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How To Get ChapStick Out Of Clothes: Laundry Guide 2024

How to get ChapStick out of clothes? This must be a question that many of you are wondering.

Funny how this tiny beauty product can cause such a stubborn stain on your clothes. Similar to oil or grease stains, you can’t simply put the clothes in your washing machine and hope for the best. Time and attention are required.

Chapstick On Colorful
ChapStick can cause a massive mess on your clothes

Since ChapSticks, or lip balm, usually contain beeswax, carnauba wax (1), coconut oil, and mineral oil (2), they can melt away in your pocket on a hot summer day.

The stains from the wax and oil are quite tricky to deal with, especially when they have been put in the dryer. If you don’t know how to take care of the stains quickly and carefully, those ChapStick stains will be a permanent part of your garments.

So take notes of the tips to save your favorite jeans or t-shirts from ending up in the rag bag. Let’s dive right in!

The Quickest Way To Handle Fresh Chapstick Stain

If you spot the stains right the moment they are new and liquidy, there is a simple yet effective way to get them out of your clothes: Put them in the freezer!

Freezer Refrigerator Ice Buildup
Remove fresh ChapStick stains by placing clothes in the freezer

It might seem odd but hear me out. Since ChapSticks are mainly oil-based or wax-based, putting them in the freezer will solidify and freeze them, making them easier to remove. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Freeze It

Put your clothes in a sealable plastic bag or container to prevent them from catching food odors. Try to avoid spreading the ChapStick to other parts of your clothes. Then put them in your fridge for a few hours until the ChapStick is completely frozen.

Step 2: Remove It

You can peel the frozen ChapStick clumps out with your hand or scrape them off with a spoon. Since the stain is new, they will come off very easily, leaving no stains whatsoever.

Let’s hear more about how to deal with ChapStick stains from a makeup artist!

Watch this video: How Do I get a Lip Balm Stain Out of Clothes

Note: This method is for fresh stains only. If your clothes have been dried in the dryer, things will be a bit more complicated. The laundry process will require a lot more steps and time, so remember to treat the stain as soon as it melts, if it’s possible.

How To Remove Old Chapstick Stains (A Step By Step Tutorial)

Melted ChapStick in the dryer is a nightmare to deal with. The lip balm liquefies in the dryer due to the heat and transfers to other clothes. In its liquid form, it seeps deep into the fibers before solidifying as the dryer temperature decreases, making the stains extremely hard to remove.

However, it’s not impossible to remove these stubborn stains. Plus, you can do so using the products you probably already have at home.

Step 1: Scrape It

Plastic Knives Forks Spoons
A plastic knife or spoon will be helpful in this step

Put a piece of cardboard or a book between the layers of the clothes so the products won’t transfer to other parts of the clothes while cleaning.

Grab a plastic knife or spoon and gently scrape out all the clumps of ChapStick. You can also use a credit card or ruler as an alternative. Avoid scrubbing since this will only make the stain go further in the fabrics.

Step 2: Remove It

Scraping it alone won’t get all the ChapStick residues out. You will need some products and a bit of effort to fully remove them before moving on to the next step. There are 2 options for you to do so:

Option 1: Cover It With Powder

Jar Spoonful Baking Soda
Baking soda on it!

Use a form of fine powder and apply it to the stain. I like to use baking soda but you can also use salt, baby powder, cornflour, or even chalk if you like.

Spread it evenly on the stain, massage it in with your fingers or scrub it lightly with an old toothbrush. This will absorb the excess oil and wax from the stain.

Option 2: Iron It With A Brown Paper Bag

Brown Paper Bag Lunch Food
This is also known as “the brown bag method”

Tear a brown paper bag open to get big pieces of paper. Using regular paper is fine too but you have to make sure that it is clean and thick.

Lay one piece of paper on the ironing board, then place your clothes on top with the waxy side facing up. Cover the waxy area with another piece of paper, basically sandwiching the clothes.

Set the iron to medium with no steam and iron the paper. Move it around to prevent burning, the wax will slowly transfer to the paper. Once the paper becomes too oily, replace it with another one and repeat until you can’t see any more wax on the paper.

Step 3: Apply Some Pre-Treatment To It

Cleaning Supplies
Give the stain a spray!

Dust off the powder and spray on some store-bought stain treatment. Leave it there for a few hours or overnight.

If you do not have stain treatment, there are several effective home remedies that can replace it. A mixture of distilled white vinegar mixed with water in a 1-1 ratio works wonders. Dish soap and water do the trick too, since dish soap can lift oils.

Step 4: Wash It

Laundry Washing Machine Basket
Washing is the final step

Wash your clothes the usual way using any detergent you like. Using hot water will make the stain come out easier. Once done, check to see if the stain is still visible. If it is, repeat the same steps until it is completely gone.

Let’s look at a lively demonstration on how to remove ChapStick stains!

Watch this video: How to remove ChapStick stains

Note: If the ChapStick has dye in it, pre-treat it with a solution of oxygen-based bleach and warm water. Allow the clothing to soak in the water for many hours, ideally overnight. This will aid in the removal of the stain’s dye.

