Remove Oil-Based Sunscreen Stains

By Matt Oden | Comments | Oil and Wax Stains → Sunscreen

We all know that sunscreen is a must-have to arm ourselves with when spending time outdoors, but it can certainly put a damper on outdoor fun if you find yourself with the need to remove oil-based sunscreen stains. Don’t give up on wearing sunscreen however! It is definitely much easier to deal with an oil-based stain than it is to have to deal with nasty and very painful sunburns.

With just a few stain removal essentials, and a few simple steps, you’ll be able to effortlessly remove oil-based sunscreen stains from a variety of surfaces in and around your home. The key to removing oil-based stains is to ensure that you are able to treat them as swiftly as possible. It is also important to avoid putting them through a full laundry cycle, as the time spent in the dryer is likely to permanently set the stain.

Remove Oil-Based Sunscreen Stains From Clothing

What You Will Need Before You Start

Baking soda
White vinegar
Liquid dish detergent
Paper towels

Whether you’ve found yourself with a sunscreen stain on your favorite swim suit or pair of shorts, it can be frustrating to see your best summertime clothing with a horrid stain. Thankfully there are several steps to swiftly remove oil-based sunscreen stains from clothing, whether from your swim suit or from cotton fabrics like t-shirts and jeans.

If the stain is fresh then use paper towels to clean up as much of the sunscreen spill as possible.
Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over the stain to soak up as much of the oil as is possible
If the stain has dried then create a paste with baking soda and a liquid dish detergent and rub onto the stain with your fingers.
Allow to sit on the stain for up to thirty minutes.
Rinse thoroughly and examine the stain.
If the stain still lingers then create a solution using one teaspoon of liquid dish detergent and a quarter cup of vinegar.
Add the cleaning solution to a sink of cool water and soak the garment for up to fifteen minutes.
Rinse completely and launder as per the care instructions on the garment tags.

If the cleaning power of baking soda and vinegar are proving to be less than effective for you, consider using one of the commercial stain removal products. Any number of them will do the job nicely for you.

Remove Oil-Based Sunscreen Stains From Upholstery

What You Will Need Before You Start

Baking soda
Oxygen bleach
Soft-bristled brush
Clean sponge
White absorbent towels

All it takes is sitting down on your couch or dining room chair with a sunscreen-covered body to produce unsightly oil-based stains. The irritating part about these types of stains is not just that they can be frustrating to deal with but that they can also quickly become magnets for other types of dirt and grime to latch onto.

Fresh stains should be treated swiftly with baking soda. Allow the soda to dry on the stain, for up to thirty minutes and then vacuum the baking soda up.
Make a paste using oxygen bleach and cold water.
Using the soft-bristled brush, apply the cleaning solution to the upholstery stain carefully.
Allow the cleaning solution to work into the fibers of the upholstery, for up to fifteen minutes.
Brush or vacuum free any parts that have dried, and remove the cleaning solution using a clean sponge and fresh cool water.
Once the sudsy solution has been removed, use the white absorbent towels to lift up any excess moisture.

There are also a number of upholstery-safe stain removal products that can be just as effective at working the oil-based stains out. Just be sure to read the instructions carefully before proceeding.

Remove Oil-Based Sunscreen Stains From Car Seats

What You Will Need Before You Start

Stain removal pretreating spray or gel
White absorbent towels
Clean sponge
Corn starch

Your car seats can often bear the brunt of sunscreen stains, which can leave you wondering what the best methods are of removing these types of oil-based stains is. You can’t very well hose down the inside of your car, but you can use a few cleaning essentials and leave your car looking as good as new.

Sprinkle corn starch, or baking soda, over fresh stains to absorb the excess oil from the stain.
Saturate the stain with your preferred brand of stain pretreating spray or gel.
Allow the spray or gel to work through the stain, for up to ten minutes.
Using your clean sponge, and cool water, clean the pretreating solution from the car seat.
Use white absorbent towels to soak up any excess water, and allow the car seat to thoroughly dry, with the windows open so that you don’t wind up with a moldy situation.

Remember to always treat stains in your car as soon as you are able to, otherwise you could just be risking a permanent stain and risking having to work with a grime-laden stain that is a lot more stubborn.

Don’t throw in the towel when you are faced with the need to remove oil-based sunscreen stains. Use the right methods to effectively remove the stain and consider using a water-based sunscreen in the future. Protecting your belongings from stains is important, but protecting your skin from damage is even more important.