How to remove sunscreen stains from plastic

We all use sunscreen at different instances in our life. It’s very useful because sunscreen protects your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun and prevents many health problems including cancer. However, sometimes we end up dropping sunscreen on different plastic items in our home which leave some stains behind.

In this article, we will be teaching you how to remove sunscreen stains from plastic.

How to remove sunscreen stains from plastic

You will learn all the stepwise methods that will help you effectively remove sunscreen stains from your clothes.

Let’s begin our journey from here.

Does sunscreen leave a stain

Yes, sunscreen does leave a stain behind.

Most of the time, the sunscreen stains are oily due to the certain ingredients present in its composition.

However, sometimes the sunscreen can also leave rusty and orange-colored stains behind. It’s because sunscreen contains an ingredient called Avobenzone. It can react with the iron molecules present in hard water and leave orange rusty stains behind.

Therefore, now we have a clear concept in our minds. Sunscreen is good for your skin but it can leave stains on your clothes or other plastic objects as well.

Can you remove sunscreen stains

Yes, you can remove sunscreen stains.

Sunscreen can leave a stain on plastic, clothes, upholstery, and other items. However, you can easily remove those sunscreen stains with a little bit of effort.

Sunscreen stains are completely removable. Therefore, if you have got sunscreen stains on plastic, clothes, or upholstery then don’t worry because we will help you remove them with a detailed guideline below.

What can you use to remove sunscreen stains

When it comes to removing sunscreen stains, experts often come up with several different options.

Normally, the most common things used for removing sunscreen stains include:

  1. Vinegar
  2. Baking powder
  3. Laundry detergent
  4. Stain removers
  5. Lemon juice

These are not the only limited options because you can use many other things to remove the sunscreen stains.

Will vinegar remove sunscreen stains

Yes, vinegar will remove sunscreen stains.

Sunscreen stains contain a lot of greasy and oily content. Vinegar has proven to be very effective against removing sunscreen stains.

How to remove sunscreen stains using vinegar

If you want to use vinegar for removing sunscreen stains then all you have to do is soak the sunscreen stain in white vinegar for a couple of hours and then wash it with hot water.

The vinegar will dissolve the oily and greasy content of the sunscreen stain and help you remove it easily.

Will bleach remove sunscreen stains

Do not use chlorine bleach for removing sunscreen stains.

The reason is that using chlorine bleach on the sunscreen stains can make them worse and difficult to remove.

Usually, the sunscreen stains contain oily and greasy stuff. You can remove both of them using an effective and heavy-duty laundry detergent.

Does OxiClean remove sunscreen stains

No, we do not recommend using OxiClean for removing the sunscreen stains.

No doubt that OxiClean is an awesome choice for removing several different types of stains but when it comes to sunscreen stains, it is just not the right choice. Why?

Sunscreen contains an ingredient called avobenzone. It can react with the sodium perchlorate present in OxiClean and make the stain even worse. Using OxiClean on sunscreen stains will make them permanent, hard, and difficult to remove.

Recommend to read: Does oxiclean really work

How do you remove sunscreen stains

We can get sunscreen stains anywhere be it the clothes, upholstery, or plastic items, etc.

We have a complete detailed guide that will teach you how you can remove sunscreen stains from your clothes, upholstery, or plastic items, respectively.

Let’s dig into it:

How to remove sunscreen stains from plastic

Do you want to remove sunscreen stains from plastic? Here is what to do:

Method #1- Scrub the surface of the plastic

Make a solution of mild detergent and water then scrub the surface of plastic with it.

If the stains are fresh, you will easily get rid of them by using this method.

Method #2- Soak the plastic in foamy water and bleach solution

Fill your sink with a solution of foamy water and some bleach.

Now soak the sunscreen-stained plastic item in that mixture of foamy water and bleach.

Leave it for some time then rinse with clean water.

Method #3- Use rubbing alcohol

If the sunscreen stains have been set on the plastic surface, then here is what to do.

Take rubbing alcohol and use it on the sunscreen stains. Leave it as it is for some time.

Create a mixture of white vinegar and water. Pour it over the sunscreen stain and leave it for a while.      

Method #4- Use baking soda

Create a paste by mixing water and baking soda.

Apply this paste over the sunscreen stain.

Method #5- Try sunlight

You can also try keeping the stained plastic in bright sunlight.

The sunscreen stain can fade away and get removed.

How to remove sunscreen stains from clothes

Have you got sunscreen stains on your clothes? No problem, because anyone can get stains on their clothes.

Here is what you can do to remove them:

1. Get the equipment you need

You need some equipment to remove the sunscreen stains from the clothes.

Things you need:

  • Brush (should be soft-bristled)
  • Stain remover
  • Effective laundry detergent
  • Distilled water
  • Water softener

2. Apply stain remover

Get an effective stain remover and apply it over the sunscreen stain.

The enzymes of stain remover will remove the oily content of the sunscreen stain.

3. Scrub the sunscreen stain

Use your soft-bristled brush to work the stain remover into the sunscreen stain.

Leave it for about 15 minutes.

4. Wash the cloth

Check the care label of your cloth and wash it according to the hottest recommended temperature.

How to remove sunscreen stains from carpet or upholstery

Do you have sunscreen stains on your carpet or upholstery?

No worries because we will remove it by the following method:

1. Things you’ll need

Here is everything you’ll need:

  • Knife
  • Vacuum
  • Liquid dishwashing detergent
  • Water
  • Clean clothes

2. Use a knife to scrub sunscreen

Take your knife and use it to scrub the excess sunscreen present on the surface of the carpet or upholstery.

Do not rub the stain because it will go deeper into the fabric, making it difficult to remove.

3. Create your cleaning solution

Take 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and mix it into 1 cup of warm water.

You should use distilled water if you have hard water at home.

It’s because hard water is very bad for sunscreen stains as it will make them rusty, orange, and permanent.

4. Start to Blot the stain

Dip a clean cloth into the cleaning solution.

Start blotting the sunscreen stain with it.

5. Rinse that spot

Dip a clean cloth in clean water and use it to rinse the sunscreen-stained spot where you applied the cleaning solution.

It is very important because if you won’t rinse the cleaning solution then it will attract dust particles.

6. Vacuum the spot

Use your vacuum to dry the spot that you just rinsed and cleared from sunscreen stains.

It will also uplift the scattered fibers and make them even once again.

Final Words

By following all these effective methods, you can remove sunscreen stains from your clothes, upholstery, or plastic items.

Are you interested to learn how to remove coffee stains from tervis tumblers, how to remove lily pollen stains from plastic or how to clean a guinea pig water bottle too?

You may also like the below household cleaning articles