Help: Yellow sunscreen stains on white top... - YouLookFab Forum

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Help: Yellow sunscreen stains on white top...

Sal

Veteran

Hi all

I have mostly been absent over recent weeks, but should be around more now. I have some reading to catch up on, and a couple of posts to do myself...

We have been at the beach and at a sports event recently - and I have been using sunscreen of course. I notice my new white cotton cover up has yellow/brown marks at the neckline and also on the back, and I am positive these are sunscreen related...

I have washed and dried in the sun, and washed with Oxyclean. Neither have worked totally effectively.

In the worst case I will dye the top I guess - it does not have to be perfect as it is worn in very casual situations - and maybe moving forward this is the best plan given I will wear sunscreen always with this top.

Has anyone treated these stains successfully in the past - or do you know of a sunscreen brand that does not stain (I suspect this one is Nivea spray on but I use whatever is at hand)...

Thanks in advance!!

Sally

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

El Cee

Veteran

Sorry about your top. You may want to read this article that is specifically about treating sunscreen stains:

http://www.youbeauty.com/beaut.....r-clothes/

Check to see if your sunscreen has avobenzone as an ingredient. This chemical can have a reaction with iron particles found in water, so you may want to try treating with a product made specifically for rust stains... like the Carbona product shown below.

If no avobenzone in there, you may just have a tough to remove grease variety stain -- for which I would recommend Lestoil or a similar product.

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carter

Veteran

With greasy stains, I usually have success with blue Dawn. Rub a bit on the stain, let it sit for 15 min or so, then wash with oxyclean.

dianne

I have had the same thing happen to me and found that it was the avobenzone that caused the yellowing. I found on the internet that someone recommended Bar Keepers friend and it really does work but apparently Oxyclean will only make the stain worse!!

Lucy

Veteran

Ah, living in Queensland this is the bane of my life! Following for all the tips

karen13

Veteran

I had a similar issue with a technical shirt I've had for years and worn with no problem. While hiking around Mont Blanc I hand washed it in the sink in a French mountain hotel; must have had high iron water because I got staining at the neck and wrists where it would have been in contact with sunscreen.

I had good luck rubbing the stained area with a cut lemon, letting it sit a bit then laundering it as usually back at home (I guess we don't have non-iron rich water).

If you think it is your water, maybe try this with some distilled water to wash.

Bijou

Veteran

I sympathise with you because sunscreen is so essential, but to have to worry about it ruining your clothes is awful. I use the Neutrogena spray on sunscreen 50+ and have not had this issue with staining.

My go to stain removal is to soak in bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar. If that didn't work, given your top is white, I would use bleach.

Gigi

Veteran

When Oxyclean doesn't work, I usually head for lemon juice. I put some on and let it sit a bit, then add more. I do this over a period of maybe half an hour to see if there is improvement. If there is, I continue with the lemon juice until the stain is gone, then wash.

lisaflex

Veteran

i have had success with fels naptha (SP?) and then washing with borax

Helen11

Veteran

It's such a nuisance, as sunscreen is just essential.
I use SARD soap for everything stain-y, and it seems to get most stuff out. I'm interested to hear other hints, too.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I just noticed on vacation that my favorite bikini has some staining on the white stripe portion of it that I also think is due to sunscreen. I will have to try some of these tricks.

Bennett

Veteran

This has proven to an unsolvable problem for me in the summer as well. I have stained a lot of white clothing with my sunscreen use, but sunscreen is very important to me. I've tryed everything here but Barkeepers Friend, so will keep that in mind!

Sal

Veteran

Oxyclean helped a wee bit....

Sard soap helped a wee bit....

I could not find bar keepers friend here - and while I could bleach or use borax etc....

In thinking about it I think my best bet is to dye the top - yellow!! I hope to find the butter yellow colour that I love. I only wear it with a navy bikini or black and white one piece, maybe denim shorts or black shorts.

The reason for this is that realistically it is a top to wear over a bikini or swimsuit at the beach or pool, or maybe over denim shorts at a sports event. I will always need to have sunscreen on around my neck and hands - and I use a variety of brands at different times. Here I might top up with a friends at the tennis, or on the beach. I am prepared to be careful with a special occasion dress but I know I will not be with this type of item.....but I don't want to look stained...

Lucy

Veteran

Well, dyeing sounds like the best plan for this top!
And I guess it is something to keep in mind for my future purchases - white would be fine for work wear or dressier stuff, but maybe not so good for weekends, when I slather on the sunscreen!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

My sister gave me the best tip about Oxyclean. She has a toddler that has always refused to be fed, or use cutesy children's utensils since he was about a year old. Instead, he insists on using full-size cutlery and regular grown-up dishes and cups, and she was always having to remove serious food stains on a daily basis.

Her tip: soak the garment in Oxyclean + water in the tub, sink, or bucket for HOURS. 5-6 hours or overnight. This has been the saving of many a light-colored shirt for me, including stains my talented dry-cleaner could not lift.

If this doesn't do it, then yeah, I would dye the top.