The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

Ask ACI: Bug Spray and Sunscreen on Clothes

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Q: I’ve done a good job keeping my skin protected from the sun, and my kids protected from mosquitoes. But now I have bug spray and sunscreen on my clothes. What do I do?

While that’s definitely good news for you and your kids, it sounds like the family wardrobe didn’t make out as well. But don’t fear; most commercially available bug sprays and sunscreens do wash out relatively easily. First, pretreat the stains with a prewash stain remover, then launder, using the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric. Check to make sure the stains are gone before you put the garment in the dryer, as heat could set stains that haven’t washed out. Most stains should be gone at this point, but if any do remain, you could just accept the fact that summer is all about getting dirty, and instead focus on the sunshine and your kids (who will grow out of those stained clothes before you know it).