How to Get Sunscreen Out of Fabric
The warmer season means spending more time outdoors and using more sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. When you're spending time at the beach, the last thing you want to worry about is getting sunscreen stains on your clothes.
If you've ever gotten sunscreen stains on your clothes, you know it can be a pain to get out. But sometimes, you can't avoid it. It happens to the best of us! If you're wondering how to get the sunscreen out of fabric, stop worrying. Here are some simple steps to get sunscreen stains off your clothes and make them look good as new.
Methods for Removing Sunscreen
Getting sunscreen stains on your clothes, beach towels, furniture, car seats, and other surfaces is unpleasant, but it doesn't mean the world ends. If you've ever wondered how to get sunscreen out of fabric, there are several methods for removing sunscreen.
- Applying commercial stain removal products on the stained spot.
- Flushing the stained portion of the fabric under cool running water
- Use DIY cleaning solutions you can make at home, like a salt and lemon juice combination
- When sunscreen stains stay stubborn like in furniture, it may be time to call in the professionals.
How to Get Sunscreen out of Clothes
Putting on sunscreen is an essential ritual to protect your skin if you're out in the sun. However, when sunscreen stain clothes, getting them out could be a problem. If you don't treat the stains immediately, they will become harder to remove from the fabric. Are you worried about how to get sunscreen out of clothing? Here are some tips to help you:
- Turn the fabric or clothing inside out and flush the stained portion of the fabric under cold running water.
- Try to blot as much sunscreen stain as possible using a solution of liquid dish soap and warm water.
- Rinse the fabric again with cold water.
- Wash the clothing, as usual, using a heavy-duty detergent.
- Ensure the stain is gone before putting the clothing in the dryer. Otherwise, intense heat could set the stain deeper into the fabric. You could also try hanging the stained clothes out to dry in the sun.
- If the stain remains, mix cold water and an oxygen-based solution and try soaking the clothing overnight.
How to Get Sunscreen Out of Furniture
Despite your best efforts, sunscreen can end up on your furniture, like the living room couch and car seats. Don't panic; there are ways to remove sunscreen stains off your furniture, depending on the material it's made of. First, check if the manufacturer included cleaning suggestions, then follow them. Here are some ways to remove sunscreen stains:
Leather furniture. Dip a microfiber cloth into a solution of equal parts of water and white vinegar for leather furniture. Wring off excess water so that the microfiber is only damp, not wet. Wipe the leather furniture using the damp microfiber cloth. Rinse the cloth with the solution as often as needed, then let the leather furniture dry.
Fabric furniture. Mix a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and a tablespoon of white vinegar into a cup of warm water for furniture with fabric upholstery. Pour it all into a small spray bottle. Add a teaspoon of baking soda and quickly screw the cap on. Get a piece of cloth and spray it with the solution, then wipe down the entire furniture with the answer. As an option, you can spray a piece of cloth with the solution and gently dab any stains on the fabric upholstery and let it dry.
What To Avoid When Treating Sunscreen Stains
Whether you're trying to remove sunscreen stains from clothing or upholstery, there are a few things you'll want to avoid. There are two popular stain removal agents to avoid when treating sunscreen stains- oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach. These agents adversely react to rust stains, which would cause the stains to set in the fabric deeper.
Next, avoid using cold water when trying to remove sunscreen stains. Hot water will only worsen the problem and make the stain permanent. Your stain fighting efforts will be in vain. Finally, refrain from scrubbing the stain too hard to avoid damaging the fabric.
Time is essential when trying to remove sunscreen stains. The longer sunscreen sits on your clothing, towel, or furniture, the harder it'll be to get the oily stain out. If you're short on time, pre-treat the sunscreen stain with cold water, a cleaning solution, or a stain stick.
Always treat sunscreen as you would treat perfume. Let it dry first before you put on your bathing suit or clothes. When you reapply sunscreen, watch out for the necklines and sleeves. Avoid using sunscreen that contains avobenzone, an ingredient that oxidizes the iron minerals in the water. Avobenzone and iron create a reaction which is a rust-colored stain on your clothes.
Lastly, try to remove sunscreen stains before you wash them in water. If the sunscreen stains remain, you might want to send the clothing to the dry cleaners instead.