If you’ve ever tried to dye your hair at home, you know how quickly the excitement of a new color can be replaced by the fear of having to clean up the mess. The bathroom sink is one place that often looks bad after a hair dye trial. The hair dye spots seem to stick to the surface, no matter how hard I try to scrub them off. But don’t worry, fellow fans of hair dye!
I’ve had my share of colorful sink disasters over the years, and I’ve come up with a list of tried-and-true ways to get rid of those spots for good. In this blog post, we’ll talk about the best ways I’ve found to get hair dye out of a bathroom sink. I’ll tell you everything you need to know to clean your sink, from simple household items to specialized cleaning tools.
Steps to Remove Hair Dye Stains from Your Bathroom Sink
It can be hard to get hair dye stains out of a bathroom sink, but with the right method and a little time, you can get your sink back to its original, spotless state. Follow these eight detailed steps to clean your bathroom sink after it has been stained by hair dye.

Step 1: Move fast
When you see a stain from hair dye in your bathroom sink, you need to act quickly. The dye gets harder to get off the surface the longer it stays there. Get a clean cloth or paper towel and gently blot the spot to get rid of any extra dye. Don’t rub the spot too hard because it could spread the dye.
Step 2: Make a solution to clean it
The next step is to make a good cleaning solution. A good choice is to mix liquid dish soap and warm water in equal parts. You can also use a home cleaner that doesn’t scratch or a special stain remover made for bathroom surfaces. Check the manufacturer’s notes to make sure the cleaning solution is safe to use on your sink.
Step 3: Put the cleaning solution on the dirt
Put the cleaning solution directly on the hair dye spot with a clean sponge or cloth. Scrub the stained area gently in a circle, paying special attention to the dyed spots. Let the cleaning solution sit on the spot for a few minutes so that it can get into the dye and loosen its grip on the surface.
Step 4: Rinse with warm water
After letting the cleaning solution do its thing for a while, wash the sink well with warm water. Use a clean cloth or sponge to get rid of any leftover stuff. Make sure to get rid of all of the cleaning solutions so that it doesn’t hurt the surface of the sink.
Step 5: Look at the Spot
Check the sink after you’re done rinsing to see how well your cleaning went. Don’t worry if the color stays. There are more things you can do to get rid of hair dye spots that won’t go away.
Step 6: Try vinegar and baking soda
Baking soda and vinegar are well-known cleaners, and they can be especially useful for getting rid of hair dye spots. Mix baking soda and vinegar in equal amounts to make a paste. Use a cloth or sponge to put this paste right on the spot. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then use a soft brush to clean the spot. Rinse the sink well with warm water, and then look at how it looks.
Step 7: Utilize Hydrogen Peroxide
Another strong tool for getting rid of hair dye stains is hydrogen peroxide. Before you use it, you should test it on a small, hidden part of the sink to make sure it doesn’t damage or darken it. If it’s safe to do so, pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide straight on the stain and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, use a soft cloth or sponge to scrub the spot. After that, rinse the sink well.
Step 8: Think about hiring a pro
If you’ve tried everything and the hair dye stain still won’t come out, it might be time to call an expert. Get in touch with a professional cleaner or a company that specializes in sink repair. They can look at the situation and tell you how to get rid of the stain without doing any more damage.
Always remember that protection is better than treatment. To keep hair dye from staining your clothes again, take precautions like putting down a barrier, wearing gloves, or even dying your hair away from the bathroom sink. With these thorough steps and a proactive attitude, you can get rid of hair dye stains and get back to having a clean bathroom sink.
Alternative Ways to Get Hair Dye Out of Your Bathroom Sink
In addition to the steps above, you can also try a few other things to get rid of hair dye spots in a bathroom sink. Here are three other options you can think about:
Method 1: Salt and lemon juice
When it comes to getting rid of tough stains, lemon juice and salt can be a powerful combo. Start by squeezing fresh lemon juice onto the dye spot. Then, put a lot of salt on top of the lemon juice. Let the mixture sit on the stain for about 15 to 20 minutes so that the lemon juice’s acidity and the roughness of the salt can do their job. Then, use a soft cloth or sponge to scrub the spot. Rinse the sink well with warm water to get rid of anything left behind.
Method 2: Use toothpaste
Toothpaste is known for being able to get rid of stains, and it can also work to get rid of hair dye spots. Choose a toothpaste that doesn’t come in a gel and has abrasive qualities. These tend to work best. Use a small amount of toothpaste and a cloth or sponge to slowly rub it into the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, then use circular motions to scrub the spot. Rinse the sink well to get rid of any leftover stuff.
Method 3: Remove nail polish with acetone or nail polish remover
If you have a stain from hair dye that won’t come out, you can try acetone or nail paint remover. But it’s important to be careful and test a small, unnoticeable part of the sink first to make sure it doesn’t damage or darken the sink. If it’s safe to do so, dampen a cloth or sponge with a small amount of acetone or nail paint remover and gently scrub the stain. Make sure to rinse the sink well afterward to get rid of any leftover food and smells.
Be careful when using different methods, and always try them out on a small, unnoticeable part of the sink before using them on the whole stain. Also, be aware of the material your sink is made of. Some rough or acidic substances can damage some sink surfaces. If you’re not sure how to use alternative methods or are uncomfortable with them, it’s best to talk to a professional cleaner or get help from an expert.
How to Keep Your Bathroom Sink from Getting Stained by Hair Dye
It can be hard to get hair dye spots out of a bathroom sink, but if you take a few precautions, you can keep your sink from getting stained and keep it looking great. Follow these tips to avoid getting stains from hair dye in the future:
Use a Barrier to Protect
Before you dye your hair, put something over the sink to protect it. You can use an old towel, a sheet of plastic, or even a trash bag. Make sure the barrier covers the whole sink and goes around the edges to catch any drips or spills that might happen.
