7 Effective Ways on How to Get Sunscreen Out of Clothes

Stop sunscreen stains in their tracks and rescue your favorite fabric.

Whether you’re hitting the beach, coaching baseball, or lounging by the pool, sunscreen is essential for protecting your skin. But nobody loves the yellowish, greasy stains that sometimes show up on shirts, swimsuits, or hats.

We’ve scoured the internet for the most effective, reliable tips to remove sunscreen stains and summarized everything we learned in one helpful guide. At the bottom of this article, you’ll find a full source list so you can explore techniques in more detail.

Let’s break down the best ways to get sunscreen stains out of clothing so you can keep wearing your favorites all season long.

Way 1: Act Fast

The sooner you address a sunscreen stain, the better your results.

Rinse the stained fabric under cool running water to flush out residue. Blot gently with a clean towel (avoid rubbing because that can push the stain deeper into the fibers).

Pro tip: Never put a sunscreen stained garment in the dryer until the stain is completely gone. Heat sets stains permanently.

Way 2: Pretreat Before Washing

Standard washing often isn’t enough.

Before washing, try using liquid dish soap or another grease-fighting agent on the stain. Let it sit briefly, then rinse with cool water.

If the stain appears yellow-orange or rust-toned, especially on lighter fabrics, it may be caused by a reaction between chemical sunscreen filters and iron in hard water. In that case, a rust-targeted stain remover or a homemade lemon-juice + salt paste may help lift the discoloration.

Always spot-test strong treatments first.

Way 3: Wash with Care

Once pretreated, wash using:

The warmest water safe for that fabric
A high-quality detergent (enzyme or grease-targeting formulas are helpful)

Air dry first and check the stain before machine-drying. If the stain remains, repeat the pretreatment + wash steps.

Way 4: Prevent the Stain Before It Happens

Stopping stains before they occur is the best-case scenario.
Here’s how to prevent sunscreen transfer:

Allow sunscreen to fully absorb before dressing
Choose mineral sunscreen products when possible (zinc oxide / titanium dioxide), which are less likely to react
Rinse swimwear + athletic gear promptly after use
Clean shirt collars and sleeves frequently — these spots collect sunscreen + sweat

Avoiding contact before absorption is especially helpful when wearing light colors or performance fabrics.

Way 5: Use Special Treatments for Technical Clothing

Golf polos, performance shirts, baseball uniforms, and synthetic fabrics often hold onto stains.

For these tougher jobs, specialized rust removers or targeted laundry products may help.

Important: Do not use chlorine bleach on sunscreen related stains because it can worsen discoloration.

Air dry before checking the results.

Way 6: Know Your Water Quality

Hard water or water with high iron content reacts with certain chemical sunscreen ingredients, creating stubborn stains.
If this applies to your area:

Use detergents made for hard water
Add white vinegar to your rinse cycle
Consider mineral sunscreen formulas for reduced staining risk

Knowing your water quality can explain why some people deal with more stains than others.

Way 7: Prepare Your Gear Ahead of Time

If you use sunscreen regularly for sports, coaching, travel or outdoor work — plan ahead:

Keep mesh laundry bags for separating sweaty, sunscreen covered clothes
Treat gear immediately after use
Keep stain removal tools in your laundry room
Assign a bottle of sunscreen for gear-only use

This makes your cleaning routine easier and helps garments last longer.

Sources & Further Reading

(Alphabetical order for fairness)

These articles informed our research; results may vary.

Disclaimer

The methods in this article are based on trusted sources and personal experience but cannot guarantee results. Fabrics, detergents, sunscreen types, and water quality all vary.

Always spot-test any method on an unseen section of fabric and follow garment care instructions.

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