Is the sunscreen you’re using leaving orange stains on the collars of white T-shirts and other light-colored clothing this summer? An ingredient found in many popular American sunscreens could be the culprit.
Avobenzone, a chemical ingredient widely used in sunscreens to protect wearers from cancer-causing ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, is likely the culprit behind the rust stains some consumers have been complaining about on social media.
Avobenzone is a chemical found in sunscreens sold at Target, CVS, REI and on Amazon.com. Avobenzone can oxidize when mixed with iron-rich water, which can cause discoloration in light-colored clothing and fabrics, stain experts, laundry companies and even some sunscreen manufacturers have confirmed.
“It’s rare, but that ugly orange tint can occur when avobenzone (an active ingredient in many sunscreens) mixes with water that’s super high in iron. That combination causes oxidation and often leads to nasty rust stains,” sunscreen maker Sun Bum writes on its website, in response to a consumer complaint in its Q&A section. The company did not say whether it offers compensation to customers who say the product ruined their clothes.
Sun Bum did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch’s request for comment on the matter.
Laundry detergent manufacturer Tide claims that sunscreens containing avobenzone are also the cause of orange stains.
“Sunscreen stains are usually greasy, but they can also leave orange, rust-colored marks on your clothes thanks to avobenzone, an ingredient in sunscreen that can react with iron in hard water,” Tide says in an article on its website about removing stains.
Ubiquitous, but not essential
More than 600 sunscreens from more than 130 different brands use avobenzone, according to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. However, the active ingredient isn’t in all sunscreen formulas. Sun Bum, for example, also makes mineral-based sunscreens that don’t contain avobenzone.
Unlike most adult sunscreens, many children’s and baby sunscreens are formulated with minerals rather than chemicals and do not contain avobenzone. While mineral sunscreens do not leave orange stains on clothing, they often leave a white cast on the skin, while chemical sunscreens are lighter and rub in more easily.
How can I remove the orange stains?
Stain removal expert Mary Gagliardi told CBS MoneyWatch that the stains caused by sunscreens containing avobenzone are typically oily and require “a two-step pre-treatment, targeting the oil first and then the color. Afterward, the stain should be machine washed in at least warm water.”
She suggests removing the stains as follows:
First, treat the sunscreen stain with a small amount of dish soap to remove oil, Gagliardi said. Then massage the soap into the stain and let it sit for five minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water.
Next, use a bleach-free stain remover like Clorox 2 for Colors and rub it into the stain. Let it sit for 10 minutes before machine washing the item with warm water, detergent, and more stain remover.
Let the garment air dry and repeat the treatment if necessary, Gagliardi said.