Put on gloves.
Always wear gloves when dying your hair to protect your hands and keep them from touching the sink by chance. Gloves not only protect your skin from the dye, but they also make it less likely that your hands will stain the sink if any dye gets on them.
Watch out for splatters
When you put on hair dye, it can spread, so be careful and take steps to prevent it from happening. Consider using a way to dye your hair that makes less mess, like separating your hair into sections or spreading the dye in a controlled way. You can also catch any splatters with a plastic hair cap.
Use a separate basin to rinse your hair
Instead of rinsing your hair in the sink, choose a different basin or a place just for that. This way, you can keep the dye from getting on the sink surface by chance.
Clean up right away
If you spill or splash something, clean it up right away. Get a wet cloth or paper towel and gently blot the area to get rid of any leftover dye. Don’t rub too hard, because that can spread the color.
Use products that are safe for colors
Choose hair dyes that are color-safe and less likely to stain surfaces when you buy them. Read the labels and look for hair dyes that say they won’t leave stains or are easy to clean.
Air out the area
When you dye your hair, you need to make sure there is enough airflow. Open windows or use a vent fan to get rid of as much of the dye dust as possible. This can make it less likely that dye particles will settle on the sink and leave stains.
Don’t dye hair in the sink
You might want to dye your hair somewhere other than the bathroom sink. You can use a utility sink, a bowl made just for coloring hair, or even the kitchen sink. In this way, you can keep the bathroom sink from getting stained at all.
By following these tips, you can make it much less likely that your bathroom sink will get stained by hair dye. Remember that it’s always better to be proactive and take steps than to deal with stubborn stains later. Enjoy dying your hair and keep your bathroom sink clean and free of stains.
FAQs
Can I clean hair dye spots off my bathroom sink with bleach?
Bleach is good at getting rid of marks, but it’s not a good idea to use it to clean hair dye out of a bathroom sink. Bleach is a strong chemical that can hurt the surface of the sink and make it look dirty. Try to avoid using bleach and instead use cleaners that are gentler and made for the material of your sink.
What if the sink has been stained with hair dye for a long time?
If the hair dye stain on the sink has been there for a long time, it might be harder to get off. But you can still try to get rid of the mark by doing what was said above. You might have to clean it more than once, or you can try something else, like baking soda and vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. When working with stains that won’t come out, you need to be persistent and patient.
Will abrasive cleaners scratch the top of the sink?
If you use harsh cleaners on your sink, you might scratch the surface, especially if it is made of a soft material like porcelain or enamel. Check the instructions from the maker and choose a non-abrasive cleaner that is safe for the material of your sink. Always try a cleaning product on a small, hidden part of the sink first to make sure it doesn’t damage or scratch the surface.
What if the hair dye spot is on a sink surface that lets water through?
If the mark is on a porous sink surface, like natural stone or concrete, it may be harder to get it all out. The dye can soak into porous materials, making it harder to get rid of the color completely. In this case, the best and safest thing to do is to talk to an expert cleaner who specializes in treating stains on porous surfaces.
Can I use a magic eraser to get rid of spots from hair dye?
Some spots can be taken off with a magic eraser, but they might not work on all sink surfaces. They are rough, which means they can hurt some materials, like acrylic or fiberglass sinks. Before using a magic eraser to get rid of hair dye spots all over the sink, it’s best to check the manufacturer’s instructions or try it out on a small area.
Is there a way to get hair dye out of a sink without using harsh chemicals?
Yes, you can try some natural ways to get rid of hair dye spots. Lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar are all natural cleaners that can be used to get hair dye spots out of your hair. But it’s important to keep in mind that natural solutions might not work as well as commercial cleaners or stain removers made just for that purpose. They may need to be used more often or scrubbed harder to get the effects you want.
What should I do if the spot from the hair dye gets bigger as I clean?
If the hair dye color spreads as you clean, stop right away and think about how you are cleaning. It’s possible that the cleaning solution you’re using is not right for your sink or the spot. Gently blot the area with a clean cloth or paper towel to remove any extra dye. If the stain keeps spreading, try a different cleaning solution or call a professional for help.
Can I use a steam cleaner to clean the sink of hair dye stains?
Steam cleaners can be used to deep clean and get spots out of a variety of surfaces, including sinks. But it’s important to check the directions from the manufacturer to make sure that using a steam cleaner is safe for the material of your sink. Some sinks, like those made of fragile materials, may not be able to be cleaned with steam because the high heat and water can damage them.
If I scrub too hard, will I damage the top of the sink?
If you scrub too hard or use rough materials or brushes, you could damage the surface of the sink. It’s important to scrub with gentle movements and not too much force. If the spot is hard to get off, try a different cleaning solution or think about getting help from a professional to avoid damaging the sink surface by accident.
What if none of the ways work to get rid of the stain from the hair dye?
If none of the above methods or other ideas work to get rid of the hair dye stain, it might be time to call a professional. Professional cleaners or experts in sink restoration have the tools and understanding to get rid of tough stains. They can look at the situation, come up with custom solutions, and make sure the spot is gone without making the sink worse.
Final Thoughts
It can be hard to get hair dye spots out of a bathroom sink, but it’s not impossible. If you act quickly, use the right cleaning products, and follow the steps in this guide, you can get rid of hair dye stains and get your sink back to how clean it was before. Also, the alternative methods and tips for preventing stains give you more choices and ways to keep stains from happening again.
Be careful when using cleaning products, and try them out on a small part of the sink before using them all over. If nothing else works, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a professional. With time, effort, and the right method, you can get rid of hair dye spots and have a clean bathroom sink.