Anyone know how to remove yellow stains from sun cream?

[NuzzleandScratch]

Really annoyed, my two really nice white t shirts have both got yellow stains around the neck line from sun cream. I thought I was careful when I applied it, but obviously not. They've been washed, and hung on the line all day in the sun, and the stains are still there. Any ideas?

Afraid not but bumping.

Anyone?

Have you tried Vanish?

I must admit I had a dress ruined by suncream ☹️

Nothing

Somebody on a previous thread recommended rubbing washing up liquid into the stain. I haven't tried it but it sounded worth a go.

I used liquid washing machine stuff, rubbed into stain and left for an hour. Washed as normal and it went. The enzymes destroyed the stain.

You need to use a rust removing agent as the stain is most likely caused by a chemical reaction with a common UVA screening ingredient called avobenzene which results in a similar substance to rust being formed. Avo is also found in patented screening compounds which are noted in the ingredients listing under the compound name so it can be present even if your label doesn't state it.

If you google the rust idea you'll come up with home remedies (I think neat white vinegar soak is the one I used, which was colour-fast method, unlike many professional rust-removers) but you can also get professional rust stain removers too.

Anything chlorine based will make it worse (prior to the rust-type stain being removed) inc bleach and oxidizing agents aka Vanish.

Here's a little more about it: www.esquire.com/style/advice/a47376/ask-a-clean-person-sunscreen-stains/

and here: www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/reader-mailbag-removing-sunscreen-stains/

I've never managed it either.

Definitely not vanish - as PP said it turns it yellow and sets the stain ~sad voice of experience~

Don't bleach it....I bleached my son's (cheap) white polo shirts and the stains turned from yellowish to bright red

I got sun cream marks out with Vanish oxi action Crystal white powder. A few generous scoops in a small bucket of water and soak the items overnight, then wash in machine as usual. They came out like new.

Wow, thanks for the replies! Interesting about the similarities to rust! Will see what I can find. Does anyone know if all sun creams do the same, or are some worse than others?

Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide screens will not give a rust reaction (but they tend to be oily and thick to suspend particles uniformly and that will provide stains which can be removed through the washing up liquid/Vanish route no problem). As for others...if you can see Avoobenzone listed as a an ingredient they will do this, but it may also be present under trade names Parsol 1789, Milestab 1789, Eusolex 9020, Escalol 517, Neo Heliopan 357 (and others!) or the INCI Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.

Some households suffer more from Avo staining than others...hard water areas provide an increase in mineral salts which magnify the rust reaction.

OP

Try soaking stain in neat white vinegar (immersion, not dabbing). If it's an avobenzone stain it will come out (leave for at least an hour if it doesn't come out immediately). Make sure it is already oil-free else the vinegar won't come into contact with the rust compound fully, so won't be able to dissolve it.

Then report back

Amazing advice from dividedkingdom!

dividedkingdom you rock!!

Wish I'd seen this before I squirted Vanish all over it!

Does anyone know what would work with stains from the P20 8 hour stuff? It's oily and has stained my daughters uniform collars I tried vanish, it didn't make it better or worse.

I got mine out by soaking in lemon juice and water for a while, then drying in the sun, bright white again!

Washing up liquid squirted direct onto the stain; fairly thick and rub in a bit..leave out in the sun for as long as you can and then wash as usual..comes out a treat x

Does anyone know what would work with stains from the P20 8 hour stuff?

Same method as I described above i.e. rust removal. All P20s contain avobenzone, listed per INCI name Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.

Loopsdefruits use of lemon juice works in a similar way, but lemon juice carries risk of staining and can bleach colour...it's not the bleaching action of lemon juice that's working on the stain by the way, it's the acid content which dissolves the rust. In the quantities required for stubborn avo staining, white vinegar is much cheaper and easier on my wrists but it's exactly the same principle.

"Don't bleach it....I bleached my son's (cheap) white polo shirts and the stains turned from yellowish to bright red"

The same happened to a white vest top that I owned. I had to throw it in the bin.

Thanks @DividedKingdom , such detail! I will try white vinegar and let you know! Not sure if I have any at home, but will be sure to update! It's stained the cuffs of my daughters' uniforms too, but I'm not so bothered about those.