Last Updated on November 14, 2023
Hair dyeing can result in more than just a new look. You may find yourself with an unwanted makeover to your bathroom sink, too. Unfortunately, even the most meticulous of dye jobs aren’t immune from color accidents.
Fortunately, there are ways to return things back to normal without permanently staining those beloved porcelain fixtures.
With nail polish remover to pre-treat large areas or try out time-tested recipes such as baking soda mixed with vinegar for those stubborn splotches. Alternatively, you can also use lemon juice for a more lighthearted approach, whatever works best for your mission against unwanted color spots.
Our blog post will guide you through five simple methods to help remove pesky stains and keep them looking sparkly new. Dive in now for all our handy tricks.
How to Clean Porcelain Bathroom Sink From Hair Dye: 5 Methods
Accidentally leaving a hair dye stain on your porcelain bathroom sink can be rather annoying and difficult to clean. Here are some steps and methods you can follow in cleaning your sink:
Gather necessary materials:
- Gloves
- Clean cloths and sponges
- Non-abrasive scrubbing brush or pad
- Warm Water
Step 1: Preparing the Workspace
Before beginning the cleaning process, it is important to prepare the workspace by clearing away any items that may get in the way. Additionally, put on rubber gloves and protective eyewear as safety precautions.
Ensure the area around the sink is well-ventilated so that any fumes created during the cleaning process are not inhaled. Then you have to pour water over the sink and make the stain wet before beginning the cleaning process.
Step 2: Removal of Hair Dye Stains
Here you can begin with the removal of hair dye stains. Depending on the size and dark color of the stain, you can opt for different methods:
Method 1: Use Nail Polish Remover
If you want to use nail polish remover as a way of removing hair dye stains from your bathroom sink, first choose an acetone-based remover as it is more effective. Take a cotton ball and hold it over the opening of a nail polish remover bottle and tip it upside down to apply it directly onto the stains.
Gently rub the soaked cotton onto the stained areas in small circular motions for one minute or so. Then wipe away any excess liquid with a damp cloth and observe if all of the dye has been removed from the porcelain surface. If not, repeat this process until all of the stains have vanished.
Method 2: Use Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can also be used to remove hair dye from your porcelain bathroom sink if needed. Applying rubbing alcohol directly onto the stained area can help to loosen up and remove stubborn hair dye stains from porcelain sinks.
Take a cotton ball or clean rag soaked in rubbing alcohol and rub it in gentle circles overtop of the tough stain until it begins to lift off of the surface. Make sure not to scrub too hard, as this could damage the delicate material of your sink basin.
Method 3: Use Baking Soda & Vinegar
You can also use baking soda & vinegar paste in the bathroom sink. This removes hair dye stains and returns its original appearance from yellowish or other color changes.
Create a paste out of baking soda and white vinegar by combining equal parts in a small bowl.
A soft-bristled toothbrush dipped into this paste mixture will help break down tough hair dye stains on porcelain sinks without scratches. Gently brush away any leftover residue after scrubbing with easy circular motions.
Method 4: Use Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another natural cleaner that can help remove stubborn stains like hair dye from porcelain sinks without causing damage to them. Add dish soap to lemon juice. This will help clean the stubborn stain. Dip a cloth in the solution and put it on the stain.
Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub it gently with a nylon brush until all the hair dye is gone. Rinse off any remaining residue with hot water when you’re finished scrubbing.
Method 5: Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide works well at lifting stubborn stains like those caused by hair dye. Simply apply it directly onto the affected area using an old sponge that has been freshly soaked in hydrogen peroxide solution.
If you notice burn marks on the sink surface, apply the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste directly onto the surface to remove them.
Gently scrub away at circles until all traces of staining have been removed from your porcelain bathroom sink.
Be sure not to press too hard, as this may damage your sink surfaces. Instead, scrub lightly but effectively so that no further damage is done while still managing to lift away all unwanted traces left behind by hair dye products.
Step 3: Rinse Away Remaining Stains With Water
After you have scrubbed the hair dye particles from the bathroom sink, rinse them away using hot tap water or a cleaning solution mix (depending on what kind of cleaner you used before). Ensure that all remnants are washed away completely so no traces are left behind.
Dry up remaining moisture using paper towels or old rags, leaving behind a clean looking porcelain bathroom sink without any noticeable sign.
Why Do You Need to Clean Hair Dye Off Porcelain Sink?
Cleaning off hair dye from porcelain sinks is essential for maintaining the long-term appearance of the sink. Below are three reasons why it’s important to clean hair dye off of a porcelain sink.
1. Prevention of Fading and Discoloration
It is essential to clean dye from porcelain sinks to prevent fading and discoloration. Hair dye can contain chemicals that react with the porcelain material, causing it to fade over time. This can be especially common if you use darker shades of dye or if the dye is not completely washed away after each use.
