How to Clean Food Coloring off Skin

Co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD

Did your child make a mess with food coloring? Or did you spill some on your hands while baking? It happens at some point, be it a normal Wednesday or the Easter egg dying session got a little out of hand. Here are a couple of ways to get rid of the rainbow mess.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Toothpaste

1
Get some non-gel toothpaste. If you can, try getting some toothpaste that has baking soda in it. It will be even more effective.^{[1]
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2
Wash the stain with warm water and soap. Be sure to rub the area with soap to get a good lather. Sometimes, this is all you need in order to get the dye off. Keep your skin damp, and don't dry it off yet.

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3
Wash the stain with the toothpaste. Put a thin layer of toothpaste on the stain. Gently rub it in using circular motions. If you got the food coloring on your hands, rub your hands together like you would with soap. The toothpaste will help scrub the stain away.
- You can also apply the toothpaste with a washcloth instead.
4
Rub the toothpaste against your skin for about two minutes. If the toothpaste starts to dry, splash it with some water and keep washing. After a while, the dye should start to fade.
5
Rinse the toothpaste off with warm water. If your skin feels a sticky from the toothpaste, wash it using some soap and water. The food coloring should be barely visible by now.
6
Repeat the steps, if necessary. If the stain is still there, try washing it again with some more toothpaste and water. Deep-set stains may require a few treatments. If your skin starts to feel raw at any point, take a break and try again after a few hours.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Rubbing Alcohol

1
Find some rubbing alcohol. If you do not have any, use acetone or nail polish remover instead. Keep in mind that acetone and nail polish remover are harsh and drying. They are not suitable for young children or for those with sensitive skin. If you want to get food coloring off of a child, use rubbing alcohol, non-acetone nail polish remover, or hand sanitizer.
- If you got food coloring on your face, do not use toothpaste instead.
2
Soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. For larger areas, use a folded paper towel or a washcloth. If you are using hand sanitizer, you can skip this step and apply it directly to your skin.
3
Rub the stain with the cotton ball. The rubbing alcohol will help dissolve the pigments in the dye. Most of the dye should come off with just a few strokes.
4
Repeat with fresh cotton balls and rubbing alcohol until all the dye is gone. Do not reuse old cotton balls, or you'll transfer the stain back onto your skin. Toss the stained cotton ball, and soak a new one with more rubbing alcohol. Keep doing this until the stain is all gone.
5
Wash the stain with some soap and water and pat dry with a towel. If you still see traces of the stain, you can try rubbing it away with more rubbing alcohol. Be sure to wash and dry your skin afterwards.
6
Apply hand lotion if you have sensitive skin. Because rubbing alcohol can be drying, it might be a good idea to put on some hand lotion when you are done. This is especially recommended if you used acetone or nail polish remover.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Vinegar and Baking Soda

1
Wash the stain with soap and warm water. You can also soak a washcloth with water, and use it to rub off any excess dye from your skin.
2
Soak a clean washcloth with white vinegar. Be sure to have more vinegar on hand. You will need it to re-soak the washcloth later.
3
Rub the stain with the washcloth. If the vinegar stings or burns, try to mix one part vinegar with one part water. This will dilute the vinegar a little and make it sting less.
- If you got food coloring on your face, dilute the vinegar with water first. You can also use toothpaste.
4
Rinse the washcloth with cool water and re-soak it with vinegar. As you continue to work, the washcloth will absorb the dye. You will need to rinse it with fresh water when this happens. If you don't, it will transfer the dye back onto your skin. Be sure to re-soak the cloth with more vinegar after rinsing it. Keep rubbing the stain until it fades away.
5
Use a paste made from baking soda and water for stubborn stains. Make a paste in a small dish using two parts baking soda and one part water. Spread the paste over the stain. Rub your fingers over it using a gentle, circular motion.^{[2]
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- Try not to rub too hard. Baking soda is abrasive and may make your skin feel raw.
6
Rinse the paste off with soap and water. Baking soda does not always rinse off well, so this may take a while. Be sure to keep rinsing the area with soap and water until your skin no longer feels grainy.
7
Repeat the vinegar and baking soda paste treatment if needed. Most dyes should be gone by now, but you may have to repeat the whole process for very deep stains.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Other Methods

1
Take a bath or shower. Sometimes, warm water and soap is all that you need in order to get the stain off. By the end of your bath or shower, the stain should be mostly gone.
2
Wash the stain with some water and laundry stain remover. Fill a sink with warm water and add a squirt of stain remover. Swish your hands around in the water for a few moments. If you got the stain on another part of your body, splash that part with the stain.
- Do not use this on your face. Try toothpaste instead.
3
Make a paste salt and vinegar. Put two to three tablespoons of salt into a bowl, and add a few drops of vinegar—enough to make a paste. Dampen the stain with some water, then rub it with the salt-and-vinegar paste. Rinse the paste off using soap and water.^{[3]
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4
Try wiping the stain off with face or baby wipes. The oils may help break down the food coloring, and cause it to fade away.
5
Try using some baby oil or other food-grade oil. Soak a cotton ball with some oil, and wipe it over the stain. Replace the cotton ball once it becomes dirty with a fresh one. Be sure to rinse the stain off with soap and warm water.
6
Use shaving cream to remove the stain. Shaving cream contains peroxide, which may help get the dye off. Rub the shaving cream over the stain like you would with soap. Rinse it off with soap and warm water
7
Make a scrub using dish soap, a squirt of lemon juice, and a pinch of sugar. Rub the scrub over the stain until the dye goes away. Be sure to rinse your skin off using soap and warm water.
8
Give it some time. Most food coloring will fade away on its own as you go about your day, touching things, washing your hands, and taking baths or showers. It may take about 24 to 36 hours until it fades away.

Warnings

Acetone and nail polish remover are harsh and drying. Do not use them on children or sensitive skin.

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Baking soda and vinegar can sting. They are not recommended for sensitive skin.

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