How to remove self-tanner stains

Self-tanner stains aren't too hard to tackle, but make sure you deal with them as soon as possible! Like any other stain, you really don't want to let it sit for too long. The longer you wait, the lower your chances are of actually lifting it.

Remove self-tanner stains by following these steps:

Step 1: Pre-treat your stain

Rinse the stained area in your sink with the stained side facing down (letting cold water run onto the reverse side). Apply a soap based product like our Wunderbar onto the stained side to break up the oil-based components. Work inward from the outer edges of the stain to avoid causing the stain to spread.

If the stain has penetrated deep into the fabric, you can use an old toothbrush to work the product in. Rinse the lather off.

Step 2: Machine wash

Wash your stained clothes/sheets on a warm cycle (if the care labels allow) with detergent and a color-safe oxygen brightener. Ours is called Supersalt if you're in the market for one.

Do not use chlorine bleach. In addition to being harsh on your lungs, chlorine bleach is harsh on fabrics and can lead to premature fiber breakage/holes. Counter-intuitively, it can also cause whites to yellow over time, when exposed to too much bleach.

Step 3: Soak overnight

If the stain is still visible, do not move on to drying. Instead, fill a bathtub or bucket with warm water and soak your stained item overnight with oxygen brightener to tackle the dye component.

You can test a small, hidden area with a layer of oxygen brightener for 15 minutes if you're unsure about how the material will fare.

Step 4: Rinse & repeat

Stubborn stains will require repeat treatment. As long as you see progress in between applications, you can repeat the steps above until the stain is completely removed.

Once you've managed to remove it, you can machine wash and dry your item.

Prevent self-tanner stains from happening in the first place

To reduce staining, don't use too much product! Give your tan time to develop for 8 to 12 hours and take a shower before slipping into your sheets.

If you're short on time, you can wear old clothes or a long pajama set to spare your white sheets from tanning product. Or, wear darker clothing and sleep in darker bedding, which will be more forgiving than white.

Lastly, remember that sweating increases transfer, so set your room temperature to cool and brush on baby powder before getting into bed to decrease sweating.

If all else fails...

Get a hold of 100% vegetable glycerine—a safe and effective solvent—and apply it directly onto the stain.

If residual staining remains, you can always tie-dye! It's a fun and on-trend way to mask stains. We usually send our customers to local dye artist Cara Marie Piazza. She offers online classes too, so you can take advantage of her expertise even if you don't live in Brooklyn.

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Words by Team Clean
Photo by Francesca Rao