Removing Eyeliner Stains

If you've left an open eyeliner pencil on the bottom of your purse, you'll probably find little eyeliner marks all over the inside of your purse. If you have left your eyeliner out, your kids may have discovered a wonderful new art supply to decorate the walls of your house with. Either way, you will need a few solutions to get rid of the eyeliner marks. Here are some things you can try before giving up and buying a new purse or repainting the walls in your house the same color as your eyeliner.

Before using anything on your purse or other fabrics, test it in an inconspicuous spot to make sure that whatever you use to get rid of the mark does not leave its own mark. Try a simple dish soap mixed with a bit of water. Using an old toothbrush, gently rub at the mark, being careful to only rub in one direction at a time—no circles. Avoid rubbing excessively on your clothes—this will damage the fibers. If dish detergent does not work, try laundry detergent or makeup remover. Try using a makeup removing face soap on a small sponge to dab at the stain and remove some of the eyeliner.

If you are removing eyeliner from walls, a toothbrush with dish soap will work. There are also products available to remove crayon from walls, and these cleaners often work on eyeliner as well.

Another method to try is to dab at the stain with bar soap. Bar soap will also work on other types of makeup stains.

If neither of these will remove the stain, apply an appropriate stain removal pre-treating spray or stick, and wash your garment in the washing machine as normal. Check to make sure the stain is gone before putting the garment in the dryer.

If, after you've attempted all of these methods, you still have black eyeliner marks on your garment, try rubbing the slightly moistened eyeliner mark with a baby wipe. Baby wipes will work for a variety of cosmetic stains.

Eyeliner and other makeup stains can be difficult to remove, since makeup is designed to stay on things and not easily come off. Oil-based cosmetics can be removed like many other oil-based items, and it can simply be a matter of trial and error to find the method that works for your particular brand of makeup. Sometimes calling the company that makes your makeup can help, since they have experience with their product.