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Getting ready in bathrooms can be a battle! If after a lengthy styling session you’ve found yourself asking, “how to remove hairspray from bathroom walls?” then we’ve got a few tips that can help you out.
Hairspray does not budge easily. And this is a great thing if you’re styling your hair. But it’s not so pretty when you have to remove the residue or overspray from the surroundings around you.
I mean, it’s impossible to give your bathroom a brand new paint job after every hair styling session.
So we’ve rounded up these hacks that help you get rid of hairspray from every corner of your bathroom – walls, floors, panels, and counters.
How To Remove Hairspray From Bathroom Walls
How To Remove Hairspray From Painted Bathroom Walls
If you’ve got a paint job on your bathroom walls and are looking for easy ways to get rid of the hairspray stains, try these hacks. These remove hairspray from painted walls in a jiffy.
Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl Alcohol)
Using rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol (concentration of 95% v.v. or more) is the easiest way to remove hairspray from bathroom walls. All you need to do is take a microfiber cloth and dip in the alcohol. Now, rub it gently all over the stained wall area.
Spot Test:
Before using any of these hacks for a painted wall, be careful to check the wall for any discoloration. Use these remedies on a small part of the wall. If you see any tint on the cloth, this means the paint is coming off as well. So always rub the painted wall gently.
Ever Ready First Aid Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
This 99 percent pure isopropyl alcohol is great for cleaning hairspray stains from several surfaces – painted walls, wood, carpets, and more. It also comes in handy for first aid.
Sulfate-Based Shampoo
While harsh surfactants are terrible for your tresses and must be avoided, they can come in handy when you’re cleaning out stains from your bathroom wall. I mean, if shampoos can clean hairspray from hair, they can do the same for walls, right?
We suggest choosing a sulfate-laden, budget shampoo. Mix this with some water and spray it on the stained area. And then wipe the residue off with a microfiber cloth.
Pro tip: Start cleaning the wall from the bottom up. This way, you can prevent any drip stains.
Prell Shampoo
This classic Prell Shampoo contains surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate – not so good for the tresses but absolute magic at removing stains!
Related: Check out these top OGX shampoos if you want nourishing cleansers at drugstore prices
Fabric Softener
Fabric softener removes hairspray from painted bathroom walls for the same reason shampoo does. The surfactants in it help loosen the hairspray molecules and help them come off easily.
Mix one part of the fabric softener in two parts of water and transfer this mixture to a spray bottle. Now dab this liquid in the stained area of the wall and wipe with a microfiber cloth. It’s that simple!
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Downy Fabric Softener
You can keep this Downy fabric softener handy for removing hairspray stains from bathroom walls. And when those stains are gone, it can help add life and fragrance to your freshly washed clothes.
How To Remove Hairspray From Wood Panelled Walls
Sometimes, the hairspray can get over the wooden panels of your bathroom cabinets and tall units. In this case, using isopropyl alcohol as suggested above can help remove the stains easily.
How To Remove Hairspray Buildup From Floor
Stains on the bathroom counters or walls catch our eyes easily. But we usually miss out on the ones on the bathroom floor. There can be a lot of product buildup on the floor, and not just from hairsprays.
The easiest way to remove hairspray buildup from the floor is to use your good old dish soap. Mix it with warm water to form a solution and spray it all over your bathroom floor. Rinse, and clean it up with a mop. Tada! Your floors now look as good as new.
If you have linoleum floors, you can use the rubbing alcohol hack. But make sure you’re wiping out the stains with terry or microfiber cloth in gentle, circular motions.
How To Remove Hairspray From Glass Panelled Walls
It’s very easy to remove hairspray from glass compared to other surfaces. Using rubbing alcohol or fabric softener works well. But if you don’t have isopropyl alcohol handy, just raid your kitchen for some white vinegar.
You can use the white vinegar directly or dilute it with water, depending on the stains. Just use a microfiber cloth to wipe it off later.
White Vinegar
Heinz All Natural Multi-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar
The Heinz White Vinegar is super cost-effective. These bottles save you a lot of money on expensive cleaning items later on. And what’s more, the free swivel spoons make it super easy to measure the ratio of products while cleaning.
How To Remove Hairspray From Plastic Surfaces And Countertops
If you have plastic cabinets, soap dishes, toothbrush holders, there is a chance you might get hairspray on these too. And don’t get me started on the hairspray stains on bathroom sinks. So what’s a one-stop solution for these? Borax!
Borax Mixture
Whether you have a stone countertop, a porcelain one, or a tiled one, borax is very effective at cleaning them all. Take two tablespoons of borax, and mix with 3 cups of water. This solution is perfect for getting rid of not just hairspray but all kinds of other stains.
Pro tip: Always use gloves when handling borax and keep it in an airtight container.
20 Mule Team All Natural Borax
The 20 Mule Team borax isn’t just good for removing hairspray stains from bathroom walls. It’s also great for more extensive cleaning around the house. You can even use it later for gardening or DIY projects.
