Easter egg dying is a fun, creative tradition for many families, but where there is dye, there is also likely to be a mess. Even if you use a plastic tablecloth, spills, and splashes from this messy activity can affect your clothing, countertops, and furniture. Act quickly to prevent permanent stains.

Most egg-dying kits use food coloring or color tablets made of food dye and sodium bicarbonate, plus white vinegar. And, no surprise, dye that's potent enough to penetrate a hard-boiled egg's eggshell can also leave permanent stains on other porous surfaces. That's why we tapped Aaron Christensen, resident cleaning expert and VP of Growth at Homeaglow for best practices.

How to Eliminate Egg Dye Stains on Laminate Countertops, Wooden Tables

  1. Soak up the excess. The first thing to do is soak up any excess liquid. "Use a clean paper towel or your most absorbent cloth to soak up as much as soon as possible," advises Christensen. "Blot from the outside inwards to prevent the stain from spreading."
  2. Use soap and water. Create a cleaning solution of several drops of mild dish soap liquid to half a cup of water.
  3. Dab the solution onto the surface. Dip a clean dry cloth into the soapy water and gently dab and blot the stain.
  4. Scrub gently. After applying the soapy cleaning solution, use a soft-bristled brush or sponge to scrub in a circular motion. The sponge or bristles will help to lift away any dye that has bled into the surface of the countertop.
  5. Rinse and dry. Using plain water, rinse the area. Then, dry it off with a soft cloth to remove any lingering marks.

How to Clean Egg Dye Stains From Clothing

  1. Remove the excess. Act quickly! Use a fresh cloth or paper towel to blot the dye on the fibers. An absorbent material will prevent it from spreading.
  2. Rinse with cold water. This helps flush the fibers.
  3. Apply a stain remover. Spray an enzyme-based stain remover onto the fabric, or massage a tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent directly into the dye-stained spots. (Always check the care label, first!).
  4. Soak the garment. Fill a bowl of water and let the clothing soak for 15-30 minutes. Submerge the entire stain. You can also add a cup of vinegar to boost effectiveness. If you do add white vinegar, let it soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour to give the solution time to help break down the dye and work its way into the fibers.
  5. Wash. Launder the clothing as you would normally, with laundry detergent. If the stain is still visible, repeat the process.
  6. Air dry. Don't put it in the dryer right away. Let the garment air dry first. High heat will set the stain, if any remains, making it even harder to remove.
Dyeing Easter eggs with dye tablets and food coloring.
Spills and splashes can be hard to remove, but it's not impossible. Credit: Emily Fazio

How to Clean Egg Dye Stains From Carpet

  1. Remove the excess ASAP. This is not a drill. Use paper towels to blot up as much of the excess liquid as possible. Press firmly and swap new towels or pieces of white cloth in often to determine when the moisture has been absorbed.
  2. Apply a vinegar solution for stain removal. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, and spray and/or blot the solution onto the stain with a clean dry cloth. Enzymatic cleaner is also great for this (if it can get blood stains out of the carpet, light dye stains are no match).
  3. Repeat if necessary. You may need to repeat this stage a number of times to get it out of the fibers and prevent long-term damage to the carpet.
  4. Rinse and dry. Using a fresh bowl of clean water, rinse the area and blot dry immediately with a clean cloth or paper towel(s).

How to Remove Egg Dye Stains From Your Hands and Skin

  1. Rinse the skin as soon as possible. Egg dyes aren't toxic, but you still want to get the dye off skin. Wash your hands with soap remove some of the dye before it sets in.
  2. Exfoliate with the baking soda method. Create a paste using baking soda and water. Gently scrub the stained area with this paste using circular motions. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive that helps lift the dye from the skin.
  3. Use lemon juice. Apply lemon juice directly onto the stained skin. The acidic properties of lemon juice can help break down the dye molecules and lighten the stain. Leave the lemon juice on for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

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