Get your carpet out of a hairy situation
Start removing carpet stains using a blotting technique to avoid spreading the color.
Household items like dishwashing liquid and vinegar can help break up hair dye stains.
You can also use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and hair spray on carpet stains.
Test a drop of ammonia on the carpet before using it as a stain remover.
Dyeing your hair at home seemed like a great idea…that is, until a glob of dye ended up on your pristine floors. Thankfully, there are a few effective methods you can follow to learn how to get hair dye out of carpet—and you might already have the supplies at home.
The longer you wait to clean the stain, the more the carpet fibers absorb the dye, making it harder to clean and get rid of altogether. Act quickly and do a few prep steps before starting the cleaning process.
Grab a cleaning cloth or paper towel and blot out as much hair dye from the carpet as you can. Stick to a dabbing motion rather than scrubbing to avoid spreading the spot further. Use a fresh part of the cloth for each dab to prevent more dye from going into the fibers.
After mixing up any homemade cleaning products, test your mixture on an inconspicuous area to see if the solution fades, burns, or discolors your carpet. If you notice it harming your carpet, don’t use the product on a more prominent area.
With a few cleaning cloths and products you may already have on hand, here are the best solutions for getting hair dye out of your carpet. Keep in mind that any cloth you use will be permanently dyed.
Create a gentle cleaning mixture of household products and apply it to the spill.
1. In a spray bottle, bucket, or jar, mix 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water.
2. Apply the mixture to the stain by dipping a cleaning cloth in the solution and dabbing the carpet.
3. With a new cleaning cloth, gently press the area to blot out the stain. Be careful not to spread the hair dye further or grind it deeper into the fibers.
4. Alternate between dabbing on more cleaning solution and blotting it up until the stain is gone.
5. If there are still traces of hair dye on your carpet, apply some rubbing alcohol on a cleaning cloth or cotton ball to blot the remaining color.
6. After the stain is gone, clean the area with water and a cloth or sponge. Pat it dry with a clean cloth.
Hairspray can be an effective stain remover on both carpet and fabric.
1. Spray the entire dyed area with hairspray.
2. Let it sit for five minutes, then dab the carpet with water and a cleaning cloth.
3. Apply an astringent (if you have it), such as witch hazel or calamine lotion, and let it sit for five minutes.
4. Dab the solution with a clean cloth until the stain disappears.
5. Rinse the area with cold water and a cloth or sponge, then pat it dry with a clean cloth.
If your hair dye spill needs something stronger than a household mix or hairspray, try an ammonia solution (unless it’s a wool carpet, as it could damage the fibers).
Before mixing the solution, open your doors and windows for ventilation. Exposure to ammonia concentration in the air can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, or more serious health issues. You should wear gloves and eye protection and should never mix ammonia with any other chemical or cleaning solution.
1. Put on plastic or latex gloves before handling the solution.
2. In a bucket, combine 1 teaspoon of dish soap with 1 tablespoon of ammonia and 2 cups of warm water.
3. Dip a cleaning cloth in the ammonia mixture and wring out any excess solution.
4. Apply the solution onto the entire hair dye spill with the cloth.
5. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes to allow it to break up the dye. Make sure no kids or pets go near the area. Periodically check to see if the solution is fading the carpet, and if it is, blot the area with water and a cloth immediately.
6. Dab more solution onto the stain if it's not gone yet and let it sit for five minutes. Continue adding more solution until the stain is gone. Use a new cloth each time to avoid spreading the dye.
7. Clean the area with water and a fresh cleaning cloth or sponge. Dry the carpet with a cloth. Don’t walk or set anything on the area for at least 24 hours.
You can use hydrogen peroxide to remove a stain, but it should be a final resort, as it can damage your carpet.
Hydrogen peroxide will likely remove some or all the color in your carpet, leaving you with a faded or bleached area. If you have a light-colored carpet, this cleaning solution can be a great option.
No matter what, be sure to test hydrogen peroxide on a discreet part of your carpet to see if it discolors the fibers.
1. Put hydrogen peroxide on any stubborn parts of the spill with a cotton swab or eye dropper.
2. Let the hydrogen peroxide sit for 24 hours, and be sure to keep your pets or kids away from the area.
3. Clean the area with cold water and a sponge or cleaning cloth, then dry it with a towel.
4. If the peroxide discolors your carpet, use a felt-tip fabric pen to recolor the carpet to match the rest of your floor.
As you work to get the hair dye out of your carpet, keep these tips in mind for the best results.
1. The faster you blot up and clean the stain, the more likely it is to come out.
2. Don’t rub or scrub the area, as it could spread the dye or make it sink deeper into the carpet’s fibers.
3. Regularly use clean cloths throughout the process to avoid spreading the stain.
4. If the stain has dried, wet the carpet with water first so the fibers can absorb the cleaning solution better.
5. Start with gentler products before using a strong cleaner like hydrogen peroxide. Note: Never mix cleaning products together because this can be dangerous.
6. You may have to keep cleaning and blotting the area for an hour or more to get the dye out.
7. Always test your cleaning solution, especially strong ones, on a discreet part of the carpet before using it on a more prominent area.
Tackling a hair dye spill on your own can help you get to the stain faster, and household products might be enough to make the spot disappear. But if the hair dye isn’t coming out, it’s best to call in a local carpet cleaner.
The cost of professional carpet cleaning ranges from $120 to $320, depending on the type of carpet and square footage. DIY carpet cleaning (beyond the household ideas given in this guide) costs between $50 to $70 for renting a steam cleaner and buying detergent.
Hair dyes can come out of the carpet with the right cleaning solution and proper technique. You can also call a professional carpet cleaner to help you get out the stain.
Yes, the acetone in nail polish remover can remove hair dye from the carpet, but it can also damage or discolor your carpet. It's safer to use gentler cleaning solutions, such as hairspray or white vinegar and dish soap.
