First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape or brush off excess lotion with a dull edge.
- Blot rather than rub, so the oil does not spread.
- Test any solvent or cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Keep heat off until the stain is gone; drying sets it.
Lotion and cream are oily cosmetics, so they leave a greasy or white mark that a plain rinse won't fully lift. Acne cream is the exception, because its active ingredient can bleach the fabric and the damage may not appear for hours, days or even months. Check the label before you start, since that one detail changes what you should expect.
Suntan lotion stains on white clothes spread the moment you rub them, so keep your hands off the greasy spot. A prewash stain remover spray or an enzyme laundry pretreater works on that film before the item goes into the wash. Check that the mark is fully gone before the load goes in the dryer, since heat can lock in whatever is left.
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Solvent-type spot cleanerTreats the oily part of the stain before the detergent goes on. (opens Amazon)
- Waterless hand cleanerA usable alternative to a spot cleaner for the same oily spot.
- Liquid laundry detergentUsed for the soak and the light-duty solution; bar soap sets stains. (opens Amazon)
- Clean sponge or clothFor dabbing and blotting the spot instead of rubbing it. (opens Amazon)
- Ammonia (optional)Only for a mark that remains after the wash, and never on silk or wool. (opens Amazon)
- Light-duty liquid detergent (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
How to get lotion out of clothes
Step 1 of 6
Rinse out the excess in cold water
Brush off any dried or excess lotion first, then hold the spot under cold running water. Higher water pressure helps, so a firm stream works better than a gentle trickle.
Tip. Turn the fabric inside out so the water pushes the lotion out the way it went in.
Careful. On silk and wool, don't brush at all; blot the excess with a clean cloth, since rubbing damages silk and agitation makes wool felt.
Step 2 of 6
Sponge the spot with solvent cleaner
Dab a solvent-type spot cleaner or a waterless hand cleaner onto the stain with a sponge, working from the edges toward the middle. Rinse the spot with water afterward, then let it air dry before you go on.
Tip. Either product works, so use whichever you already have at home.
Careful. Solvents need good ventilation, and they should stay well away from flames.
Step 3 of 65 minutes
Soak in liquid detergent for 5 minutes
Work liquid laundry detergent into the stain first, then soak the item in 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent per gallon of cold water. Keep the item fully submerged for up to 5 minutes so the detergent stays on the spot.
Tip. Work the detergent in with your fingertips, not a brush.
Step 4 of 6
Wash on the hottest label-safe setting
Put the item in the washer and choose the hottest setting the care label allows. If the label gives a lower limit, follow it, because the label is the safer guide for the fabric.
Step 5 of 6
Treat any mark left with ammonia
If a mark remains after the wash, mix a few drops of ammonia into a light-duty liquid detergent solution and sponge it onto the spot. Rinse with water, then launder the item again.
Tip. Try the solution on a hidden seam before you use it on the stain.
Careful. Never use chlorine bleach on a spot that has been treated with ammonia; rinse thoroughly in between, because bleach and ammonia form toxic chloramine gas.
Step 6 of 6
Check before anything goes in the dryer
Unload the washer right away and look at the spot in good light. If any stain remains, repeat the treatment before you dry the item.
Tip. Hold the fabric up to a window or a bright lamp, since faint marks are easy to miss.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for lotion
Pick a solvent-type spot cleaner or a waterless hand cleaner for the spot, and a liquid laundry detergent for the soak and wash.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Lotion on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
A finished spot looks the same as the fabric around it and doesn't feel greasy when you touch it. If it still feels oily or shows a faint mark after the wash, go back through the solvent and detergent steps before the item sees any heat.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
Whites and white shirts
White cotton and other white washable fabric can take hot water, soaking and the detergent steps exactly as written, so a white shirt needs no changes. Work the solvent spot first, then soak and wash as usual.
Polyester and other synthetics can't take the hot wash, so use the setting the label gives for synthetics, and never put them in the dryer while oil is still in the fabric. If you can't tell what chiffon or a shirt is made of, treat it as delicate: blot, don't rub, and keep it away from heat.
Colors and denim
Colored fabric and denim can take the cold soak and the detergent, but hot water and chlorine are limited, so follow the care label rather than the hottest setting. Test a hidden seam before any stronger step, since a color that isn't colorfast can change.
Everything else stays the same, so the solvent sponge comes first and the wash comes after. Never use chlorine bleach on colored items that aren't colorfast.
Silk, wool and delicates
Silk is the one fabric to leave to a professional: blot the lotion, keep heat off, and take the garment to a cleaner as soon as possible, pointing out the spill. Don't rub silk while it's wet, and don't machine-wash it at home, even if the label says washable silk.
