Have a few makeup or lipstick stains on your car’s interior? Unlike grease or other substances that are difficult to remove, you can usually remove cosmetics easily. Most makeup contains organic substances and minerals that are water-soluble, so likely won’t need harsh chemicals. That said, some oil-based products require a different approach.
Without further ado, here’s how to remove common makeup stains from your dashboard, seats, or carpet.
Act quickly before stains set in, especially for lipsticks or oil-based products. Wet makeup will be easier to remove with water when wet, especially on porous surfaces. If the makeup is relatively fresh, a damp microfiber towel dipped in warm, soapy water can remove some substances if you’re on-the-go.
Products you’ll need
Here are a few products you may need outside of any cleaning products you choose.
- Short-bristled interior detailing brushes (or toothbrush)
- Microfiber towel(s)
- Nitrol gloves (optional)
- Empty spray bottle and warm water
- Spot cleaning machine (if makeup is everywhere!)
Avoid trying multiple home remedies; start with water, soap, and mild cleaners first. Adhesive removers, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia can fade or damage certain surfaces, so don’t throw the kitchen sink at the problem by creating chemical reactions! Use our makeup removal chart as a starting point.
| Type of Makeup | Recommended Product | How To Remove |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation or blush | Foaming All-purpose or fabric cleaner or diluted Super Clean degreaser (5 parts water, 1 part degreaser) | Leather or vinyl: Spray on an APC or degreaser and wipe off with microfiber towel; Fabric: spray-on, agitate with brush, and wipe off |
| Lipstick | Diluted degreaser or liquid dish detergent; baking soda | Leather or vinyl: Spray on, agitate, and wipe off; Fabric: Apply fabric-safe cleaner or diluted degreaser and agitate with brush. If stain remains, apply small amount of baking soda overnight to absorb the grease. Repeat if needed. |
| Mascara | Liquid dish detergent; diluted degreaser | Leather or vinyl: Spray and wipe off with towel; Fabric: apply drop of dish liquid and agitate with towel |
| Nail polish | Citrol 266 | Leather, vinyl, cloth: After diluting 4:1 (foam or liquid), apply a small amount to a cloth and rub gently to remove. |
Removing makeup from leather or vinyl
For leather seats, I prefer to use a dedicated leather cleaner and conditioner like Lexol. Simply dislodge dried makeup with a soft-bristled toothbrush if needed and wipe up with a microfiber towel.
Most modern vehicle leather contains a thin protective coating, so human-grade substances in makeup should wipe off easily without staining. However, chemicals that are too strong can damage the coating if undiluted; always start with a high dilution ratio.
Check out our tutorial on how to clean leather seats to learn more.
Removing makeup from cloth and carpet
For upholstery like cloth seats and headliners (not leather or vinyl), I recommend a degreaser like Super Clean mixed up 5:1 in an empty spray bottle. I like Super Clean because it’s safer than most and can be used on leather, vinyl, cloth, and carpets. It may not remove every type of makeup stain, but it’s a good starting point.
Check out our post on how to clean car carpets for beginners if needed.
Super Clean Cleaner and Degreaser
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support.
If you’re wondering, regular dish soap can help remove oil-based makeup stains like Mascara or lipstick from seats, but use a VERY small amount. Dish liquid is extremely difficult to remove completely, which is why I recommend spray-on degreasers over detergents.
Suds from dish liquid can be sooo hard to remove completely and sometimes leave behind a film when dry 
.
Use brushes for set-in makeup stains
Since many stains may already be set, using a small upholstery brush (or even a clean toothbrush) to gently agitate the stain; repeat as needed.
Use Baking soda or Citrol for oil-based stains
For hard-to-remove makeup stains, one option is to treat the affected area with a small amount of baking soda and leave overnight. Simply remove with warm water and a microfiber towel, let dry, and re-apply degreaser or other product as in previous steps.
Baking soda absorbs oil, so you may be able to fade the stain over time.
For the most stubborn makeup stains, I recommend a product called Citrol 266, which works well on oil-based substances like paint. Dilute Citrol 4 parts water to 1 part solution at minimum and proceed with caution. It’s not the strongest chemical in the world, but you can up the dilution to be safe on darker colors that could fade. I’ve never seen it be a problem though.
Citrol 266 Degreaser Cleaner
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Removing makeup from plastic and trim
For plastic trim, any interior detailing spray specifically for plastics or rubber should do the trick. You can technically use a diluted degreaser like Super Clean or an all-purpose cleaner for this application if any stains remain.
Use a spot cleaner for extreme cases
If the makeup is powdery (but everywhere), I recommend getting using a handheld spot cleaner. These devices allow you to spray warm water on the affected area while simultaneously sucking up all liquids you’ve used to pre-treat the surface. It’s the most basic form of carpet extracting (without the steam).
Hoover Cordless Carpet Spot Cleaner
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Any standard microfiber towel will lift and can remove makeup particles just fine…but suction is ideal and a lot faster if you have a large area to clean.
Of course, if have large stains or a lot of them, any good auto detailer should be able to take care of it if you’d rather go this route. Good luck!
Ready to improve your washing and detailing skills?
This video course unpacks the fundamentals of washing and detailing. From exterior cleaning and blemish removal…you’ll learn the secrets that will give you spotless pro-level results!
