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
- Grass/mud stains (56%)
- Ketchup ( 50%)
- 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 to 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.
Paint & Markers
Blot the excess paint or marker with a clean cloth to absorb as much of the spill as possible. Prepare a soapy cleaning solution by mixing a small amount of dish soap with water. Dampen a clean cloth with the solution and gently blot the stained area, working from the outer edges toward the centre. Continue blotting until the stain starts to lift.
A common household alternative is rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can also remove ink, marker, and other stubborn stains. Apply a small amount to a clean cloth and gently dab at the stain until it lifts.
Ice Cream & Ice Lollies
Soak the stained fabric in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes and rub liquid laundry detergent or dish soap into the stained area. Then, soak in room-temperature water for 30 minutes, gently rubbing the stain every few minutes. Rinse before applying a stain remover (if possible) to the stained area and let it sit for 7 to 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing again with cold water. Repeat these steps until the stain is completely gone, then wash as normal.
If an ice lolly stain happens while you’re out, rinse it under cold water immediately. Once home, pre-treat with lemon juice or a solution of cold water and hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash normally.
The acidity of lemon juice can help break down stains, especially on white clothing. Apply directly to the stain and let it sit in the sun for a natural bleaching effect before washing.
Mosquito Spray
Remove the garment and pre-treat the stain with natural dish soap, letting it sit for 5 minutes. Then, wash with non-toxic laundry pods or powder, following the care label instructions, and use natural dryer sheets or balls.
Sweat
Rinse the stained areas with cold water as soon as possible to prevent them from setting into the fabric. Use a heavy-duty detergent specifically formulated to tackle tough stains like sweat. Look for detergents with enzyme-based formulas to break down protein-based stains like sweat.
For stubborn sweat stains, consider pre-soaking the affected garments in a mixture of water and laundry detergent before washing to loosen the stains and make them easier to remove during the wash cycle. Always opt for cold or lukewarm water washes, as hot water can set sweat stains further into the fabric.
If possible, always hang sweat-stained clothes out in the sun to dry as sunlight has natural bleaching properties that can help to fade the stains.
Common household alternative: A versatile and natural stain remover, white vinegar can be diluted with water and applied to stains before washing. Perfect for sweat, coffee, and wine.
Chlorine
Use fabric markers on persistent chlorine stains, first testing the marker on a hidden part of the fabric. Expose the fabric to sunlight to even out the shades, and touch up the spot after each wash if necessary.
A common household alternative is to Dab a cloth soaked in white vinegar onto the stain, saturating the area. After a while, rinse off with water and repeat the process if needed.
Sand
Washing sandy clothes in the washing machine can lodge sand further into the fibers. Lay clothes flat in the sun to dry. When fully dried, stretch the garment to loosen the fibres, shake off all sand, and wash as usual.
Saltwater
Brush away excess salt using a soft-bristled brush or an old toothbrush. If any white spots remain, rinse the area in cold water or soak overnight. Treat the stains with a commercial stain remover, distilled white vinegar, or heavy-duty laundry detergent, allowing the solution to sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash the garment as usual with your regular detergent and cool water. If stains persist, blot the stain with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1.1 litres of water before washing again.
For those looking to refresh their children’s summer wardrobe or replace any stained beyond-repair garments, check out JoJo Maman Bébé’s wide range of clothing, baby swimwear and beach essentials.
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