How to Get ChapStick Stains Out of Clothes

Plus tips to clean stubborn ChapStick residue from washer and dryer drums

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 mins - 1 hr
  • Total Time: 1 hr
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5 to 10

Getting ChapStick out of clothes can be a tricky process, as the combination of wax, oil, and sometimes dye creates an oily residue. This stain is especially stubborn if the clothing has already been washed and dried, but it can be removed from the garment and the drum of the washer and dryer with some key ingredients and patience.

How to Remove Melted ChapStick Stains From Clothing

The Spruce / Madelyn Goodnight

The key to removing ChapStick successfully is to tackle the stains as soon as possible. Don't rub the stain, or it will embed further into the material fibers. Never put stained clothes in the dryer, as the heat can make the stain permanent or harder to remove. For older stains, you may need to repeat the cleaning process a few times before it completely disappears.

Learn how to remove ChapStick stains from clothes in a few simple steps using products you likely already have at home.

Tip

When pre-treating tough stains, you can also use home remedies instead of a commercial enzyme-based stain remover. Pretreat ChapStick stains before washing by adding dishwashing detergent to the stain, dabbing it into the fabric, and waiting for five to 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing and washing the garment.

Stain type Oil-based 
Detergent type Heavy-duty laundry detergent or stain remover
Water temperature Hot (as hot as allowed per care label)
Cycle type Varies depending on type of fabric

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Clothing

  • Dull knife or spoon
  • Soft-bristled brush (optional)
  • Washing machine
  • Soaking basin or sink (optional)

Washer or Dryer

  • Rags or cloths

Materials

Clothing

  • Stain remover or heavy-duty laundry detergent
  • Oxygen-based bleach (optional)

Washer or Dryer

  • Heavy-duty laundry detergent
  • Distilled white vinegar

Instructions

materials for removing chapstick stains from clothing
​The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

How to Remove ChapStick Stains From Clothing

  1. Scrape Off the Residue

    Scrape any semi-solid wax on the surface of the fabric gently using a spoon, dull knife, or the edge of a credit card. Never rub. Scraping will prevent the wax from becoming more deeply embedded in the fibers.

    scraping off excess chapstick residue
    ​The Spruce / Ana Cadena 
  2. Pretreat the Stain

    • Test any detergents or cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous area first to ensure that it does not discolor the fabric.
    • Examine every area of the stained clothes carefully and treat each spot with an enzyme-based stain remover.
    • Work the stain remover into the fabric using your fingers or a soft-bristled brush, then let the stain remover sit for at least 30 minutes.

    Tip

    If you do not have a stain remover, use a bit of heavy-duty laundry detergent (Persil or Tide) which contains enough enzymes to cut through the oily residue and release it from the fibers.

    pretreating chapstick stain with detergent
    ​The Spruce / Ana Cadena 
  3. Rewash and Check

    • Rewash the stained clothes in the hottest water recommended on the care tag.
    • If the stains have not been removed, repeat the stain removal steps before you toss the clothes in the dryer.

    Tip

    Line dry the clothing to make sure the stain has been completely removed. Putting clothing in the dryer that has any trace of ChapStick left can set the stain.

    washing the affected garment
    ​The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

How to Remove ChapStick From the Washer or Dryer

If you noticed the ChapStick stain on your clothes after washing and drying them, it's important to clean your appliances before washing more items. Carefully check your washer and dryer to retrieve the offending ChapStick and look for any residue clinging to the interior drums.

ingredients for removing chapstick residue from a washer
​The Spruce / Ana Cadena
  1. Use Liquid Detergent in Washer Drums

    • Apply a bit of laundry detergent to an old white rag to remove the waxy coating if you see some residue in the washer drum.
    • Dip the rag in hot water, dot it with detergent, and scrub the ChapStick wax away.
    using detergent on washer drum
    ​The Spruce / Ana Cadena
  2. Use Vinegar in Dryer Drums

    • Wet some old rags and toss them in the dryer if you see any residue in the dryer.
    • Set the dryer to high heat and let it run for about five minutes. This will soften the wax.
    • Dip an old rag in distilled white vinegar and wipe away each waxy smear you see in the drum.
    • As the wax is removed, wipe the area down again with another clean cloth dipped in plain water.
    dipping a cloth into vinegar
    ​The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

    Tip

    Most people know to check pockets before starting a load of laundry, but what if you miss the slim stick? Get lip balm on a key ring or clip. Keys are seldom left in pockets, and they're big enough and noisy enough to be found (or heard) when they hit the washer drum.

Additional Tips for Handling Melted Chapstick Stains

If your body heat warms up your pockets to the point that ChapStick has melted on a garment labeled dry-clean-only, point out and identify the stain to your professional cleaner. If you plan to use a home dry-cleaning kit, always treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

If the lip balm was tinted and you see traces of color on the fabric, grab some oxygen-based bleach to remove the lip balm color without harming washable clothes. Follow the package directions and mix a solution of oxygen bleach (such as OxiClean, Clorox 2 or Nellie's Natural Oxygen Brightener) and warm water. Completely submerge the stained garment and allow it to soak for at least two hours; overnight is best. This will remove the dye. Wash and dry the fabrics as usual.

FAQ
  • Does ChapStick eventually come out of clothes?

    ChapStick will not typically come out of clothes on its own during normal wash cycles. Because this is an oil-based stain, you'll need to use a degreaser like liquid dish soap as a stain pretreatment before washing.

  • Will ChapStick come out of clothes that have been dried?

    ChapStick is much harder to remove from clothes that have been dried. You can try removing the stain with a liquid dish soap pretreatment before washing it, but likely, a more powerful stain remover like oxygen-based bleach will be required to clean it. Not all dried ChapStick stains on clothes can be removed.

  • What is the best stain remover for ChapStick?

    The best stain remover for fresh ChapStick stains on clothes is a gentle degreaser like liquid dish soap. For more stubborn stains or those from colored or tinted ChapStick, try soaking the garment in a solution of oxygen-based bleach and water before washing it.