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Learn How to Get Food Coloring Off Skin With This Hack

It was the day after my daughter’s second birthday, and it genuinely looked like someone threw up penguin paraphernalia all over our home. 

My aunt had just arrived in town that day and was en route to visit us. As I picked up remnants of the party with my hands and feet, it got so quiet.

“The kids are playing so nicely,” I thought. “This couldn’t be more perfect.”

Click on the image below to pin this post for a future reminder– Thank you!

Then, the silence became almost deafening. “Do I capitalize on the peacefulness and solider on? Or do I dare find out what they are up to?” My daughter chose to answer this question for me when she presented herself looking like a melting smurf. FOOD COLOURING. They had gotten into my food coloring. My son was considerate enough to choose yellow as his war paint, but my daughter, well my daughter, looked like the photo above AFTER I tried bathing her. I took to Facebook and cried to beg and ask my friends for any help they may have to get food coloring out of the skin.

Get Food Colouring Out of Skin With This Simple Hack

My friend Natasha saved the day and told me ANY foaming shaving cream would do get food coloring off skin. I put it on their skin, let it sit briefly for about 30 seconds, and then wiped it off. Voila! Clean.

If you craft with food coloring often as we do or bake with it, you may want this hack in your back pocket so you can get food coloring out of your skin fast.

When Your Little Artist Gets Too Creative

When kids are busy crafting their masterpieces or making DIY colored pearls, it can be a beautiful scene of creativity and exploration. However, it’s not just the art that wears the colors. Your tiny Picasso’s hands, clothes, and faces will have these stubborn hues, too. The infamous food coloring stains threaten to leave their mark longer than you’d like.

So, what makes these stains a challenge? It’s all in the intensity of the colors. Food coloring isn’t your average run-of-the-mill pigmentation. The longer it stays on the skin, the deeper it embeds itself, and the harder it is to remove. Time is your ally here. The quicker you act, the more likely you will keep these stains from becoming permanent.

We’re here to share safe and practical solutions to get food coloring off skin. These tried-and-true methods will ensure that creative pursuits don’t come with lasting stains.

The Go-To Methods: Soap, Water, and Baking Soda

Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Check your kitchen cupboard or sink for stain removers that won’t break the bank. 

How to get Food Coloring off skin infographic

Food Coloring Stain Remover #1: Soap and Water

Our first line of defense, which you can instantly reach for, is as simple as it gets: soap and water. Start by giving the affected area a good rinse with warm water for fresh stains. This step helps to loosen the food coloring. Then, grab a mild soap, lather it gently, and scrub. The soap breaks down the oils in the pigments while water washes away the residue.

Food Coloring Stain Remover #2: Baking Soda Paste

But what about those times when a rinse and soap just don’t cut it? That’s where the trusty baking soda paste comes into play. Mix it with some water to create a paste. This mixture’s mild abrasiveness can help lift the stain without being too harsh on the skin. Then, apply it to the skin, rub it in circles, and rinse thoroughly. 

Natural Solutions: Lemon Juice and Vinegar

When it comes to food coloring stains, we can find solutions from Mother Nature. 

Food Coloring Stain Remover #3: Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a potent natural stain-fighting material. Not only is it excellent for salad dressings and pie, but it’s also great at eliminating food coloring stains. The secret? This citrus fruit is a natural bleaching agent. 

First, squeeze some fresh lemon juice, then dab it onto the stained area with a sponge or a soft cloth. Allow it to work its magic for a few minutes. After a short while, rinse the area with warm water. You’ll find that the stains have started to fade away.

Food Coloring Stain Remover #4: White Vinegar

Our next natural solution is vinegar. This kitchen staple is a powerful yet safe stain remover due to its acetic acid content. Mix it with water in equal parts. Then, dip a cloth or cotton ball into this solution and rub it on the skin. Wait a few minutes, rinse the area with warm water, and voilà – colors begone!

Bathroom Saviors: Rubbing Alcohol and Non-Gel Toothpaste

Do you know that your bathroom cabinet may be hiding some secrets? You may find products to help remove the blue, green, or orange (or any color) from your child’s skin.

