Removing Chap Stick Stains from Clothing

I have fought chap stick stains for years. When there are two young girls in the house, you find tubes of Chapstick almost everywhere – furniture, broken on the floor and the laundry – to just name a few places.

When a tube of chap stick goes through a load of laundry, it can get over every article of clothing in that load. If you’re not sure how to tackle a chap stick stain, it can get costly replacing clothes and I was getting tired of fighting the stain and the crowds at the mall.

So how do you treat a chap stick stain? Much the same way you would remove a candle wax stain.

What to Do

Just like removing a candle wax stain, Chapstick stains are not impossible to remove, it just takes time.

• If there are some clumps of semi-solid chap stick, remove it with a dull knife or spoon.
• If necessary, you can put the item in the freezer, let the wax harden, then remove more.
• If the stain is small, try using a dishwashing liquid like Dawn. Wet the area then carefully use an old toothbrush to clean.
• If the stain is larger and covers more surface area, try using the iron method.

The Iron Method for Removing Waxy Residue

After removing as much of the Chapstick as possible, you’ll most likely be left with a greasy/oily stain from the wax.

• First get a clean towel and place under the area you will be ironing.
• Then tear a brown paper bag or use a couple layers of paper towel and completely cover the area.
• Set the iron to a low/medium heat and run it over the paper. Keep the iron moving so it doesn’t overheat the paper.
• This process will help lift and transfer the residue onto the paper.
• Repeat as needed. Move to a clean piece of paper or replace as needed.

Removing Colored Chap Stick Dye Stains

If the chap stick had color to it and there is a bit of a stain remaining, try the following:

• Dishwashing liquid may help remove left over dye stains.
• Rubbing alcohol may also help remove any remaining dye stains.

Apply liquid to the stain, gently rub or blot until stain is gone.

Using Un-Du Wax Remover

At some point I contacted the chap stick manufacturer directly to ask what their opinion was on getting chap stick stains out of clothes. They recommended Un-Du wax remover. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it works really well for getting chap stick stains out of clothing.

Un-Du Wax Remover works like a charm, and is available in grocery and big box stores. If you think about it, it makes sense as the primary component of chap stick is a form of wax.

Once you discover the stain, add a few drops of un-du and carefully rub over the area. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Let sit for about 30 minutes. Wash again with your regular detergent and the warmest setting recommended for the fabric.

If necessary, I would put a clean cloth behind the area you’re working on. That way if there is any color from the chap stick it won’t transfer to a clean area of the item.

Cleaning Residue from the Washer and Dryer

It’s possible after a tube of chap stick has gone through the washer and/or dryer there may be some of the waxy residue left on the walls of the drum. To err on the side of caution, you can clean them easily.

Cleaning the Washer Drum

Get a clean rag, wet it and apply liquid laundry detergent. Wipe down the sides, bottom and under the top lip of the drum. Run a hot water cycle.

Cleaning the Dryer Drum

Run a few damp cleaning rags in the dryer for about 10 minutes to heat the drum. Pour some white vinegar on one of the cleaning rags you had in the dryer and wipe down the drum. The vinegar smell will dissipate after a short period of time so there is no need to wipe down further but if you want, take another one of the cleaning rags and wet it with plain water and wipe down the drum with that.

We don’t always remember, but try and check the pockets before doing laundry to prevent these kinds of stains.