Giving yourself a new do or touch-up at home? Hair dye is the last thing you want to land on other than your head, so knowing how to get hair dye stains off hard surfaces comes in handy for the accidental spill.

Here are five ways you can remove hair dye from surfaces at home that are safe and powerful to keep the unwanted stains from developing.

How to Get Hair Dye Stains Off Hard Surfaces

If your hair color has landed on surfaces other than your head (like the bathroom sink, tub, or floor), there are ways you can remove the dye at home. No professionals needed! The key is to treat the stain quickly.

“Hair color sticks quickly and penetratively, especially if the surface is coarse or not coated,” says Jessica Gonzalez, cleaning expert at Sparkly Maid San Antonio.

Gonzalez then explains that materials like grout and stone will always be harder to clean than glossy, smooth surfaces like coated countertops—but you still have to act quickly.

So, the next time you’re touching up your hair and see some dye fall elsewhere, here are a few products you likely have on hand to tackle the job.

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Hydrogen Peroxide

According to Derek Christian, Co-Owner and cleaning expert at All Star Cleaning Services, hydrogen peroxide works as a bleaching agent to essentially bleach out the stain on the surface.

Christian does note that the most important thing here is to test out the hydrogen peroxide on an inconspicuous part of your counter because it does not know the difference between the dye and your surface—meaning you can end up with a bleached-out spot that you can’t get rid of.

To use hydrogen peroxide, Gonzalez says she wets a paper towel or cotton ball with it and lays it on the stain for ten minutes.

Vinegar

This natural cleaner (mixed with baking soda) forms a safe solution great for tackling stubborn hair dye stains. Gonzalez says this method works best when mixing vinegar and baking soda to form a paste.

“Put it on the stain, wait for several minutes, and then wash gently with a rag,” she says. “It is gentle and safe enough to try if you are not sure what you can put on your surface.”

Magic Erasers

If you have a box of Magic Erasers lying around in your bathroom, our experts say these products come in extremely handy when you experience a hair dye mishap.

“Magic erasers are basically a very gentle sandpaper,” Christian says. “This works best with surface stains, and it will literally scour it off the surface. You can even mix it with dish soap or rubbing alcohol to make it more effective.”

But while Christian says magic erasers are golden for cleaning up hair dye, there is one caution for using this product if you have granite surfaces.

“While magic erasers are a gentle form of sandpaper, they can create a dull spot and remove the shiny finish on hard surfaces like granite.”

Rubbing Alcohol

Both of our experts say rubbing alcohol is highly effective for treating hair dye stains if the stain is freshly wet.

“Rubbing alcohol is great at dissolving recent stains on shiny countertops or plastic,” Gonzalez says. “Pour a small amount onto a cloth and gently rub the stain. It will usually get the dye off with minimal effort. Be sure to wash the area afterward so it does not leave a dingy spot.”

Toothpaste

For lighter hair dye stains, our experts say you can try using toothpaste.

“Toothpaste is a good solution because it is extremely gentle,” Christian says. “It has abrasive cleaning properties to scour away the stain but more gently than a magic eraser, and if you buy a whitening toothpaste, it will also have a mild bleaching agent.”

Gonzalez says you can use either an old cloth or an old toothbrush as the applicator for your toothpaste. Dampen it before adding a small amount of toothpaste and then rubbing the product into the stain.

“It’s not as strong of a method, but it will still remove the stain without damaging your counters or mirrors,” she says.

What to Avoid When Cleaning Hair Dye Stains

Other than making sure the product you’re using is safe for your countertops, there are a few other cleaning mistakes our experts want you to avoid when treating hair dye stains.

• Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools like steel wool or harsh scrubbers.
• Do not blend multiple cleaning products.
• Do not let the hair dye sit. Clean it as soon as you see it.