Spilled some color while getting fall-fresh hair? No worries—these simple cleaning tricks will save your carpet in no time!
While you will, naturally, be worried about getting hair dye on your carpet or rug there are effective solutions that will clear away the stain. We are here to talk you through the best ways to get hair dye stains out of your carpet using a variety of solutions, from commercial carpet cleaners to pantry items such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
By following the tips in this article you can get to work cleaning stains yourself rather than hiring a professional carpet cleaner or having to purchase a new carpet.
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Can hair dye be removed from a carpet?
While removing hair dye from carpets and rugs can be tricky, fortunately, it can be removed with a little effort. This article will look at how to get both new and old hair dye stains out of your carpet in just a few easy steps.
Act Fast
The best thing that you can do to eliminate the hair dye stain is to take fast action. As soon as you notice that you have spilled the key is to get as much of it off before it sets in.
You should take paper towels or an old rag to gently lift the hair dye that is sitting on the top of your carpet. If there is a lot of hair dye to clean up you can use a spatula or a spoon to get the excess dye from the carpet.
Be careful not to rub the hair dye into the carpet as this will cause the stain to run deeper into it, especially if it is a very plush carpet.
5 Ways to Get Hair Dye Stains out of Carpets
1. Soap and Shampoo
Soap and water are commonly used together to get rid of many spills and stains but, in this case, adding shampoo to the mix can help you get rid of hair dye more quickly.
Using shampoo and soap will make the dye more soluble and will allow you to absorb more of the dye onto a towel or a cloth when you blot it. If you are using paper towels be sure not to rub too harshly as this will ink the stain and you should change clothes or use fresh towels as they become dirty.
If you have a wet vacuum cleaner you can use this instead of blotting with paper. Follow these simple steps to remove the stain using soap and shampoo.
Steps
- Mix a small amount of dish soap and shampoo in a bowl of water (enough to make bubbles but not too soapy) and dab an old rag or a strong paper towel into the mixture
- Gently blot the hair dye stain to lift excess dye out of the carpet
- When the majority of excess dye has lifted from the carpet you can use another cloth or a scrubbing brush and dip it into the water before scrubbing the remainder of the dye away
- Rinse with plain water and dry the area as much as you can
- Repeat the process if you still see a stain once the carpet is dry. You may need to use a smaller brush or a toothbrush to get into difficult areas
2. Hairspray
Hairspray is another product that can quickly and easily remove hair dye stains from carpets and rugs. The alcohol found in hairspray it can remove stains if you find that soap and shampoo are not working.
It is noted that a lot of hairspray manufacturers are reducing the amount of alcohol in their products so some may not be as effective as others so you may have to try a couple of brands or read the label on the can before use.
Steps
- Spray the hairspray directly onto the carpet stain
- Dab a clean towel or a cotton pad in a bowl of water
- Blot the stain moving from the outside so you do not force the hair dye stain into the clothing
- Wash the carpet with one application of soap and water and allow it to dry
- Vacuum as normal
3. Distilled White Vinegar
If the hair dye that you have spilled onto your carpet is permanent or semi-permanent it may be more difficult to get out so you will need to try a stronger solution.
Distilled white vinegar can be used on its own or mixed with bicarbonate or soda for an extra boost. Our method uses vinegar mixed with dish soap but if you use bicarbonate of soda you can spread the paste on and then rinse with lukewarm water or follow the soap and water method in option 1.
Steps
- Combine 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and 2 cups of water (lukewarm)
- Use a clean rag or a sponge to blot the hair dye stain. You will see the color of the dye soak into the rag/sponge so be sure to use a fresh one if the cloth becomes soaked with color
- Rinse the stained area with cold water to remove all traces of soap
- Pat dry with a clean, dry cloth or sponge and allow to fully dry before walking on it
Vinegar can cause some discoloration so you should test a small area of your carpet first. If the discoloration is only slight then you can proceed but the more vinegar you put on the more your carpet may discolor.
This is due to the acidity in the vinegar which is what makes it such a great cleaning agent.
If you choose to use baking soda to absorb some of the hair dye you can either mix it with the vinegar and allow it to soak into the stain before rinsing or you can sprinkle it directly over the stain.
Baking soda can be left on overnight if you want but anything over 30 k minutes will be sufficient. You can vacuum the powder up and then wash it with soapy water as in step 1 of these 5 tips to clean hair dye from carpets.
4. Ammonia
If the above method does not work or you are working to remove a stubborn permanent hair dye stain then ammonia can help remove it.
If you are trying to get permanent hair dye out of your carpet it will be difficult but this method will give you a good chance of at least minimizing the hair dye stain.
Steps
- Combine 1 tablespoon of ammonia, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and 2 cups of water (lukewarm)
- Use a clean rag or a sponge to blot the solution onto the stain. Leave to soak for 30 minutes
- After allowing it to soak for 30 minutes, dab it with a clean rag or sponge
- Repeat the above 2 steps if any dye remains
- Rinse the stained area with cold water to remove all traces of soap
- Pat dry with a clean, dry cloth or sponge and allow to fully dry before walking on it
Ammonia is strong smelling and can leave you feeling dizzy or nauseous so you may want to wear a face mask and an eye mask to protect your face and skin.
Rubber gloves are also a good idea as ammonia can irritate your skin. If you don’t have gloves be sure to avoid getting the mixture on your hands as much as possible and wash them with soap and water afterward.
5. Acetone
Acetone, the compound found in nail polish remover is handy for cleaning up several stains such as blood and ink, which means that it is also suitable for removing hair dye from carpets.
However, you need to take caution as acetone can cause de-coloration so you should check a very small area of the carpet before you follow the below method.
That said, if the only other option is to throw the carpet away then it is worth trying before you do so.
Steps
- Use a clean rag or a strong paper towel to dab the stain with acetone
- Continue to dab until all of the colors comes away from the carpet
- Repeat the above 2 steps if any dye remains
- Rinse the stained area with cold water to remove all traces of soap
- Pat dry with a clean, dry cloth or sponge and allow to fully dry before walking on it
If you have tried using all of the methods above and you still have hair dye on your carpet you may be able to look for commercial carpet cleaners at your local hardware store or online. Failing that, if the stain persists you can contact a professional carpet cleaner to see if they can save your carpet.
