Remove stubborn sun cream stains with 'unusual' ingredient that 'soaks up' grease

Cleaning guru Lynsey Crombie unveiled three domestic remedies she swears by for tackling pesky sun creamstains on clothes, including one tip she dubbed "unusual". The Queen of Clean graced ITV's This Morning to dish out her expertise on tackling stubborn stains.

She mentioned that during the summertime, the most persistent query she faces is 'how to remove sun cream stains'. Lynsey confessed she's bombarded with this question almost daily.

Nonetheless, she reassured viewers that eradicating sun cream stains is not as troublesome as it appears. Lynsey said: "Okay, so this is my most asked question at this time of year."

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How to remove sun cream stains

She clarified that because sun cream is a grease-based product, you require substances that have natural degreasing properties to lift the stain and "soak up the grease". She championed the use of tea tree oil for its stain-removing powers, despite acknowledging it might seem an odd choice, reports the Express.

Lynsey said: "And a really unusual method for sun cream stains is actually tea tree oil. It's actually a natural degreaser in there, so don't use too much and dilute it with water, so don't just drop it on, mix it with water and that combats it as well."

The use of tea tree oil in stain removal is effective due to its antibacterial and antiseptic qualities. If left untreated, the oils, emulsifiers, and chemical UV filters in the sunscreen can interact with fabric dyes and potentially react with any minerals from water or sweat.

This can lead to discolouration, fading, or yellowish-brown stains, particularly on synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon. While Lynsey endorsed tea tree oil, she also suggested some other home remedy alternatives, including everyone's favourite ingredients.

To tackle stains that have set into the fabric, you can use a blend of baking soda and washing up liquid. Lynsey recommended: "Sprinkle the bicarb on, dampen it slightly first then add some washing up liquid, little toothbrush, leave it to soak."

The cleaning expert advised allowing the concoction to sit for a couple of hours, assuring that the stain will vanish. Alternatively, you can apply a solution of white vinegar, smothering the stain generously and leaving it to soak.

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