If you have had a fun summer with lots of sunny days out with your friends and family, you are likely to be bringing back lots of happy memories home, along with a pile of clothes stained with sunscreen. While it is a small price to pay for staying safe using sunscreens for SPF protection, it is also handy to know how to get sunscreen stains out of clothes effectively so you can get your holiday clobber back to mint condition.
If you use tinted sunscreen, the deep stains they leave on clothes can seem quite daunting. But there are several easy hacks to remove them completely, most of which use everyday items that are already available in your homes.
How do I get sunscreen stains out of clothes?
1. Using liquid detergent
One of the easiest ways to get sunscreen stains out of clothes is to use liquid detergent directly on them. Be sure to scrape off any excess product on the clothes being careful not to spread it anymore. Rubbing the liquid detergent onto the stain and letting it sit for about 15 minutes before washing it off is sure to do the trick.
2. Using a stain removal product
The same process can be followed while using a good stain removal product such as Vanish, Tide or Dr Beckmann which are made to get stubborn stains off clothes. There are different types of products on the market made for removing stains from specifically white clothes, ones that make sure to protect the original colour of the clothes and ones that are targeted at removing oil-based stains.
However, be sure to take these measures as soon as possible as sunscreen stains darken with time and will be even more difficult to get off.
3. Using isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
You can also spray isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol onto fresh stains and rub it with a microfiber cloth to get sunscreen out of clothes
4. Using cornflour
It is usually the oil present in sunscreens that lead to greasy stains. Sprinkling a bit of cornflour onto these stains and letting it sit for about 30 minutes will help to soak up the oil. Following this you can brush the powder off and you can treat the stain with a detergent or stain removal product before washing it off.
5. Using lemon juice and salt
If the stains are on white clothes, you can just apply a few drops of lemon juice onto the area and then hang them to dry out in the sun. This will lead to a bleaching effect which will get your whites looking clean and bright again.
You can also put a tablespoon of salt over the lemon juice on the stained area and allow it to sit overnight. After clearing away the salt, you can wash the garment and the stain will be gone too.
6. Using rust-removal products
There are specific products made to remove rust stains and the yellowish/orangish sunscreen stains on clothes can be treated similarly. Apply the product onto the stain and let it sit for 15-20 minutes after which you can simply wash it off.
7. Using dishwasher rinse aid
More stubborn stains can be treated by applying some dishwasher rinse aid onto the stain and leaving it on overnight. Once you wash the garment later on, the stain should be gone too.
8. Using baking soda
This works for various types of clothes, including wool or cashmere. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the dry garment and let it absorb any oil for about 30 minutes. Following this, you can brush the powder off and rub the stained area with dishwasher liquid or liquid detergent. Let this sit for 5 minutes. For washable fabrics, you can let them soak them in washing detergent for about an hour before rinsing it off.
FAQs
Will vinegar remove sunscreen stains?
The answer is yes, and it is quite easy as well. Prepare a cleaning solution with 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 cup warm water. Dip a cloth into the solution and rub it onto the stained area. Make sure most of the stain is gone and then rinse it thoroughly.
Does sunscreen come off in the wash?
Sunscreen stains do come off in the wash, provided you treat the stained area before with any of the above-mentioned products. This will make it easier for the stain come off completely in the wash.
How to remove sunscreen stains on delicate fabrics?
With materials like silk or cashmere, trying to get stains off with harsh chemicals or cleaning products might damage the fabric. There are gentle stain removal products available that are suitable for delicate or old fabrics which could be used to treat the stained area before washing the item at a low-heat delicates cycle on the machine. However, if you are sceptical about handling it, you could opt for a professional cleaning service. Also, if the item is marked as dry-clean only, then you might be better off giving it to the professionals as trying to get if off yourself could probably make the damage worse.
Akhila Thomas is a digital writer at Yours.co.uk and her areas of interest are beauty, fashion, food, wellness and lifestyle. She has previously written for magazines like Leftlion, Women’s Health and t’Art and worked extensively with art, culture, fashion and social media trends. She also likes to travel and explore new cultures and cuisines.