How do I remove makeup stains from my nursing school uniform?

Nursing Students General Students Nursing Q/A

While I was putting on my uniform I got makeup (foundation) lines near the collar of my shirt. Plus, its white so you can visibly see it. I'm afraid my instructor will notice. Are there any tips for removing makeup stains from uniforms? Preferably a white scrub top? Anyone else experience this? Thank you for your suggestions.

10 Answers

Peroxide always worked for me. You can use it even if you can't wash it right away. I've used it on all colors as well as all types of materials. Its taken out blood, grease, makeup, magic marker/pen, etc.

If you are taking the item off and won't be washing it right away...saturate the stain in peroxide and toss in the hamper. When its time to wash, wash as normal. If you are going to wash right away...same thing..saturate the stain in peroxide and wash.

If you are wearing the item, you can use peroxide to 'wash' out the stain. Then launder as normal.

My daughter was Christened at an older age. She was dressed in her Christening dress (white and a silky type material, can't remember exactly the material now) and decided it would be fun to draw with sharpie markers before Church. I came in her room and found her with red and black sharpie marks in many areas of the dress. Took some peroxide and rubbed out the stains. Came right out, no sign of anything amiss at all after it dried. No one believed those marks were ever on the dress.

Careful with the Tide to Go pens, if I'm not mistaken they do contain bleach.

This would happen to me all the time. We also had white scrub tops. I would wash the top in hot water on the white cycle and used bleach. That usually did the trick. You might have to run it through twice. Sometimes make up is hard to get out...especially when you're wearing white.

I learned to put my scrub top on before applying make up to avoid getting stains on it prior to starting my day. At the end of the day I would curl a small towel around my shirt collar prior to taking it off to prevent getting make up on it.

Specializes in ICU.

To put in the wash I always use oxyclean for stains. I also keep a tide to go pen in my purse for things that pop up during the day.

I have same issue. RNs wear all white scrubs. For makeup I have been having good luck with mean green from the dollar tree! I have tried stain treatments such as shout and no dice. I think I tried dumping detergent directly on strain also. Mean green works best

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

what kind of makeup?

most foundations are oil based use Dawn detergent.

The one I'm using now is from Sephora. It says its formulated without mineral oil.

I'm afraid of using bleach because its not completely white. I will try oxyclean and tide to go pen sounds good as well. Whatever fits my budget.

Ill try the oxiclean. If that doesn't work Ill try peroxide. Thanks for your reply.

So, I ended up trying Arm and Hammer detergent and poured it onto the stain and rubbed it in. Waited 5 minutes and put it in the washer with regular detergent without fabric softener. And, it worked like a charm! :)

Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

It amazes me that programs still use white for scrub colors...... Make-up is the least of what could stain them on a MED/SURG floor. Glad you were able to get the stain out.

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