The dye is sitting in your hair, and you’ve decided to go watch some television or get some chores done. Then it happens, it drips from your hair or the bottle spills, leaving your carpet with a hair dye stain and ruined. Or so you thought. In reality, you might just be able to save your carpet.Â
So you’re wondering what is the secret? how to get hair dye out of carpets?
Remove the excess liquid, use a homemade solution and use alcohol to remove the dry from your carpet.
Read our step by step instructions to remove the dye correctly.
Where there is a stain, there is a way. We have some great tips for getting hair dye out of carpet quickly and easily. Yes, it can be a little difficult to get out (it is intended to be permanent, after all) but that isn’t to say it’s impossible with patience and perseverance.
Removing Hair Dye from Carpet: Step by Step Guide
So, you’re ready to get started and remove the hair dye stain from your carpet. There are only a few easy steps you need to follow, but make sure you read them carefully so that you get it the right first time.
What You Will Need:
- Clean microfibre cloths
- Sponge
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dish soap
- 2 cups of cold water
- Rubbing alcohol
- Ammonia
1. Remove Excess Liquid
Take a clean cloth and use it to remove the excess liquid from the stain. Be careful to only blot the area as scrubbing can cause the stain to soak in deeper and spread. You might need more than one dry cloth before it stops coming up, but you must get as much as possible.
2. Use a Home Cleaning Solution
Now, you need to mix up your cleaning solution. Take the white vinegar, water, and dish soap and mix them together in a bowl. Make sure it is well-stirred to ensure the best results. Then, pour it onto the stain and gently work it in with a sponge.
As you work it into the hair dye stain, switch between the sponge and dabbing the excess moisture with a clean cloth. This prevents you from over saturating the carpet, and as you work you will gradually see the stained area lighten up and go back to its original colour.
Read Here: How to clean any carpet stain with Baking soda and Vinager
3. Clean with Alcohol
Take a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and gently work it into the area with the sponge. Next, take a cloth and carefully dab the area in order to collect the excess moisture and lessen the stain. Next, pour cold water on the stain to loosen the remaining dye and blot dry as before. You can repeat as needed.
4. Stubborn Hair Dye Stains
If you have a really stubborn hair dye stain you should bring ammonia in. Use the same solution as before – except this time you are going to use ammonia instead of white vinegar. Use the same method as in step two, repeating until the stain is gone.
You can also soak the stain and sprinkle it with baking soda to absorb the liquid from the stained area. Leave it overnight, and this should help to get hair dye out of carpet. All you need to do is vacuum it up the next day and then repeat the process above if the dye stain remains.Â
If this doesn’t get rid of the stain, you are going to need to introduce something stronger to try and at least lessen it. The next step outlines some of your options.
5. Commercial Cleaners
You can also try using commercial hair dye removers found in the supermarket or online. These use stronger chemicals than home remedies, such as hydrogen peroxide, to really work out the hair dye stains and get your carpet back to normal.
The downside is that they are not great for the environment and you may also find that they can be too harsh on certain fibres. Always make sure you read the instructions and manufacturer’s advice before buying and using commercial cleaners for stain removal.
Additional Tips and Advice
Before you get into the process, here are some useful pieces of advice and additional techniques to help you remove hair dye stains like a pro.Â
Prevention. It doesn’t have to be this way, and a little organisation can do a lot for preventing this from happening in the first place. First, make sure the space you are using or dyeing your hair is covered in newspaper or something absorbent. You should also use double layers.Â
Always dye your hair in the bathroom or kitchen and over the sink. This reduces the risk of it getting all over the floor and makes excess dye easier to clean up. Keep the bottle away from carpets and ensure your hair is wrapped up really well when the dye is sitting in it.Â
Patch Test. Before you clean your carpet, always do a patch test with your chosen cleaning materials. Find a small area of your carpet that is hidden from view and use the cleaning solutions or products on it.Â
You can then see if it causes the carpet to become faded or damaged, giving you the chance to find an alternative if needed. It’s better than potentially damaging a large area of your carpet.Â
Colourfast. This refers to whether or not your carpet is prone to losing colour when cleaned. This works in the same way as the patch test and will show you whether or not your carpet is one that fades or discolours easily.
Read Here: Can you remove carpet stains with Hydrogen Peroxide ?
FAQs
Will vinegar take the colour out of carpet?
No, vinegar will not take the colour out of the carpet. White vinegar is a fantastic natural cleaning solution, and while it is acidic it also works gently while remaining highly effective. Of course, you should always test your carpet before you use it on the stain.
Can baking soda damage carpet?
No, baking soda does not damage the carpet. It can be a great way to soak up excess moisture from carpet stains, especially when left overnight to deal with old and stubborn ones. Additionally, it neutralises odours naturally – so no need for chemicals to be used.
Will dish soap damage carpet?
No, dish soap will not damage the carpet. It is used for removing tough carpet stains like grease, which is what makes it so well-suited to tackling serious stains like hair dye. You should make sure you test it on the carpet first, as some brands of dish soap can cause the colour to fade.
How do you get permanent hair dye out of carpet?
You can get permanent hair dye out of carpet using natural and chemical methods – as seen in our step by step above. It’s a fairly easy process, but you will need to be prepared to repeat it several times in the case of major hair dye stains.
Final Thoughts
When the hair dye spills and starts soaking into the carpet, there’s no need to panic when you have our fast and easy guide to take you through the process. It can be a tricky process, but it’s nothing that a little hard work and elbow grease can’t handle.Â
Plus, if you find that the natural methods aren’t quite working for you, there are plenty of commercial cleaners you can use. Just remember that you always need to test them on a hidden patch first – especially harsh chemicals like hydrogen peroxide.Â
Last Updated on February 21, 2021 by Gemma Tyler
Gemma Tyler is a freelance journalist with 15 years of experience writing for consumer publications. She has tested and reviewed a wide range of household items from vacuum cleaners to washing machines and dehumidifiers to steam irons. Her attention to detail and exhaustive testing certainly makes her an expert in her field.
