How to Get Sunscreen out of Your Swimsuit [5 tips

Sunscreen is a necessary evil. It keeps our skin safe against the sun’s UV rays. So, when it stains our clothes or swimsuits – and it often does – we can find forgiveness. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t want these pesky stains gone, and fortunately, there are plenty of handy tricks for getting sunscreen stains out of all your favorite swimsuits. How?

The answer to how to get sunscreen out of your swimsuit isn’t simple, but we’ll try to keep it brief: Certain sunscreen ingredients work their way into materials – especially those used in swimming suits – leaving an oily mark. Removing sunscreen stains from swimsuits is a little different than removing regular stains from swimsuits.

A mixture of baking soda and detergent left to soak into the swimsuit’s fabric before being gently rubbed away can lift off stains, while vinegar can be used to rid white swimsuits of pesky yellow marks and stains. There are also methods for avoiding swimsuit staining in the first place, such as getting sunscreen application right.

Ready to discover more and rid your swimsuits of sunscreen stains for good? Let’s get to it!

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Does sunscreen ruin bathing suits?

Not necessarily. Swimsuits, while often crafted from delicate materials, can easily be maintained and kept in pristine condition with a little regular TLC. That said, when stains appear and don’t disappear after your swimsuit’s typical washing routine, it can certainly seem like your swimsuit is ruined.

But worry not; even the most stubborn of sunscreen (or otherwise) stains can be persuaded to disappear for good thanks to a few tried and tested cleaning tactics.

That is given one key factor: you remove the stain on time.

If left to accumulate, the stains left on swimsuits by salt, sweat, chlorine, and, yes – sunscreen – can be harmful to bathing suit fabric. Fortunately, many methods to get sunscreen stains out of swimsuits also work for other potentially damaging stains.

And with that, we’ll get to our first step of removing sunscreen stains from swimsuits by getting to know the signs!

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What do Sunscreen Stains Look Like on a Swimsuit?

Sunscreen leaves an oily-looking mark on darker or colored swimsuits. On the other hand, sunscreen leaves a yellowish stain on white, lighter swimsuits. Unlike regular stains, these oil-based stains will not wipe away or disappear after regular swimsuit cleaning.

Sunscreen has also been known to cause rust-colored stains due to the presence of avobenzone. And, while annoyingly stubborn to remove from fabric, avobenzone is an incredibly effective broad-band UV blocker, meaning that it keeps our skin safe – a great trade-off, in our opinion!

Speaking of a staining ingredient of sunscreen …

How do Sunscreen Stains Happen?

When you cover yourself from head to toe in sunscreen before a day soaking up the sun, some sunscreen residue can be left on your skin – that’s only normal. So, when you slip on your swimsuit, its material comes into contact with and absorbs these spots where sunscreen coverage is a little extra.

As well, as you top up your sunscreen coverage throughout the day (recommended every two hours), you may end up rubbing some of the cream into your swimsuit.

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How does Sunscreen Damage your Swimsuit?

Sunscreen is oily in texture, which means it tends to seep into material fibers where it sets, forming a noticeable hard-to-remove stain. As mentioned before, avobenzone is a particularly powerful culprit when it comes to staining swimsuits and clothes. It’s an ingredient found in sunblock that can react with iron in hard water, oxidizing and discoloring swimsuits on contact with water.

So, now that we know how to identify sunscreen stains and their causes, we can get to ridding our swimsuits of them forever!

See the best dissolving swim trunks prank!

How to get the sunscreen out of your swimsuit?

Use a Toothbrush

First things first, before even considering this method, you’ll want to find a toothbrush with soft bristles. That way, your swimsuit’s material won’t be snagged or torn as you scrub.

So, once you’ve found the right toothbrush, it’s time to wet the stain/s with warm water to loosen the fabric.

Next, mix detergent and baking soda together into a paste. Rub this paste over the stain gently using the toothbrush and leave it to set for an hour or two.

Place your fingers or the toothbrush on the stain and rub it out using gentle, circular motions. The soft bristles of the toothbrush should lift the stain.

Let it Soak

Fill your sink, bath, or basin with cool to mid-temperature water. Next, add around a cup full of baking soda and stir to ensure even distribution throughout the water. Place your swimming suit into the baking soda mixture and let it soak for an hour or two. You may feel tempted to scrub your swimsuit, but there’s no need. A gentle swish now and then can work wonders to free up and release the stain.

After soaking, all that’s left to do is remove your swimsuit from the water, rinse it using cold, fresh water, and leave it to dry. So not only is baking soda great for a general clean, but it also does the trick for pesky stains.

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How to Avoid Sunscreen Stains on Swimsuits

Stay Away From White Swimsuits

White swimsuits have a habit of making sunscreen stains relatively more visible. If you use mineral-based sunscreen or sun tanning oil, avoid white bathing suits as this will cause yellowing that is more difficult to remove.

But if you just can’t get enough of white swimsuits, you’re in luck! Here’s how you can remove those pesky yellow s from white Swimsuits:

Step 1: Soak a cloth using white vinegar. Vinegar contains acetic acid to dissolve the stains.

Step 2: Use the cloth to gently dab the vinegar onto the yellow stains on the bathing suit. Saturate the stained areas thoroughly.

Step 3: Rinse the swimming suit under cold water.

If, upon completing the first three steps, the yellow stains are still noticeable – repeat each step until they disappear.

Step 4: Wash the bathing suit in cold water with mild laundry detergent, and rinse using cold water.

Step 5: Let your white bathing suit air-dry by drip or flat drying. Be sure to allow your swimsuit to dry out of direct sunlight to avoid color fading or damage to the swimsuit’s materials.

Note: While using bleach on the stains is tempting, the strong solution can damage the swimsuit’s material.

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Time it Right

As mentioned above, a large part of sunscreen stain formation is down to when and how you apply your sunscreen for and throughout the day.

If possible, apply sunscreen before you put on your bathing suit, and take care when re-applying mid-day or after a swim. When applying sunscreen, be sure to run it into your skin thoroughly to avoid any oily spots that will stain your swimsuit.

Finally …

How to get sunscreen out of a swimsuit is a question we ask again every Summer. Now, you don’t have to anymore. Above, you have all the answers you need to take on those stubborn swimsuit stains so that you can back to what really matters – enjoying your holidays and swim time!

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