How To Get Hair Dye Out Of Carpet

So, how to get hair dye out of carpet, and is it easy work? Most people will say it’s not since hair dye is either permanent or semi-permanent. If it gets on your carpet, the possibility of it leaving is fairly low.

But, I’m here with the good news – that’s just a false rumor. You can clean hair dye out of the carpet effortlessly so long as you act fast and have the right set of tools at hand. Indeed, you will need in-depth instructions as well, which are waiting for you below. Let’s keep reading!

Dye Your Hair At Home, What Can Go Wrong?

Dying hair is like a game of chance, especially when it’s done by someone else who fails to grasp your ideas. And, you know how it goes: you lose a great deal of money and freak out every time you walk past the mirror for the next three months.

Hence, you’d rather dye your hair at home instead. After all, a mess you created yourself is still somewhat less annoying – and it’s much cheaper, of course. After hours of watching tutorials on Youtube, you are now ready to give it a go.

Before you even kick off your DIY project, the worst thing happens: you realize that you are stamping your foot on the hair dye tube, and it’s squirting all over your carpet! It’s for sure a huge bummer.

Removing Hair Dye From Your Carpet Is Not A Big Deal

Hair dye is made to last, so you will find it somewhat challenging to get it out of your carpet completely. However, that does not mean it’s impossible. Just follow the instructions below, and your carpet should be back to its former glory in no time.

Step 1: Blot The Excess

If the hair dye stain is still fresh, this is your golden opportunity. Grab some paper towels or old washcloths dampened with cold water and vinegar (optional) and dab the stain. Should the dye transfer to the fabric, you know things are looking up.

Unfortunately, if the stain does not come out even just a little, it’s time to employ something more potent.

Step 2: Create And Apply The Cleaning Solution

Depending on the stain, you will use the corresponding cleaning solution. For instance, old stains will mostly come off when ammonia is involved. Meanwhile, you can clean fresh hair dye from your carpet with household supplies like vinegar or dish soap.

When you apply the cleaning solution of your choice, remember not to rub the stain. Doing so will only cause the stain to spread even further. All you have to do is dab with patience – the hair dye should surrender and quickly get out of your carpet.

Option 1: Dishwashing Soap And Vinegar

Dishwashing soap has plenty of uses in cleaning. You can use it to wipe your flooring, fight weed, clean appliances, and remove stains. Ensure that your product is bleach-free, or the carpet will lose its color.

Just like dish soap, vinegar has amazing cleaning properties. What makes it a go-to option for dealing with stains is its non-toxicity. To create a solution from these household supplies, add a tablespoon each of them to 2 cups of water. Stir well.

Note: For a more powerful effect, you can sprinkle baking soda on the stain before applying the solution.

Watch this video to know more:

Option 2: Baking Soda

If your dish soap contains bleach or harsh chemicals, your alternative is baking soda, which is well-known for its versatility. You can use it to make delicious cakes, relieve burns or bug bites, deodorize, and remove stains on your carpet and upholstery.

Combine equal parts of vinegar and baking soda with a splash of cold water in a cup. You should see a foaming paste come to life minutes later. Spread the paste onto the stain and let it stand for 5-10 minutes.

Alternatively, add a sufficient amount of glycerin onto the stain. Next, cover the stain with a good sprinkling of baking soda, followed by a few drops of dish soap. Use a brush and give the stain some scrubbing.

Watch this video to know more:

Option 3: Rubbing Or Denatured Alcohol

Should the tricks above fail your expectations, it’s time to bring in something stronger, such as rubbing or denatured alcohol. These agents do an effective job in removing hair dye but should be used with caution, as they can loosen the pigment of your carpet as well.

To find out whether your carpet can withstand the strength of these alcohols, do a spot test first. If no damage occurs, wet a sponge with small quantities of either option and work into the hair dye.

Note: You can use rubbing alcohol after treating the stain with the solution from option 1 to achieve a quicker result. If you don’t have rubbing or denatured alcohol, vodka should help, although you will find its effect to be somewhat disappointing.

Option 4: Hairspray, Astringent, And Baby Shampoo

Many people think that using hairspray to clean hair dye is counter-intuitive or even makes the problem worse. Contrary to their thoughts, hairspray is an excellent stain remover. You can use it to clean ink, lipstick, or hair dye stains on your carpet with minimal effort.

Spray the affected area with your hairspray and let it sit for approximately 5 minutes. For a more satisfactory result, continue squirting some astringent with 2 drops of baby shampoo (optional) on the stain and begin to dab.

Option 5: Nail Polish Remover

Here’s another solution when you happen to spill a little hair dye on the carpet. Just grab a nail polish remover and work it into the affected spot using some cotton balls. Again, do not rub the fibers, or you will end up with a bigger mess.

However, keep in mind that your nail polish remover should not have acetone. It’s a solvent that can ruin the carpet fibers when left on for too long. Hence, don’t forget to read the label in advance to avert unwanted damage.

Option 6: WD-40

If you have no nail polish remover left, another choice you can consider is WD-40. It is a lubricant, but many people now also use it as a stain-removing product. You should find it at your local home equipment store, such as Home Depot.

Make sure that the space is well-ventilated while you are working with WD-40. Its fumes are hazardous and can cause moderate to severe symptoms like headache, dizziness, or death. You may want to put on your air mask and respirator as well.

