Sun Cream Stains: You Can Get Them out of Your Clothes So Easily!
Yellow edges and stains that do not come out even after washing are annoying! The reason for this is often sunscreen in summer. Here come the best tricks to remove the stains.
Yellow edges, nasty spots: The sun cream is to blame!
We always advise to use plenty of sunscreen in summer. Even in the shade and on days when the sun hides behind the clouds. Because: Our skin should be protected from UVA and UVB rays.
We are not only thinking of skin cancer, but also of anti-aging, because sun creams are the best protection against aging. Unfortunately, sun creams often come into contact with the edges of T-shirts when applied diligently. And sometimes we also miss something. Especially on white clothes you can quickly see that there are yellow edges, which unfortunately cannot be washed out – even at 40 or 60 degrees.
Unfortunately, sun cream stains belong to the most persistent stains of all. Even car paint gets light-coloured stains if a dark paint gets in direct contact with sun cream. Caution is also advised with plastic and dyed leather bags. In the meantime, manufacturers are warning on their creams that sunscreen should not come into contact with sensitive materials.
Do all sun protection products stain?
Yes! It’s the UVA filter, which must be oil-soluble. It transfers its own colouring to textiles, which, depending on the fabric material, can be washed out only with difficulty or not at all.
Basically, the higher the sun protection factor of the cream and the older the stain is, the more difficult it is to remove the stain.
Important: If you don’t want to risk stains in the first place, you should avoid slipping freshly creamed into sensitive textiles like silk. It is better to let the agents soak in thoroughly and to wear cotton that can withstand high washing temperatures.
So your clothes will be spotless again:
1. SOS helper dishwashing detergent
If something has gone wrong, it is time to act: quickly remove the sun milk with a cloth without rubbing it into the fabric. Dishwashing detergent as a classic fat solvent helps well, because sun cream contains a lot of fat. Rub the stain with dishwashing detergent and then wash as hot as possible (check the care label beforehand!). Gall soap or hand soap also work.
2. Stain spray etc.
Spray with stain spray and then wash. It is best to set the highest possible washing temperature according to the care label, and dose the detergent for “heavily soiled”.
Be careful with stain salt: If you soak your garment in it overnight, the colour may soften. So be careful with very colourful textiles and those that have already faded slightly in the wash.
3. Home remedies
The household has some things in store that can help us in the fight against sunscreen stains – vinegar water, for example. For light stains you can try soaking your laundry in a vinegar bath. Mix the water and vinegar essence in a ratio of five to one and let the laundry soak for an hour – then wash it. Be careful with delicate textiles, they can suffer from the acidity of the vinegar water.
Baking powder is also recommended for stains. If white laundry is slightly yellow: moisten the spot with water and sprinkle a packet of baking powder on it. Machine wash after 30 minutes. You can also put the baking powder directly into the machine with the washing powder – but this only helps with very light sunscreen stains.