Clean Your Dryer To Avoid Future Stains

Clothes Dryer Washed
Do not use your dryer until it is wax-free!

If you accidentally leave your ChapStick in the dryer, chances are the oil and wax residue still remain in your dryer. Continue using them and the oil and wax will definitely stain other garments. To avoid this, have a look at these steps on how to clean them.

Step 1: Run A Drying Cycle

Soak some rags and run them through a drying cycle. This will dissolve any lip balm residue accumulated on the dryer’s walls, making it much easier to wipe out.

Step 2: Wipe It

Spray some stain remover or vinegar on a clean cloth and give the dryer a thorough wipe. Remember to wipe every square inch, don’t miss the dryer’s door as well.

Note: If you use hot water to wash your clothes, the ChapStick will also melt and leave wax all over your washing machine. Use the same methods to thoroughly clean your washer if that is the case.

3 Ways To Prevent Chapstick From Staining Your Clothes

Lip Balm
Make laundry less of a pain by preventing ChapStick stains

ChapStick stains can be a pain to deal with, especially dried ones. When the ChapStick stains are dried, you might need to wash them many times to remove them completely, this can weaken the fibers and damage your clothes.

So have a look at these tips to avoid dealing with them in the future.

Storing Chapsticks In The Fridge

If the temperature is hot, your ChapSticks can melt in your bag or your pocket without you knowing. But putting them in the fridge prevents them from melting easily, saving you the trouble of cleaning them afterward.

Plus, storing ChapSticks in the fridge can help maintain the shape and extend their shelf life.

Double-Check The Laundry

If you leave your ChapSticks in the washing machine or dryer, not only will they ruin your clothes, the wax will spread to other garments and stain them too, causing a mess in your machines.

So remind yourself every time to double check all the pockets before washing them. It’s hard to break a bad habit, but you will be able to do it with a few days of mind training. 

Attach Chapstick To Your Keychain

Attaching ChapSticks to keychains is not unusual nowadays, it is even considered a trend. Keeping your ChapSticks this way is more convenient for you to use, and you will never have to worry about forgetting them in the washer again.

Additionally, if you leave the entire keychain in the washing machine, the keys will make a lot of noise, alerting you to take the ChapSticks out before it is too late.

DIY your own ChapStick holder to attach it to your keychain!

Watch this video: Sew a Chapstick Holder

FAQs

For additional information on this subject, have a look at these frequently asked questions. If your questions have not been asked, feel free to leave a comment down below.

How do you get ChapStick out of clothes after drying?

ChapStick is rather difficult to get out once dried. But the best way to tackle them is using a combination of baking soda and stain remover. This method also works on regular oil stains.

How do you get melted ChapStick out?

The moment you spot your ChapStick melting, the easiest way is to put them in the freezer and scrape out all the ChapStick clumps.

How can I get red ChapStick out of clothes?

Colored ChapSticks are trickier than the plain ones. You need to soak your clothes in oxygen-based bleach and warm water for a few hours before washing. The bleach can get the dye out easily.

Are ChapStick stains permanent?

The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to remove the stains. If the stains have been left for too long, you won’t be able to fully get them out, you can only fade them.

Does ChapStick in the dryer ruin clothes?

Yes, it certainly will. And not just clothes, your dryer will get dirty too. So you should teach yourself to double-check your laundry before washing to avoid accidents.

Can you use ChapStick after it goes through the wash?

For your own safety, I recommend you throw it out. If detergent or washing powder finds its way inside your ChapStick, you will eventually spread all that on your lips. And you already know how toxic detergent is.

Will vinegar take out ChapStick stains?

Vinegar is a common home remedy for treating stains. However, using it by itself won’t remove ChapStick stains, you should combine vinegar with baking soda and soap to boost its stain-removing ability.

Getting ChapStick Out Of Clothes Is Easy As Pie

ChapSticks are now considered everyday items for girls and even boys of all ages. They work wonders on your lips, keeping them soft and moisturized. But forgetting them in your dryer will cause a disaster.

Just like any other oil or grease stains, ChapStick stains are rather stubborn. So I hope that by the end of this post, you can know the proper ways to handle them and prevent this accident from ever happening again.

If you enjoy this article, don’t forget to leave a like and share. Comment down below any hacks you know that I haven’t mentioned in this post. Take care and goodbye!

How To Get ChapStick Out Of Clothes

Reference 

  1. Wikipedia, 2021. Lip balm [Online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lip_balm
  2. ChapStick, 2020. ChapStick Ingredients: Everything You Need to Know [Online] Available at: https://www.chapstick.com/news-nook/classic/chapstick-ingredients-everything-you-need-to-know/

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Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Home Cleaning Specialist

Expertise: In-depth Knowledge of Cleaning Agents and Their Uses, Advanced Home Sanitization, Techniques Expertise in Cleaning and Maintaining, Various Floor Types, Innovations in Home Cleaning Tools

School: American College of Home Economics


Kevin Jones is a seasoned home cleaning specialist with over a decade of experience in the industry. A stickler for cleanliness and organization, Kevin brings a systematic and innovative approach to home maintenance. His expertise ranges from traditional methods to modern cleaning technology, ensuring homes are not just clean but healthy environments too.

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