How to Remove Hair Dye from a Sink (And More!)

April 7, 2021

I must be honest. I’ve never had to remove hair dye from a sink, although I did have purple hair when I was in a rock band in the 1980s. So, I asked my wife. She looked at me and scowled. Her answer was, “Hair dye stains are a b… killer. Remember that red hair dye I got in the rug when we first moved in here?” I didn’t remember. That was 20 years ago. So, I asked, “How did you get the stain out?” She told me we replaced the carpet. Now I remember.

Now that COVID numbers are dwindling, folks are venturing back out, back to school, back to work, out to eat, and more. Men are grooming their beards, putting on their best office attire. Women are putting on makeup, ditching the sweatpants for slacks, and of course, dying their hair. Although hair dyes are semi-permanent, they can create a huge mess in your bathroom. Here are our recommendations for getting hair dye (or beard dyes) out of bathtubs, sinks, countertops, and floors.

How to Remove Hair Dye from a Bathtub or a Sink 

If you’ve splashed hair dye in your sink or tub, don’t panic BKF will get the dye out in an instant. We recommend using Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser.

• Run water but don’t use the stopper. Just be sure the stained area is damp
• Sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend on the stain
• Let it sit and do its magic for one minute
• Scrub in a circular motion with a non-abrasive wet rag or sponge
• Rinse the BKF and the dye down the drain (BKF is safe for septic system use)
• Wipe down and shine with a soft dry cloth or paper towel
• For tougher stains, repeat as needed (for example, stains that have set for hours or days)

What if the stain is on a Stainless-steel Kitchen Sink?

No worries, the bullet points above will work, or you can use Bar Keepers Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish.

How to Clean a Hair Dye Stain off a Countertop

If your countertop is porcelain, use the same method as recommended for your sink. But what if your countertop is granite or stone? In that case, we recommend Bar Keepers Friend Granite & Stone Cleaner & Polish. BKF Granite and Stone cleaner can be used on countertops and floors. It works wonders on marble and quartz too! So, if you dyed your stone or granite vanity, stone tiles, or backsplashes cotton candy pink, BKF has the answer.

How to Clean Hair Dye Stains Off the Floor

The key is what type of flooring. As we mentioned in the last paragraph if the floor is stone, granite, or sealed tile our Granite and Stone product is the answer. But what if it’s vinyl flooring? Bar Keepers Friend is excellent for removing hair dye stains from vinyl flooring. Just wet the stain, sprinkle it with Bar Keepers Friend, and then scrub with a nonabrasive cloth or sponge. When you’re done, wipe it dry with a paper towel.

What if it’s carpet? You already know how my wife got the hair dye stain out of the carpet – she replaced the carpet. Although we have had consumers share with us that they’ve removed stains from carpet with our product, we do not recommend BKF on fabrics.

What Two BKF Fans Had to Say

“My method of cleanup is to wipe up any globs of dye with toilet paper… I follow up with Bar Keepers Friend. This is my mom’s favorite cleaning product, and I understand why. This stuff is like magic when it comes to cleaning up messes. It works so well that I don’t recommend buying generic or the same thing but a different brand. Bar Keepers Friend all the way!

Simply wet the stained area, sprinkle a little Bar Keepers Friend on top, let it sit for a few minutes, and scrub it off with a sponge. If the area hasn’t come 100% clean simply repeat the process.” – Kaylah, the dainty squid, “How to Clean up Hair Dye Messes”

“Having trouble getting hair dye stain out of your tub or sink? Sprinkle some Bar Keeper’s friend over it and wipe it clean. Seriously, the easiest cleanup ever. I’ve found it’s much better than vinegar, baking soda, or any other home remedy.” — Reddit Fancy Follicles Comments

Wash that Stain Down the Drain!

My first thought about removing a hair dye stain from your sink was not to let it stain the sink. My wife informs me it’s difficult, if not impossible, to keep the dye out of the sink. And although it’s best to wipe it up as soon as you can, that’s not always possible when you’re trying to dye your hair. Humans only have two hands. So, if you have a bright red hair dye stain looking up at you from your sink, there’s no need to “wig” out. BKF has you covered.

About the Author

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek and on weekends (after COVID-19) he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook: A crash course in effective management.