Expert Tips on Suncream Stains And More

Parenting / 19 August, 2024 / Ellie Thompson

UK Google searches for ‘suncream stains’ have surged by 5,000% compared to last month (June 2024). Cleaning experts recommend that parents address spills, particularly from ice lollies and sun cream, as soon as they occur to prevent staining. For sweat-stained clothes, it’s advised to hang them out in the sun to dry, as sunlight’s natural bleaching properties can help fade the stains.

Expert shares cleaning hacks for dealing with suncream stains and more

Summer marks the start of the holiday season, and whether a trip abroad or a family outing, being away from home can leave parents caught short when spills occur. Two-fifths (41%) of British parents admit they don’t pack any cleaning items on holiday.

Many clothing stains, from ice cream to sun cream, are more likely during the summer months. This is illustrated by UK Google searches for ‘suncream stains,’ which are currently up 5,000% compared to last month. In contrast, the term ‘stain remover’ reached 20K searches in the past month alone.

The study conducted by mother and baby retailer JoJo Maman Bébé found that over half (51%) of British parents worry about spillages when away from home. When asked to identify their most difficult-to-tackle summer stains, grass/ mud stains were voted the trickiest.

Top Three Summer Stains as voted by UK parents

1. Grass/mud stains (56%)
2. Ketchup ( 50%)
3. Sun cream (50%)

To help alleviate parents’ stain dread when holidaying, JoJo Maman Bébé has enlisted cleaning expert Pavlinka Veleva from Fantastic Services to advise how to tackle the ten toughest stains –including suncream stains– as decided by UK parents and offer household alternatives to use if cleaning equipment isn’t readily available.

Grass & Mud

Let the mud completely dry before shaking off the excess. Lay the clothing flat and apply detergent or stain remover to the area, allowing it to break down the mud before leaving it to air dry for as long as possible.

For grass stains, pour detergent onto the affected area and gently massage into the fabric. Let the detergent sit for 10-20 minutes before washing as normal.

A common household alternative is mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water, coat the stain with the mixture, scrub, rinse with cold water, then repeat with regular detergent.

Ketchup

Pavlinka recommends scraping the excess sauce with a dull knife or spoon, then blot with a paper towel and rinse the back of the fabric with cold water. Apply detergent or dish soap and let it sit for 5 minutes. Rinse and air dry, before washing with the warmest water recommended on the care tag and leave to air dry.

Common household alternative: For oily stains like ketchup, sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder over the stain to absorb excess oil. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight before brushing or shaking it off and washing the garment.

Suncream

Dealing with suncream stains. Start by flushing the stained section of the garment under cool running water. Work quickly to saturate the area without overexposing it to water. Then, lay the garment on a flat surface.

Squeeze lemon juice directly onto the stain until it’s thoroughly saturated, then generously sprinkle salt over. Leave the mixture to penetrate the stain overnight, allowing the acidic and abrasive nature of the two ingredients to penetrate and break down the residue. In the morning, brush off the salt and wash the garment as usual. Salt helps to absorb excess moisture and lift the stain.