How to Remove Sun Cream Stains from a Bikini (and Stop Them Coming Back)

You have a perfect beach day, get home, take your bikini out of the bag and there it is: a yellowish stain right on the strap, the edge of the top or the waistband of the bottoms. It's sun cream. And if you don't treat it in time, it can stay for good.

The good news is that most of these stains can be removed if you know what to do. In this article we explain why they appear, how to remove them without damaging the fabric and how to stop them coming back.

Why sun cream stains bikinis

Sun creams contain oils, filters and other ingredients that cling to the fibres of the fabric. When sun cream touches your bikini, especially before it has soaked into your skin, it sticks to the material.

Then the sun, heat, sea or pool water and the passing days come into play. All of that sets the stain and, over time, gives it that yellowish or orangey tint that's so hard to shift. So the sooner you act, the better.

The areas that stain most are usually:

• The straps and the part of the top that touches your shoulders and back.
• The edges of the neckline.
• The waistband and sides of the bottoms.
• The areas where you reapply sun cream most often during the day.

First things first: act quickly

The best time to remove a sun cream stain is the same day. A fresh stain comes out far more easily than one that's been sitting in a drawer for weeks.

As soon as you get home:

1. Rinse your bikini in cold water to remove salt, chlorine and any sun cream that hasn't set yet.
2. Check the fabric carefully against the light to find the stains, even if they don't look yellow yet.
3. Treat the stains before washing the whole bikini. If you wash it without treating them, washing can set them even more.

How to remove a fresh sun cream stain

If the stain is from the same day or very recent, this process is usually enough:

1. Wet the area with cold water. Never use hot water: heat helps set the grease in the fabric.
2. Apply a little mild soap or washing-up liquid directly to the stain. Washing-up liquid is designed to dissolve grease and usually works very well on the oils in sun cream.
3. Work it in with your fingertips, using gentle circular movements. Don't scrub hard or use stiff brushes.
4. Leave it for a few minutes.
5. Rinse with cold water until there's no soap left.
6. Repeat if needed before washing as normal.

How to remove an old or yellowed stain

If the stain has been there a while and has already turned yellow, you'll need a little more patience:

1. Soak your bikini in cold water with a little mild soap for a while. This softens the stain.
2. Apply washing-up liquid directly to the area and work it gently with your fingers.
3. Leave it longer than you would for a fresh stain, then rinse again.
4. If the stain is still there, repeat the process. Sometimes it takes two or three goes.

If the stain still won't come out completely after several attempts, don't force it. A faint mark is better than ruining the fabric or elastic trying to remove it at all costs.

What you should never do

Some often-repeated remedies can ruin a bikini:

• Don't use bleach or chlorine-based products. They weaken the fibres, can discolour the fabric and damage the elastic.
• Don't use hot water. It sets the stain and warps the bikini.
• Don't scrub hard or use stiff brushes. They wear the fabric and can strip the shine from metallic fabrics.
• Don't put it in the tumble dryer. Heat sets any remaining stain and stretches the elastic.
• Don't try harsh stain removers without checking the label. If you want to use one, test it first on a hidden area.

If your bikini is metallic or lurex

Shiny bikinis need extra care. Metallic finishes and lurex threads are more delicate than plain fabric, and rough treatment can make them lose their shine.

• Always treat the stain with mild soap and without rubbing. Gentle dabs with your fingers are better than scrubbing.
• Don't leave your bikini soaking for too long.
• Always dry it flat in the shade.
• If in doubt, test first on a small inside area.

Read also:

• Common mistakes with shiny bikinis and how to avoid them
• Metallic bikinis for the pool vs the beach: what to know before you buy

How to stop sun cream staining your bikini

Prevention beats spending the afternoon scrubbing. With these habits, stains are greatly reduced:

1. Put your sun cream on before your bikini. Apply it at home or at the hotel and let your skin absorb it for a few minutes before getting dressed.
2. Let it soak in before it touches your bikini when you reapply at the beach. If you can, move the straps aside briefly when applying it to your shoulders and back.
3. Be careful with oils and tanning products. They usually stain more than light-textured creams.
4. Rinse your bikini every day, even if you don't wash it thoroughly. That way sun cream residue doesn't build up day after day.
5. Don't put it away damp or dirty, either in your beach bag or at the end of the summer. Sun cream left in the fabric is what turns up months later as yellow stains.

At the end of summer: check before you store

Many yellow stains aren't visible at the end of your holiday. They appear months later, when you take your bikini out of the drawer. So before putting it away until next year:

• Hand wash it carefully, even if it looks clean.
• Check the straps, edges and waistband against the light.
• Treat any mark, however small.
• Make sure it's completely dry before storing it.

Read also:

• How to wash bikinis so they last longer: mistakes that ruin them without you noticing
• How long does a bikini last: care tips to keep it looking new

Quick questions

Can I put my bikini in the washing machine to remove the stain?

Better not. Hand washing is much gentler and lets you work on the stain directly. The washing machine, even on a delicate cycle, wears the fabric and elastic more.

Do sun cream stains come out of light-coloured bikinis?

They show more, but you treat them the same way. With light shades it's even more important to act the same day and not let the stain oxidise over time.

What if the stain is from fake tan or make-up?

The process is similar: cold water, mild soap or washing-up liquid and patience. The sooner you treat it, the easier it is to remove.

A well-cared-for bikini is a bikini that lasts

Removing a sun cream stain isn't complicated if you act in time and treat the fabric gently. And with a few habits, like putting on sun cream before your bikini or rinsing it every day, you'll avoid most stains.

In the end, looking after your bikini is the best way to make sure it goes with you for many summers and still looks new.

Shop metallic bikinis · Shop all bikinis