How To Remove Hairspray From Papered Bathroom Walls
Wallpapers in the bathroom are rare. But some houses do have it around the dressing area and bathroom entrance – exactly the spot people use to get ready. And also just the spot where we can see hairspray stains.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a popular household product. In fact, lots of grandmothers and old housekeepers swear by it for cleaning. But be careful, as baking soda can be quite abrasive. Always do a spot test before using this hack. And use soft, gentle motions to rub the stains away.
Create a mixture with baking soda and water (let the consistency be thin and runny), and apply this paste to the walls.
Work it gently with a cotton ball or cloth in circular motions. Rinse off the residue with a damp cloth.
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
Arm & Hammer is one of the more popular baking soda brands out there. Their pure product is more granular and flows easily. Plus, the shaker-style bottle makes it super easy to use.
Magic Eraser
Magic Erasers are really popular in the cleaning world right now. They are simply melamine sponges that help remove stains without any additional mixing and stirring of potions from your side. Just take it out and wipe the stains off. As the name suggests, it’s magic.
This eraser will only work on vinyl wallpapers that are washable though.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original
Mr. Clean magic erasers come with durofoam. They do not contain any harsh chemicals and are just right for taking care of hairspray stains in your bathroom.
Can you paint over hairspray on walls
Have you ever accidentally sprayed your hairspray all over your bathroom walls? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. But now you’re probably wondering how to remove it.
Perhaps you’ve even considered just painting over it. Before you start, let’s explore whether or not painting over hairspray on walls is a feasible solution.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what hairspray is made of. It typically consists of various chemicals, such as ethanol, propane, and polymer.
These ingredients can cause adhesive, sticky residue that can be difficult to remove. If you simply paint over the hairspray, the paint may not adhere properly to the surface and will eventually start to crack and peel off.
Another issue with painting over hairspray on walls is that it can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Hairspray residue can trap moisture in the walls, which can lead to unwanted growths. This not only looks unsightly, but can also be detrimental to your health.
In addition, painting over hairspray on walls can be a temporary fix, at best. The hairspray may still seep through the paint over time, leaving you with the same problem all over again. So, while it may seem like the easy solution, painting over hairspray on walls is not recommended.
But fear not, there are other ways to remove hairspray from your bathroom walls. One option is to mix warm water with a mild detergent, such as dish soap or laundry detergent.
Dip a clean sponge or cloth into the mixture and gently scrub the affected area. Be sure to rinse the walls thoroughly with clean water to remove any lingering residue.
Another method is to mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it away with a clean cloth or sponge.
If those methods don’t work, you can try using rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. Simply apply a small amount to a clean cloth or sponge and gently rub the affected area. Be sure to rinse the walls thoroughly with clean water afterwards.
In conclusion, while it may seem tempting to just paint over hairspray on walls, it’s not a recommended solution. Hairspray residue can cause issues with mold and mildew, and can seep through the paint over time.
There are a number of ways to safely remove hairspray from your bathroom walls, including using mild detergent, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover. No matter which method you choose, be sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn’t damage the paint or wall surface.
FAQs – Removing Hairspray From Bathroom Walls and Floors
How to not get hairspray everywhere?
If you want to stop your hairspray from getting all over the place, you can hang a plastic sheet (or an old curtain) at the wall behind you and then use the spray.
But if you have to use it in the bathroom, a good idea is to stand in the shower area while using the hairspray. This way, you can wash off the stains the next time you take a shower.
How to remove hairspray from carpet?
It’s not just the bathroom. If you’ve got carpeted flooring or rugs in your bedroom, it’s possible to get hairspray on them too. Here’s how you can remove hairspray from the carpet.
The hair spray feels hardened, use a spool to remove the excess from the carpet fibers.
Apply some rubbing alcohol to the stained area. Instead of alcohol, you can use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide too.
Using a terry cloth or cotton ball, blot the liquid into the stained area of the carpet.
If you are using hydrogen peroxide, let the mixture stand for at least 30 minutes.
Rinse only the affected area by applying a bit of water. Do not soak the carpet completely.
Blot the area with a towel and vacuum to dry it up if necessary
Use a carpet brush or vacuum to sort the carpet pile in the right direction.
What takes hairspray off of wood?
The following items are handy in taking hairspray off of wood furniture, panels, flooring, etc.
Isopropyl alcohol
Dish soap
Regular shampoo
Does vinegar remove hairspray buildup?
Yes… and No. Apple Cider Vinegar is great for removing hairspray and hair product buildup from your hair strands.
But if you want to remove hairspray stains from your bathroom walls or wooden doors isn’t going to be enough on its own.
However, white vinegar works very well in removing hairspray stains from glass panels.
Does baking soda remove hairspray buildup?
Yes, baking soda is very effective in removing hairspray buildup from both hair and on from surfaces.
You can mix a bit of baking soda in your shampoo to give it that extra clarifying edge.
Baking soda mixed with water can also help remove hairspray stains from papered walls.
Conclusion
And there you have it! Some easy homemade tips and tricks that will leave you with a clean bathroom, even if you go overboard with the hairspray.
What’s more, these hacks do not break you back either.
They are super easy, quick, and give you a spotless bathroom in no time.
The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.
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