How To Get Hair Dye Off Of Sink
Home hair dye is a fun and cost-effective way to give your hair a new look, but the process of actually dyeing your hair can leave your bathroom sink and counters stained. And unlike other bathroom stains, hair dye typically won’t come off with just soap and water. But your bathroom sink isn’t ruined forever—instead, learn how to get hair dye stains off your sink with one of these easy cleaning methods that uses ingredients and supplies you already have.
Before You Begin
Because it’s meant to stay in your hair for weeks at a time, hair dye is, understandably, hard to remove from whatever surface it ends up on. This means that the cleaning products that are able to effectively remove it can be harsh on both your skin and your sink surfaces. To prepare for this, always wear gloves when using harsh cleaners like bleach, acetone, or rubbing alcohol, and always turn on the bathroom fan for ventilation. Additionally, test out the cleaning method in an inconspicuous part of your bathroom countertop before attempting to use it in a more visible spot.
Hairspray
Hairspray is an easy way to remove leftover hair dye stains from your sink. All you need to do is spray a generous amount on your sink, let it sit for a minute or two, then wipe it away. This works thanks to the alcohol in hairspray, which removes all kinds of paints and dyes. However, the alcohol in hairspray can damage the finish of your countertop if left on too long, so make sure to follow it up with a quick pass of soap and water to remove anything that’s left behind.
Rubbing Alcohol
If you don’t have hairspray on hand, rubbing alcohol will work too. Pour some rubbing alcohol into a small dish, then dip cotton balls into it. Dab the cotton balls onto the hair dye stain, and the stain should come away. Once the stain is gone, clean the surface with some cleaning spray or soap and water.
Nail Polish Remover
Acetone-based nail polish remover works in the same way that rubbing alcohol does to remove hair dye stains. Pour some into a small bowl or cup, then soak a few cotton balls in it. Dab the cotton balls onto the stained surface to remove the hair dye, then “rinse it” with soap and water. Avoid using dyed nail polish remover to ensure you don’t add any extra stains to your sink while trying to clean it.
Melamine Sponges
A melamine sponge, like the popular Magic Eraser, contains microscopic abrasives that can skillfully remove all kinds of surface level stains on walls, tiles, and sinks, including hair dye stains. To use a melamine sponge to get hair dye stains off of a sink, wet the sponge then gently rub it onto the stained area. Don’t rub too hard, as you don’t want to accidentally remove the sink’s finish. Depending on how large the stain is, you may need to use different parts of the sponge once one part becomes soiled and stained. Once the hair dye is gone, rinse the once-stained area with clean water.
Bleach
Bleach can remove all kinds of dyes and colors, making it a great choice when trying to remove hair dye stains from your sink. Bleach can be used straight from the jug or in a spray bottle. To use bleach from a container or bottle, combine one part bleach with one part water in a small bowl. Dip a white washcloth into the mixture and gently rub it over the stained areas. Let it sit for two minutes, then rinse away with water. Trying out this trick with a bleach cleaner in a spray bottle is even easier. All you need to do is to spray the cleaner over the hair-dye-stained areas, let it sit for two minutes, then wipe the bleach away with a clean washcloth and rinse with water. The hair dye should be all gone.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda are both highly effective cleaners that can be used for different uses around the house, including to remove hair dye stains from the sink. Combine baking soda and vinegar to make a paste. To do this, you’ll need slightly more baking soda than vinegar. Apply the paste to the dye stain. Use a sponge to scrub the stain until the dye has been removed. Repeat if necessary.
Baking Soda and Water
If you don’t have vinegar on hand, try using baking soda and water to remove the hair dye stain from the sink. Use the same steps as the baking soda and vinegar method.
Dish Soap
Sometimes, regular dish soap will work to remove a dye stain from the sink, particularly if the stain is new and hasn’t been sitting for a long time. Cover the stain in dish soap and use a sponge to clean the area.
FAQs
How to remove hair dye from walls?
You can try a few methods to remove hair dye from walls. If the wall is painted, dab rubbing alcohol on the area using a cotton ball, then dry with a towel. Or try a magic eraser on dried stains. If the stain is stubborn, you might need to re-paint the area.
How to get hair dye off tiles?
You can try any methods outlined in this guide to remove hair dye from tiles, including baking soda and vinegar or washing up liquid. Take care when using bleach or specialist stain removers on tiles, as it could damage the finish.
How to remove hair dye from your bathtub or sink?
Try household products like baking soda, vinegar, washing-up liquid, bleach and nail polish remover to remove hair dye from bathtubs, sinks and shower enclosures. For more cleaning tips, check out our guide to cleaning your shower.
Can dye stains be removed after drying?
Soak the stain while wet using tissue or a towel to remove excess liquid. However, it’s best to do any stain removal treatment once the hair dye has dried, or you could risk spreading the stain.
Does hairspray remove hair dye stains?
Due to the alcohol content in hairspray, it can remove hair dye stains from clothes, carpets and fibres but may not be as effective on bathroom fixtures, walls or tiles.
Check out our bathroom cleaning guide for more tips on stain removal and general maintenance to keep your bathroom looking its best.