How to Remove Sunscreen Stains

Last Updated: June 23, 2022 References

While your skin is soaking up the sun, chances are your clothes or the upholstery in your car is soaking up your sunscreen. What you end up with is an oily, sometimes brownish sunscreen stain that can ruin the appearance of any material. Fortunately, it's totally possible to remove sunscreen stains on clothes, upholstery, furniture, or whatever other surfaces they're on. By learning how to get sunscreen stains out from both washable fabrics and carpets and upholstery, you’ll be able to restore your favorite items to their former glory.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Removing Sunscreen Stains from Clothes and Washable Fabrics

1
Scrape off any sunscreen that hasn't been absorbed. If the stain is fresh, the sunscreen will still be liquid. In this case, gently pick up the excess instead of scraping it off. Whatever you do, avoid pushing the sunscreen further into the fabric.^{[1]
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2
Cover the stain with baking soda. Your goal here is to get rid of excess oil in the stained fabric. Baking soda is an absorbent, which means it can soak up oil. Sprinkle a generous amount of it on the stain and double check to make sure you've got the area covered completely.^{[2]
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- Apart from baking soda, you can use talcum powder and cornstarch as well. They also serve as absorbents.
- If you're dealing with a stain that's turning brown, soak it in lemon juice and cover with salt instead. While the salt will act as an absorbent for oil, the lemon juice will act as a harmless bleaching solution.^{[3]
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- Another option is to soak it in baking soda. Add a bit of baking soda to a bowl and fill it halfway with water. Let the stained piece soak in for about 24 hours and then wash it as usual.
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3
Let the baking soda sit and then brush it off. In order to absorb as much oil as possible, the powder needs to remain in contact with the stained area for at least 30 minutes. Once it's been that long, the baking soda should look damp. Then you can use a soft-bristled brush to brush it off.^{[4]
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- Treating the stain with baking soda might be enough for it to disappear. If it doesn't, you'll need to do a few more steps until completion.^{[5]
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4
Rub the stain with dish soap and let it sit. Don’t use soap to which artificial colors have been added. Make sure you’ve covered the entire stained area and that you’ve rubbed the soap in properly. Leave the fabric to sit for 5 minutes.^{[6]
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5
Soak the fabric before rinsing it. Make a solution using hot water and a dollop of either dish soap or laundry detergent. Leave the fabric to soak for 30 minutes. Once you’ve done that, rinse it with hot water.^{[7]
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6
Wash the fabric as usual. If you can, use the highest temperature setting allowed for that type of material. Once it’s out of the washing machine, the fabric should be completely free of stains. If it’s not, simply repeat the process.^{[8]
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- Whatever you do, avoid putting the fabric into the dryer before the stain is completely gone. Otherwise, the temperature in the dryer might help the stain to set.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Removing Sunscreen Stains from Carpets and Upholstery

1
Blot up any excess sunscreen. Paper towels are great for such tasks since they’re highly absorbent. Your goal here is to get rid of as much oil as possible. This is why you should keep blotting until you see your paper towel isn’t absorbing anymore.
2
Cover the stain with an absorbent. Baking soda, talcum powder, and cornstarch are excellent absorbents. They can soak up excess oil from almost any material with which they come in contact. So sprinkle the stained area with one of them generously.
3
Let the absorbent sit and then vacuum the stained area. Leaving it on for 15 minutes should be enough, but if you want to be sure, simply check if the powder is damp. If it is, that means the absorbent has done its job and soaked up excess oil. Now you can vacuum the stained area to remove all traces of the powder.^{[10]
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- Brushing absorbents off is allowed when treating washable fabrics, but it's not recommended when it comes to carpets and upholstery. By using a brush, you're risking pushing both the absorbent and the sunscreen deeper into the material.
4
Use a clean cloth and a dry-cleaning solvent to sponge the stained area. Use gentle movements and make sure not to push the solvent into the stained material. Your goal is to remove the sunscreen, not replace it with the dry-cleaning solvent. Keep sponging until you’ve covered the entire stained area.^{[11]
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- If the stain is still visible, try removing it using water and dish soap. Simply mix 2 cups (470 mL) of cold water with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of dish soap. Using this solution and a clean cloth, sponge the stained area until you've removed the stain completely.^{[12]
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5
Remove the leftover dry-cleaning solvent with a clean cloth and water. You don’t want your carpet or upholstery to retain smells or become damaged due to chemicals in the solvent. So soak the cloth in water and rub it gently over the stained area. Repeat until you’ve removed all traces of the solvent.^{[13]
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- If you don’t want to use dry-cleaning solvent, you can leave the absorbent to sit longer instead. You should leave it for at least 6 hours before vacuuming it. Once you’ve finished vacuuming, the stain should be gone.