Moreover, some dyes may have properties that cause them to stain the surface of the sink, resulting in discolorations that cannot be removed. To ensure that your porcelain sink remains to look vibrant for years to come, it is best to clean any remnants of hair dye immediately after use.
2. To Prevent Long-term Effects
Over time, hair dye can cause permanent staining and damage to a porcelain sink if not regularly cleaned off after use. As previously mentioned, some colors may fade over time, but others can become embedded in the surface, making it nearly impossible to remove stains without damaging the sink further.
Regular cleaning following each use helps keep hair dye stains at bay while maintaining the sink’s original luster and shine.
3. Keeping the Sink Looking Fresh and Shiny
Cleaning hair dye off a porcelain sink helps maintain its original luster and sheen while keeping it looking fresh and new at all times. Hair dyes have an oily or waxy base that attracts dirt, dust, grease, mildew, bacteria, and other small particles. If these particles are not removed from surfaces like porcelain sinks, they will stay there for a long time.
Aside from that, regular cleaning helps protect against mold growth which may occur due to trapped moisture in small crevices on the sink’s surface caused by spilled liquids. Proper maintenance will ensure that your porcelain sink looks fresh and shiny for years to come.
How to Prevent Porcelain Sinks From Hair Dye Stains?
Applying hair dye can be messy, and porcelain sinks are especially prone to staining if not properly cared for. Fortunately, you can take a few easy tips to protect your sink from hair dye stains.
Check Out Your Sink’s Material
Before applying hair dye, you should always check the sink material first. If the sink is made of porcelain, it is more susceptible to staining than other materials like stainless steel. Porcelain is more porous, meaning that any liquids or dyes that get into the surface penetrate deeply and are harder to remove.
It’s best to avoid using your porcelain sink for activities that could cause stains, like hair dying or bleaching. Still, if you must use your porcelain sink, there are measures you can take to try and prevent damage or staining. Here are some of the steps you can take:
1. Put Petroleum Jelly on the Sink:
One way to help protect your porcelain sink from getting stained by hair dye is by coating it with petroleum jelly before starting any work. Apply a thin layer of jelly to the inside of the bowl and upper rim of the sink with a paper towel or cloth.
Make sure that you spread it evenly across all areas where dye may come into contact with it. Petroleum jelly will act as a shield between your sink and any liquids that might fall on it while you are applying it. This will stop the liquid from going too deep into the surface and causing a permanent stain.
2. Wrap the Sink Bowl In Plastic:
To further prevent any potential damages from occurring during the application, wrap your porcelain sink bowl in plastic wrap before beginning any hair-dying processes. This will stop any liquid from seeping through and causing damage or staining directly onto the surface of your porcelain bowl.
When wrapping the bowl in plastic, ensure that all edges are securely tucked in, and no air pockets are left exposed. So that no liquids can escape under the plastic wrap and potentially cause damage.
3. Let The Faucet Run While You Dye Your Hair:
To prevent contamination while applying hair dye in a porcelain sink, ensure you let the faucet run continuously while working with dyes. This will reduce buildup, which could lead to staining or contamination within your bathroom fixtures.
Meanwhile, keeping the water running while working also helps wash away residual products left behind after each strand is dyed. So it doesn’t have time to settle on surfaces like counters or walls nearby, which could also become stained easily.
Does Hair Dye damage Porcelain Bathroom Sinks?
Porcelain bathroom sinks can be damaged by hair dye, depending on what type of dye is used. Permanent hair dyes containing harsh chemicals and bleaches can cause damage to porcelain sinks if they are not removed quickly or if they remain in contact with the surface for too long.
These chemicals can corrode the porcelain finish and permanently discolor the sink’s surface. Therefore, it is important to take extra care when using permanent hair dyes near a porcelain sink.
Temporary dyes, on the other hand, are much less likely to cause any kind of damage as these contain fewer harsh chemicals that could corrode the sink’s surface over time. Removing any temporary hair dye from a porcelain sink shortly after its application is best to prevent hair dye from any possible staining or discoloration.
Sparkle Your Porcelain Sink Again: Clean Hair Dye with Ease
It’s not as hard as it seems to get old hair dye out of a porcelain sink. With the right supplies and techniques, you can easily restore your sink back to its original state. Remember that it is always better to prevent something from happening than to try and fix it after it happens.
So, follow the steps above to protect your sink from getting stained by avoiding contact with semi-permanent hair color products as much as you can. With attention and care, the gleaming beauty of your porcelain bathroom sink will last for countless years. Make sure you follow our tips to maintain a stain-free shine.
