Dyeing your own hair at home can be challenging and it can definitely get messy at times. So what do you do when you get hair dye on your bathroom tiles? In this article, we’ll tell you how to get stubborn hair dye stains off your tile for good.
Why Is Hair Dye So Hard To Remove?
Most hair dye contains ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or a combination of chemicals that help to penetrate the hair strand and deposit color.
Hair dye is so powerful that it can stick to the fibers in fabrics, so it is likely to stain any surface that it touches.
Now, some hair colors are more difficult to remove as they have different compositions. Red dye, for example, is one of the most stubborn colors to remove.
Some people might believe that semi-permanent hair dye is less likely to stain surfaces, but that’s not true.
Semi-permanent hair dye is just as likely to stain as permanent hair dye. This goes for all surfaces such as tile, carpet, or wood. Ultimately, it comes down to a few factors: the type of hair dye, the color, and whether it’s an old or new stain.
There are certain brands of hair dye are less likely to stain, especially if you wipe the surface fairly quickly before it sets.
Bright, bold colors like blue and purple are likely to stain surfaces quickly, so you must act fast to prevent staining.
Remember that the older the stain is, the harder it will be to remove.
How To Protect Surfaces From Hair Dye
Preventing the stains from occurring in the first place is the best option. This is particularly the case if you’re using unnatural colors such as green hair dye or purple.
When dyeing your hair, you need to think about protecting all surfaces. Here are some tips on how you can stop stains from damaging your surfaces.
- Start by removing any items from the bathroom that you don’t want to get ruined. You might like to remove fresh towels, beauty products, and personal care items
- Get a newspaper or a few old towels and layer it on the floor and any other surfaces where you want to avoid staining. Make sure not to leave any gaps!
- Place a towel or newspaper underneath the mixing bowl rather than putting it in the sink. Some hair dye can permanently stain your sink so you want to avoid that if possible
- Put some gloves on and make sure not to touch any surfaces while you are applying the dye
- If you spill any of the dye or accidentally touch an unprotected surface, use a damp cloth to quickly clean it up. It should come off easily
- After you’ve applied the dye you can remove your gloves and sit down on a protected surface
- Keep the newspapers or towels on the floor because it’s likely that the dye will splash or get flicked on to surfaces when you are washing it out of your hair
- Once you have washed it out of your hair, wrap an old towel around your hair and begin uncovering the surfaces
- If you notice any dye, clean it up immediately
7 Ways To Remove Hair Dye Off Tile
Before we mention the top 7 ways to remove hair dye off a bathroom tile, it’s important to mention that tiles are delicate and need to be handled carefully.
If you use anything too abrasive, such as lemon or lime, you can run the risk of damaging the tile’s shiny layer.
You should also avoid any abrasive cleaners and rough sponges because these can damage porcelain tiles.
Using cold water instead of hot water will also be more effective at removing stains and it ensures you are protecting your tiles as much as you can.
Doing a patch test on a small area will also ensure that you are minimizing any potential damage to the tile.
Dish Soap And Water
Often, the most simplest of cleaning products work the best. It’s always recommended that you use a natural, gentle solution on stains before you try anything else.
Some stains may look stubborn, but can easily be removed with soap, water, and a bit of elbow grease. This even goes for darker hair colors such as brown or dark red.
Apply a generous amount of soap to the stained tile and with a damp sponge start scrubbing it.
You might not see a difference immediately, but keep persisting for at least a few minutes. If it has started to fade then it’s likely you’ll be able to remove the remaining stain with just 1 or 2 more methods.
If there is little to no difference, then you will need to try something stronger.
And remember, open a window to ventilate the room. Inhaling the smell of hair dye can cause headaches if left for too long.
Hairspray
Did you know that hairspray can be very effective at removing stubborn stains?
The reason this works is because of the alcohol. All you need to do is spray it on to the area and start blotting it with a towel or cloth.
Typically, hairspray only works on fresh hair dye stains. If the stain is much older, you’ll have to try an alternative method.
Also Read: How To Remove Hair Dye With Developer
Bathroom Cleaner
Of course, a simple yet effective solution to getting rid of stains is to use your usual bathroom cleaner.
Your bathroom cleaner will typically have chemicals and bleach in it that will help to target and remove stubborn stains.
Spray it on and leave for a few minutes to allow it to soak and hopefully lift the stain.
Use a sponge to scrub at the stain for a couple of minutes. Again, this method works best on fresh stains but it may still work on older stains depending on the type of dye.
Baking Soda And Water Or Vinegar
Baking soda is a natural product that works wonders on even the most stubborn stains.
In fact, even very old stains can be removed with baking soda! Firstly, you need to mix the baking soda with either water or vinegar until it forms a thick paste.
You will need to use a generous amount of baking soda if you need to cover a larger stained area.
Apply the mixture to the tile and begin working it in with a sponge. Circular motions often work best at removing stubborn stains!
You can repeat this method a couple of times to ensure you get the hair dye off the tile.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a great choice for removing stubborn stains. Apply some to a cotton ball or a cloth and rub at the stain.
Hopefully, the stain will dissolve from the alcohol and you should have a fresh, clean tile.
Don’t use rubbing alcohol on painted surfaces as it can damage them!
Nail Polish Remover
Nail polish remover is an acetone liquid that works well at removing stains. Simply apply a small amount to a cotton ball and gently rub the stain.
Doing this should help dissolve the pigments in the dye and lift the stain.
This method isn’t suitable for painted or finished surfaces as there is the risk of damaging the grout.
Bleach
It’s always best to save bleach as the last solution simply because it’s one of the harshest methods and it’s only suitable for white tiles.
You always want to make sure that you dilute it with equal amounts of water and make sure that the room is well ventilated.
Use a mask, gloves, and eye-protected glasses or goggles when handling bleach. When you apply the solution, you should leave it to sit for at least 10 minutes so it has time to act on the stain.
You can then wipe it away with a cloth and the stain should have lifted.
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