Sun, sea and...stains. As the summer season approaches, many of us are excited to hit the beach or pool and soak up the sun. However, along with sunscreen's essential protection comes the risk of stains on our beloved bathing suits. We all know how important it is to wear SPF over the summer months but pesky sunscreen stains can be stubborn and may leave greasy marks or discolouration on the fabric.
Before we dive into the removal process, it might be helpful for you to understand why removing sunscreen stains can be particularly challenging. Sunscreen typically contains ingredients like oils, minerals, and chemical filters that are designed to provide sun protection and whilst this is great for protecting our skin- they certainly don't protect our swimwear.
Not only can these greasy residues damage swim fabrics but oxidation after sun exposure may result in discolouration on the fabric.
So with the holiday season in full swing, it's never been a better time to have some handy stain removal hacks under your belt for when your swimwear needs a little TLC. We've found some handy tips from the UK's #1 stain remover brand Vanish that will keep your swimwear in top shape.
Remember, it is important to treat the stain as quickly as you can as sun exposure can lead to tougher removal.
Step 1 - Evaluate the stain and pick the right stain remover... It can be a bit daunting knowing which product will do the trick. When picking a stain remover, think about the type of fabric you're dealing with and how bad the stain is. Also, look out for stain removers that are designed to tackle oil-based stains. Or, you could try Arm and Hammer's suggestion of rubbing/rinsing grease stains with dish soap and white wine vinegar first.
Step 2- For stubborn suncream stains, pre-treat the stain... Before you get started, it's crucial to properly pre-treat the stain by gently scraping off any excess sunscreen from the fabric using a spoon or a blunt knife. Then, rinse the stain under cold running water to flush out as much of the sunscreen as possible.
Finally, apply a small amount of Vanish powder (mixed with water to make a paste). Leave it to work for a maximum of 5 minutes on coloured garments with Vanish Oxi Action Multi Power powder and 10 minutes for whites with
Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White powder. For tough stains, soak your garment using one scoop of powder and 4L of water.
Step 3- Wash your swimwear... According to Steamery Laundry, swimwear should never be machine washed, due to the delicate nature of the fabric- instead handwash in lukewarm water. You could try a gentle detergent before adding any stain removals to see if this budges the stain first.
Step 4 - Drying... When it comes to drying your swimwear, Vanish, the stain removal experts, advise against wringing or twisting as it can lead to wrinkles or stretching. Instead, gently hang or lay your piece flat to dry, and if you're using a clothesline, opt for a shaded spot to avoid sun damage.
Caring for your swimwear properly not only saves you money but also helps the environment by extending its life. And if tackling stubborn stains isn't how you want to spend your summer, investing in quality swimwear might be the solution you need.
The founder of eco-friendly swimwear brand Ode + Rae shared with us exclusively,
"Good swimwear should actually be stain resistant. Our fabric is chlorine-resistant and suncream/oil resistant so it shouldn't discolour or stain. Basically, the cheaper the fabric the more likely it is to stain."
