Getting make-up stains on light-coloured clothing is a common mishap, but a simple household item may offer a solution. Cleaning guru Chantel Mila, known as Mama Mila, recommends using shaving foam to tackle the problem.
According to Mila, applying a liberal amount of shaving foam with a bristled brush, allowing it to sit for five to 20 minutes, then rinsing and washing as usual can lift stains. The foam contains surfactants and cleaning agents that break down oils and pigments, making it effective for many make-up marks.
However, experts at Better Homes & Gardens have cast doubt on its versatility. In tests on dark lipstick, red nail polish, black coffee, olive oil, dry potting soil, and blue ink, the shaving foam only lightened coffee and olive oil stains, and did little for the others. Worse, dabbing caused some stains, like lipstick and coffee, to spread.
Kind Laundry agrees that shaving cream can remove foundation stains gently, but stresses the importance of using a foam-based product, not a gel or cream, which lack the necessary active ingredients. For tough stains, alternative methods may be required.
