How To Remove Waterproof Sunscreen from Clothing?

Waterproof sunscreen is such a crucial part of our skincare regime that people recommend applying it daily to all the exposed areas of the skin. Therefore, there will be instances when you will get sunscreen stains on your clothing.

It is an unavoidable risk. You can be extra careful while applying sunscreen; still, the chances of getting stains are very prominent. If you are reading this, chances are you already have some clothing with a sunscreen stain.

That being said, knowing how you can remove waterproof sunscreen from clothing will come in very handy. Therefore, we have prepared this guide where we discuss simple and effective methods to remove waterproof sunscreen from clothing.

How To Remove Waterproof Sunscreen from Clothing?

Waterproof sunscreen stains can be very stubborn, especially after drying. The main culprit behind these stains is the oil. Hence, when removing these stains, the primary objective is to get rid of the oils.

Luckily, you do not need any unique product to remove sunscreen from your clothing. Such stains can be removed using the same products that you would use to treat any oil or grease stain like stain removers, detergents, dish soap etc.,

Below are the methods that explain precisely how to remove waterproof sunscreen from clothing using these everyday products.

1. Using Baking Powder and Stain Remover
2. Using liquid dish soap

How To Remove Waterproof Sunscreen from Clothing Using Baking Powder and Stain Remover?

Like any other stain, you can remove waterproof sunscreen using stain removers. Stain removers break down the oils in sunscreen and loosen their grip on the fabric and will be easy to remove with water.

The baking powder is used to enhance the ability of the stain remover as it can absorb the excess oils in the sunscreen.

This method is simple and suitable for almost any kind of fabric.

Required Items

• Baking powder
• Stain remover
• Dry cloth
• Spoon or dull knife
• Soft-bristled brush
• Laundry detergent

Procedure [Step by Step]

1. Blot the stain

Use a dry cloth and gently pat over the sunscreen stain to remove as much of the sunscreen as you can. This can be highly effective if the sunscreen still hasn’t dried.

2. Scrape

Now, take a dull knife or a spoon to scrape the stain. This will remove sunscreen that has dried up on the surface of the cloth.

However, scraping can only remove sunscreen from the surface of the cloth. There will still be sunscreen within the fabric that can lead to a stain.

3. Sprinkle baking powder

As stated earlier, oils are the main reason these stains can be difficult to remove. Hence, our primary concern should be removing all the excess oil. Baking powder does a great job of absorbing oils.

If you do not have baking powder, you can use cornstarch instead. After blotting and scrapping, sprinkle baking powder over the stain and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

4. Use a stain remover and wash

Now, pretreat the stain with a stain remover. Later, you can wash the fabric with your regular laundry detergent or as per the instructions included with the material. Dry your fabric after washing, and that’s it.

Precautions

You should toss your fabric in the dryer only after the stain has been eradicated. Otherwise, heat will set the stain in the fabric, which will make it harder to remove later.

Time

From treating the stain to washing the fabric, the entire process may take twenty to thirty minutes.

Cost

Most of the products needed for this method are the ones you would already have at home. Still, if you do not have a stain remover, you can get one online in the range of 8 to 12 USD.

A soft-bristled brush is essential for the removal of stains. Hence, you can buy one for 5 to 10 USD if you don’t have it.

How to Remove Waterproof Sunscreen from Clothing using Liquid Dish Soap?

Another method you can use to remove water-resistant sunscreen from fabric is using liquid dish soap and your regular laundry detergent.

Dish soap can easily break down the oils in sunscreen, thereby quickly lifting it from the fabric. Hence, if you have liquid dish soap at home, you do not have to worry about sunscreen stains.

Required Items

• Liquid dish soap
• Clean cloth
• Laundry detergent

Procedure [Step by Step]

1. Flush with cold water

The first step is turning your fabric inside out and flushing the stained area under running cold water. This will remove the loose sunscreen from the material.

2. Create soap solution

Create a dish soap solution using warm water and liquid dish soap of your choice. Read the instructions included in the dish soap package to check how much water you should add to create a solution.

3. Blot the stain

Dip a clean, dry cloth in the soap solution you created in the above step and use it to blot the stain. The dish soap will quickly release the stain from the fabric.

4. Rinse again

After blotting, once you notice that the stain has started to come off, flush the garment again under running cold water. This will wash off the stain that the dish soap has just lifted from the fabric.

5. Wash as usual

Now that the stain has been almost removed, wash the cloth with your regular laundry detergent or as recommended for that particular fabric. Dry the garment after washing, and you will have a spotless garment ready to be used.

Precautions

You should only dry the clothing once you are sure that the stain has been removed. Drying with the stain still present will make it more stubborn.

Time

Removing water-resistant sunscreen stains with this method can take 10 to 15 minutes.

Cost

The products needed in this process are usually available in every home. Still, if you do not use liquid dish soap, you can easily get one for 0.12 USD per Fl Oz.

Final Comments:

There you have it. Easy and effective methods to remove waterproof sunscreen from your clothing. Now the next time you wear sunscreen and get some of it on your clothes, you will know what you have to do to remove it.