream.

I know it sounds a bit crazy, but it’s touted as a stain-fighting miracle cure for most stains. And, if you’ve already tried everything else, this is one more DIY home remedy that can’t hurt to try.

Spray shaving cream on the area of the stain and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Then, use a dry cloth to blot the area dry and complete removal of the stain.

Always rinse the product thoroughly when treatment is complete.

Cleaning up

To restore your carpet to health, it’s as important to clean up from a stain removal procedure as it is to apply the treatment itself.

Leaving any trace of stain removal product in your carpet can cause damage to your carpet or leave your carpet looking dirty and blotchy.

Use a damp cloth soaked in cold water to blot any remaining product from the carpet.

Blot dry with a clean, dry cloth. Don’t leave your carpet wet, as this can lead to mold and mildew – and then you’ll have another problem on your hands!

Run a vacuum cleaner over the area once the carpet is dried.

If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of dropping your eyeshadow container face-first into your carpet, you can rest assured that, although challenging, even tough, cake-on powder stains like those left by eyeshadow can be conquered using a combination of hard work, persistence, and the DIY stain removal techniques shared above.