Wool can take water and a careful soak, but never hot water, rubbing or brushing, and never enzyme detergent, chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach or ammonia. If you can't tell the fiber, treat the item as delicate. The Silk & Satin guide goes deeper on silk-specific stains.
Dry-clean-only items
For dry-clean-only items, skip the oxygen bleach and don't put the garment through the washer. Blot the lotion, keep heat off, and take it to a professional cleaner, pointing out the lotion so they know what to treat.
The only home step worth trying is a light sponge with a solvent-type spot cleaner or waterless hand cleaner on the spot itself, and the rest should go to the cleaner.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old lotion stain that has had time to set needs the full routine, not a quick rinse. Repeat the solvent sponge and the detergent soak, then use the ammonia solution on sturdy fabric before you launder again. Ammonia is the strongest treatment here, so keep it off silk and wool.
Dried lotion is harder because drying sets the mark, so the solvent sponge comes first again. Let each solvent pass air dry fully before you move on.
If the item has already been through the dryer, the stain may be set, and removal can become extremely difficult, if not impossible. If a mark is still there after repeating these steps, it may be as clean as it will get at home, so take it to a professional cleaner rather than trying a harsher product.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on lotion?
Kitchen remedies don't handle lotion; the solvent sponge and the detergent soak do that job. If you're hoping to skip the wash, none of the remedies below replaces it, so use the spot steps and then wash.
Skip3Avoid3
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use bar soap on a fresh stain
Bar soap sets many stains, so rubbing it into a fresh lotion mark can make it much harder to remove. Liquid laundry detergent does the job without that risk, and it's what the soak calls for.
Don't wait on acne cream stains
Benzoyl peroxide is a strong oxidizing and bleaching agent that can destroy dyes, and the spots may not appear for hours, days or months. Rinse acne cream out thoroughly right away, because once the color is destroyed nothing can be done, and spots that look bleached, pinkish, yellow or white are permanent.
Don't guess at the care label
The care label decides how hot the wash can go and whether chlorine bleach is allowed. If it's missing or you don't know the fiber, treat the item as delicate: blot it, use cold water only, and skip the bleach.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
A greasy shadow remains after washing
Repeat the solvent sponging and liquid detergent steps, then wash again. If it persists, use the light-duty detergent solution with a few drops of ammonia before the next wash.
A pale or yellowish spot appeared days later
That pattern matches benzoyl peroxide from acne cream, which destroys the dye. The color loss is permanent, so further washing will not restore it.
The solvent left a ring around the spot
Sponge again from the outer edge inward with a lightly dampened cloth. Rinse with water and let the area air dry evenly.
The stain is on a silk blouse
Blot it and keep heat off. Take the garment to a professional cleaner as soon as possible and point out the spill.
When to call a professional
Take silk, delicate, or dry-clean-only items to a professional cleaner as soon as possible, and point out the lotion when you drop them off. If the mark is still there after the home steps, the cleaner can judge what the fabric will take, which is safer than repeating the wash.
Questions
Does lotion or suntan lotion stain clothes?
Yes, lotions and suntan lotions are oily cosmetics, so they leave a greasy or white mark on clothes. The sooner you treat it, the easier it is, and keeping heat off stops the mark from setting.
Are there suntan lotions that don't stain clothes?
No suntan lotion can be relied on to stay off clothes, so plan for a possible mark rather than hoping for one that won't stain. If one lands on a shirt, treat it right away with the solvent and detergent steps.
Will suntan lotion stains come out of white clothes?
Oily suntan lotion on white cotton follows the same steps as any other lotion. Use the solvent sponge, the detergent soak and a hot wash the label allows, and check before drying.
Can I get lotion out of clothes without washing?
Not really, because the spot steps are meant to be followed by a wash. The quickest route is the solvent sponge, the detergent soak and a wash, and none of the kitchen remedies replaces that.
What should I use on hand lotion stains?
Use a solvent-type spot cleaner or a waterless hand cleaner on the spot, then rinse with water. Follow with liquid laundry detergent and a wash on the hottest setting the care label allows.
What if I can't tell what fabric the shirt is made of?
Treat it as delicate, since you can't be sure what it can take. Blot the lotion instead of rubbing, and skip the hot wash until you know the fabric.
Does a lotion stain come out once it has dried?
It can, but dried lotion is harder, so start with the solvent sponge again and let each pass dry before the soak. If it's still there after repeating the steps, take it to a professional cleaner.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.