How to remove sunscreen stains

Short answer: Sunscreen leaves behind fat and often a yellowish discoloration from the filters in the cream, especially on light fabric. Treat the fat with dish soap first, and lift the yellowish discoloration with enzyme detergent afterward, or both can become permanent in the fibers.

The fat has to go first

Rub a little dish soap into the stain, and let it sit for about ten minutes before rinsing. Dish soap is made to break down fat, and it works far better than regular detergent on its own for this kind of mark.

The yellow tint comes from the filters

Some sun filters react with iron in the water and leave behind a yellowish tint that can be hard to spot at first. The tint becomes more visible after drying, so always wash thoroughly before the dryer.

Enzyme detergent for the yellow

Soak the garment in enzyme detergent for at least an hour before the regular wash, longer for older marks. The enzymes break down protein residue and fat that dish soap alone does not always fully remove.

Avoid heat before the stain is gone

Hot drying makes both the fat and the discoloration permanent, no matter how many times you wash afterward. Always check the fabric thoroughly in daylight before it goes into the dryer, so nothing sets in for good.

Sunscreen on light fabric

The discoloration is most visible on light and white fabric, where even a faint yellow tint stands out clearly. Treat light garments faster than dark ones, since the yellow color gets harder to remove the longer it sits.

Fresh sunscreen versus old

A fresh sunscreen stain often disappears after one round of dish soap and a normal wash. An old mark that has been through the dryer several times usually needs several rounds of enzyme detergent to lighten again.

Prevent by changing clothes

Switch into old clothing when applying sunscreen, if you can, to avoid the stain altogether. Preventing it is far easier than treating it, especially at the beach or by the pool during summer.

Check collars and cuffs

Sunscreen often collects at collars and cuffs, where skin rubs repeatedly against the fabric throughout the day. Check these spots extra carefully, even when the rest of the garment looks clean and unremarkable at first glance.