How to remove Lipstick from Memory Foam
First 60 seconds
Do not reach for a rag and start scrubbing yet. Scrape away the excess lipstick from the memory foam, lifting solids off the surface without pressing them further in. A wax-and-pigment base means it needs a solvent before soap can rinse it away, and dense foam that traps moisture deep inside and can take over a day to fully dry out.
What you'll need
- Rubbing alcohol
- Dish soap
- WD-40 or a similar lubricant
Step by step
- Test first: dab your chosen agent on a hidden corner of the memory foam and wait 2–3 minutes to confirm no discoloration.
- Rubbing alcohol: dab with alcohol on a cotton pad, working from the edge in.
- Dish soap: mix a few drops with cold water into a light suds.
- WD-40 or a similar lubricant: spray lightly, wait a minute, then wipe from the outside in.
- Rinse and blot dry with a clean cloth, then press with dry towels and change them until no more transfers onto the towel.
Do not do this
- Hot water as a first step. It spreads oil-based stains before they can be lifted.
- Rubbing the spot. It pushes the stain deeper and spreads it outward.
- Any heat source (iron, hair dryer, tumble dryer). Heat on memory foam can bond the stain permanently or warp the material.
Common questions
Can I use hot water to remove lipstick from memory foam?
Hot water is not usually necessary, but on memory foam it is safer to stay with cool water regardless, since dense foam that traps moisture deep inside and can take over a day to fully dry out.
Is it safe to scrub the stain out?
Scrubbing usually makes things worse. Blot or lift instead of rubbing, working from the outer edge inward so the stain does not spread.
What if the lipstick stain has already dried?
A dried stain takes longer and may need repeated treatments, but the same agents still work — just re-wet the area gently first to reactivate the stain before treating it.