Now, spray the hair dye stain with WD-40 and let it stand for a few minutes.

Option 7: OxiClean

Another commercial product for your consideration is OxiClean, which is highly prized for its wonderful cleaning abilities. Just a quick wipe, and your furniture and other structures will be squeaky clean just like new.

Surprisingly, OxiClean is also an excellent choice for spot cleaning, for example, when paints, drinks, or hair dye are splashed all over the carpet. To use Oxiclean, combine a tablespoon of it with water to form a paste, then apply it to the stain carefully using the back of a spoon.

After 10-15 minutes, check whether the hair dye has faded. If not, repeat the process.

Watch this video to know more:

Option 8: Clarifying Shampoo

Is today your bad hair day? Lucky for you, clarifying shampoo is here. The silky smoothness of your hair should be back shortly after a quick wash. Yet, did you know that it can be used to remove hair products (in this case, hair dye) from your carpet as well?

Here’s how you will do it. Dissolve the shampoo of your choice in cold water (1:1) and apply the solution to the stain. Then, use the same old dabbing motions to get the hair dye out. A little elbow grease is required, as the dye will fade progressively.

Option 9: Ammonia And Dishwashing Soap

With tough paint stains, you have no choice but to bring out ammonia. It is a harsh chemical that can tackle different stains, whether fresh or dried, light or stubborn. If you have been struggling with the previous options, ammonia will put this problem to bed immediately.

To start with, use 1 tablespoon of ammonia, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 2 cups of water to create the ultimate cleaning solution. Then, use a clean cloth to work the solution into the stain. Likewise, you will dab, dab, and dab continuously until a miracle happens.

Let the solution do its job for a minimum of half an hour. After that, reapply the solution but for only 5 minutes this time.

Note: The use of dish soap in this method is optional but highly recommended.

Option 10: Hydrogen Peroxide

Your last resort for this job is hydrogen peroxide, a super-effective disinfectant with fantastic household uses. However, many people have reported success when treating stains on carpeting, especially stubborn ones left by blood, grease, or dye.

Preventative measures should be taken when using this product because direct contact with it can pose several health risks. Skin irritations, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and feeling out of breath are some common symptoms you may experience. ⁽¹⁾

With its inherent bleaching qualities, you are well-advised to check for colorfastness first. Put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on a hidden area of the carpet and wait. An eyedropper is your ideal tool for this job, but a teaspoon will work just fine.

If no concerning visual changes are visible, pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the hair dye stain using the same eyedropper or teaspoon. Let it sit for 24 hours.

Step 3: Rinse The Solution

After repeated dabbing movements, check whether the stain has lifted. If it has, extract the remaining solution with a damp sponge. Alternatively, run a shop-vac over the treated area and let it dry. You can finish it here or continue cleaning your carpet using a steam mop.

Provided that discoloration occurs (for example, when using hydrogen peroxide), use a felt marker and color the affected section in light strokes. After that, let the carpet dry overnight and reapply if needed.

Alternatively, mix a stain remover with water and run the solution through the entire surface. Doing this will help tone the carpet evenly, particularly when hair dye is on different areas. End the process by rerunning the shop-vac to get rid of the moisture.

Approved Tips To Make Your Cleaning Job Go As Expected

Don’t skip the following tips! They are the ultimate shortcut to success, and your only regret is not knowing them sooner. Scroll down now!

• Timing is the key: Treat the hair dye as soon as possible. As it becomes hardened, your chance of saving the carpet has reduced significantly.
• Be cautious with chemicals: Proceed with caution when you use alcohol, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide, as they can be treacherous when inhaled or contact your skin. Thus, don’t forget to put on your protective clothing and maximize air circulation.
• Test your products: Although this has been repeated through the post, it’s vital and should be given more emphasis. If you proceed to clean stains on the carpet without conducting a spot test, you will only cause further damage.
• Use old cloth rags: Your best bet is to use old washcloths or paper towels to remove the hair dye. When the dye transfers to the cloth or towel, you can dispose of it easily instead of spending a couple of hours washing it.
• Dry your carpet wholly: If moisture gets to the backing, mold will soon take over the carpet. Given that, it’s essential to dry your carpet to extract the excess fluids. You can air-dry your carpet when the weather is conducive or use the shop-vac method.

In case something terrible happens, like an explosive reaction or the stain has spread further to neighboring areas, immediately stop tampering with the carpet. Contact a local expert and hand the job over – the cost of carpet cleaning is not too expensive if the damage is minor.

FAQs

Put your worries to rest with the following section, where answers to further questions about cleaning hair dye out of carpet are provided just for you.

Keep Clear Of The Carpeted Areas When Dying Your Hair

That’s it, my friend, is how to get hair dye out of carpet with no fuss. Dying your hair at home can be an enjoyable experience, but it also comes with a risk. Therefore, keep the carpet off-limits as you are working with your hair.

Now, you can go back to your epic hair transformation! Before doing so, I just want to remind you to share your experiences with other readers and me. And, indeed, there’s always room for tips and questions!

References

1. Nj.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1015.pdf.
2. The Synergist. 2021. Peracetic Acid Uses and Hazards. [online] Available at: https://synergist.aiha.org/201612-peracetic-acid-uses-and-hazards.