Removing Sunblock Stains From Clothing
Sunscreen is a thing we all know we need to wear. Even so, it can be a huge mess when it gets onto your clothes, leaving a greasy, yellow mark. Unfortunately, this not-so-average stain can be tough to budge from clothing. Sunscreen contains chemicals in it that wreak havoc on certain types of fabrics and can cause major staining. Be sure to check for these types of stains before heading out to your local Chula Vista laundromat.
The stain from sunscreen is usually a browning of the fabric, meaning that the stains themselves are pretty easy to spot. The avobenzone in the sunscreen contributes to the staining of the fabric. Avobenzone has a chemical reaction with iron participles that are found in water that causes, essentially, rust stains. To treat sunblock stains, firstly, you can rule out chlorine and oxygenated bleach. Both of these products will make rust stains worse.
If you spot a sunblock stain and cannot tackle it right away, the best thing to do is sprinkle a little cornstarch or talcum powder onto the stained area and let it sit for 15-20 minutes to absorb some of the oil. This helps to buy you more time until you can get it in the washer.
When doing the laundry, isolate the garment and pre-treat the stain with a commercial stain remover, letting it sit for at least 15 minutes. Once the time is up, proceed to wash it as normal. Use the hottest water setting that the garment can withstand.
To wash it naturally, squeeze the juice of half a lemon on the stains, and then pour a good dose of salt over the juice. Allow this to sit overnight, and then launder as usual after brushing away the salt.
It’s worth noting that the spray-on sunscreens are especially prone to cause staining since you have less control over where they end up. Sunscreen in the form of a lotion may seem more cumbersome to apply, but it is easier to keep away from your clothes.
Now that you know how to remove sunscreen stains from clothes, give us a call to learn more about our services at our Chula Vista location. As your friendly and efficient laundry team in California, we hope to see you soon!
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