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Ah, summer. The season where stains get their moment in the sun. From popsicles to pollen and from sweat to sunscreen, summer stains seem unavoidable. What you need are some handy tricks to tackle them because, thankfully, you can remove (or at least reduce) most summer stains.
Why does it stain so badly? Because of ingredients used in sun lotions, they commonly leave an oily looking stain behind. Sigh. The secret to removing sunscreen stains is to use a laundry detergent that expertly cuts through grease and oil, such as Persil® ProClean® Plus OXI Power Laundry . According to the makers of Persil laundry detergent , “a quick pre-treatment will help break up the oily stains, making it much easier for your washing machine to do its job effectively.” Always check labels for guidelines before washing garments.
Tip: Be sure to follow the fabric instructions and wash at the warmest temperature possible.
Light-colored and white clothes look so good in the summer! But more often than not, we end up with unsightly yellow sweat stains, especially in the armpit area. To remove sweat stains, you will want to bring back that Persil® laundry detergent or a stain remover such as Zout® laundry stain remover. Spot-treat the stain and let it soak in—30 minutes for fresh stains, overnight for stubborn stains. Don’t rinse, and then wash as usual in the washing machine at the highest temperature that the garment label recommends. No guarantees on pit stains, as they are a tough one, but this should definitely help.
Tip: Looking for a more detailed sweat stain removal? See our remove sweat stains from sports clothes article.
Whether it’s a vase of lilies that have left their mark on your shirt or the wildflowers you picked on your walk in the park, here are tips toremove pollen stains from clothes. First, shake off as much as you can. Don’t brush, add water or touch it with your fingers—the natural grease on our hands can set the stain into the fabric. Then, dab the pollen stain with sticky tape to lift it off as much as possible. Next, spot-treat with a stain remover or laundry detergent suitable for the fabric. Leave it to soak, then wash as normal in the laundry machine.
Tip: Snip the anthers from lilies to avoid stains. These are the small parts of the flower that contain the pollen. Cut them gently and use a paper towel in your other hand to catch the pollen-covered anthers.
Ice pops are a delicious treat for the kids (and us!) when it’s hot. But these fruit-based treats stain something awful! Acting fast after the fruit stain happens increases your chances of removing it completely. Scrape off what you can (seeds or pieces of fruit) with the back of a spoon. Pretreat the popsicle stain with a stain remover or laundry detergent such as Persil® ProClean®. Leave to be absorbed, but do not let dry completely. Then, wash the garment in the washing machine using your normal laundry detergent. Wash the load as warm as the label recommends for best stain-removing results.
Tip: Make sure the stain is completely removed before drying the garment. If not, repeat the steps before drying.
Days outside in the grass are great—except when the grass stains your clothes! Remove this common summer stain using the following steps. Pour a small amount of liquid, bio-based laundry detergent, such as all® Free Clean Pure, onto the stain using the dosage cap. If the grass stain is dried, add a little water first to dampen it. Then, rub the detergent into the stain using the back of a spoon or gloved hand. Leave to soak in for up to one hour and don’t rinse. Then, wash as normal at the highest temperature the care label recommends. Watch our video on removing grass stains here.
Now, go out and enjoy the warm weather, feeling relaxed that you can tackle any summer stain you come up against. And, if you’re planning some trips in the great outdoors, check out our article on hiking gear and how to take care of it.