Food Coloring Stain Remover #5: Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is quick, efficient, and remarkably effective. But, and this is an important “but,” it’s not something to be handled carelessly. Before diving in, conduct a patch test on a small, inconspicuous skin area. This step ensures that your child doesn’t have any adverse reactions. 

Assuming the patch test goes smoothly, proceed with caution. Wet the cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and gently apply it to the stained part of the skin. Please watch closely while you let it sit for a few minutes. Then, rinse the skin with warm water.

Food Coloring Stain Remover #6: Non-Gel Toothpaste

Non-gel toothpaste might seem like an unlikely candidate, but toothpaste can work wonders against food coloring stains. Its gentle abrasives act like a miniature scrubber. 

Apply a small amount on your fingertips, then lightly scrub to lift the stain from the skin. Rinse the area with water once your child’s skin returns to its normal color. 

Food Coloring Stain Remover #7: Dish Soap

If oil-based food coloring is the culprit, dish soap is your savior. Start by dampening the skin’s food coloring-stained part and applying a small amount of dish soap. Carefully rub it in, working up a lather, and allow it to sit for as long as the alphabet song. Finally, rinse the area with warm water, and you’ll find those oil-based stains are no match for the dish soap’s cleansing powers. 

Unconventional Solutions: Baby Oil and Nail Polish Remover

Now it’s time to get a bit unconventional, but hey, effective is what we’re aiming for, right? The following products may not be your typical stain fighters, but they sure get the job done.

Food Coloring Stain Remover #8: Baby Oil

First up, baby oil. Yes, that trusty bottle you use to moisturize your skin can also be your ally against the food coloring stain wars. The process is pretty straightforward. Apply drops of baby oil to the stained area, then gently scrub with a cloth or your fingertips. Once you’ve made significant progress, rinse the area with warm water to bid the colors a fond farewell.

Food Coloring Stain Remover #9: Nail Polish Remover

Acetone-based nail polish remover is like a stain-vanishing magician. But here’s the deal – you’ve got to tread with caution. This is powerful stuff. Before you start, do a patch test on a small, hidden part of the skin to ensure your child has no allergies. 

If everything goes well, moisten a cotton ball with nail polish remover and carefully rub it onto the skin. The food coloring will melt away at this point. But again, be vigilant for any signs of irritation or discomfort. When the stain is gone, rinse the area with warm water.

Emergency Solution

What do you do when your child unleashes their artistic side outdoors? Like when Aunt Gemma brings food coloring for an afternoon of non-toxic arts and crafts during a family picnic. 

Food Coloring Stain Remover # 10: Hand Sanitizer

What if these vibrant food coloring stains get to your kid’s hands? You’ll definitely need a quick fix. We’ve got a secret weapon for you – hand sanitizer.

This purse must-have is a surprisingly effective food coloring stain fighter. A small dollop can be a lifesaver in a pinch. Just squeeze a bit of hand sanitizer onto the affected part of the skin. And the best part? You don’t need water to use it, making it perfect for those moments when a sink is nowhere to be found.

But, a word of caution: hand sanitizer is powerful stuff, so be gentle and make sure to test a small area of the skin before going all-in. Plus, it’s not a long-term solution; it’s an instant remedy to get you out of a sticky, colorful situation.

Don’t Let Food Coloring Stains Dampen Your Child’s Creativity

As parents, we’re no strangers to our kid’s creativity and, yes, a fair share of the mess that comes with it. Food coloring stains, with their intensity and stubborn nature, may seem like formidable foes. Fortunately, we can easily get food coloring off skin using several products available at home -from the mundane to the unconventional.

Remember that every stain is a testament to your family’s fun moments. They are challenges to overcome, but you can tackle them effectively and safely. Take heart and use the knowledge and confidence you’ve gained from these tried and tested tips.

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22 comments
    1. Saved my hands after figuring out with my third grade son which science experiment he wants to present to his class. Thank you so much!

  1. This worked really well for my son’s green colored chin…. clean shaving cream did the trick! Thanks!

  2. The shaving cream is also great for cleaning up skin and hard surfaces after using any water-based paint, like finger or poster paints.

  3. Ironically.. I chose to put food dye into shave cream to occupy my toddler… So me looking for how to get off skin came across this … Lol I guess I will try some uncolored shave cream 🤞

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