First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Act as soon as you can, since the longer it sits the harder it is to lift.
- Blot rather than scrub, which pushes the stain further in.
- Run cold water through the back of the stain.
- Keep heat off it, including the dryer, until it's gone.
Self tanner can rub off freshly tanned skin onto sheets, and because it's oil-based with dye added, the mark needs both lifted. A fresh transfer comes out far more easily than one that has been dried and washed a few times. Whether the label allows bleach is the deciding factor, since chlorine bleach belongs only on colorfast linens.
Let self tanner dry fully before you lie down, and wear loose sleepwear to cut down on rub-off. Clear spray tan and tanning lotion can still transfer, so check the sheet after each wash and let it air dry rather than using the dryer. If a dried mark survives the wash, an overnight cold soak in a stain-fighting detergent is worth a try.
Before you start
What sheets, towels & table linens can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
4 items
What you'll need
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- Cold waterFlushes the stain and is the temperature for every step.
- Laundry detergent or dishwashing soapMakes the cool-water solution for dabbing the stain. (opens Amazon)
- Clean clothBlots and dabs without spreading the mark.
- Stain-fighting detergentGoes in the overnight soak if a mark is left after washing.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Start while the stain is fresh
Fresh self tanner lifts far more easily than a dried mark, so start as soon as you spot it. Check the sheets' care label for the wash temperature it allows, and if the label is missing or unreadable, stick to cold water for every step.
Step 2 of 6
Blot the mark with cold water
Hold the back of the stain under cold running water so the color is pushed out through the front. Blot with a clean cloth and keep moving to a clean spot instead of rubbing.
Tip. Lay a clean towel under the sheet so the mark doesn't pass through to the other side.
Step 3 of 6
Dab on a detergent solution
Mix laundry detergent or dishwashing soap with cool water. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and dab the stain gently, working from the edges toward the center.
Careful. Dishwashing soap can damage silk, velvet and other delicate sheets, so skip it on those.
Step 4 of 6
Wash the sheets in cold water
Put the sheets straight into a cold wash, ideally by themselves, so the tan doesn't spread to other laundry. Keep the setting cold even if the label allows warmer, since heat can set the mark.
Step 5 of 6
Soak overnight if a mark is left
If you can still see the stain after washing, soak the sheets overnight in cold water with a stain-fighting detergent. Make sure the sheets are fully covered so the whole mark is in the solution.
Step 6 of 6
Wash again and let them air dry
Wash the sheets again after the soak, then let them air dry. Once they're dry, check the spot in good light, and if it's still there, the set-in section below is your next step.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for self tanner on sheets, towels & table linens
For the overnight soak, look for a stain-fighting detergent or an enzyme presoak, and keep the sheets out of the dryer until the mark is gone.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on sheets, towels & table linens, 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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A fresh transfer should look noticeably paler after the cold soak and one wash. Hold off on the dryer until you're sure, because any trace left in the fabric can set under heat. If it hasn't budged after a second wash, the mark has likely aged, so switch to the older-stain routine.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
Spray tan
Spray tan is a sunless tanner too, so it leaves the same kind of mark and needs the same steps. Most sunless tanners use dihydroxyacetone, the color additive that darkens skin, so treat the product as the same type.
Check the whole sheet for smaller marks before you wash, since spray tan can be on more of the fabric than you first noticed. Then work through the steps in order, keeping everything cold.
Clear self tanner or clear spray tan
Clear self tanners and sprays are still self-tanners, which are typically oil-based, so they leave a mark the same way. The difference is that you may not see it right away, so look at the sheet in good light before you assume it's clean.
If you feel a slightly oily or tacky spot, treat it as a stain and use the cold blot and detergent solution. The rest of the steps stay the same, and nothing here needs a stronger cleaner.
Tanning lotion
Tanning lotion can stain sheets too, but the answer depends on the product. If the bottle says it's a self-tanner, the same steps apply, since self-tanners are typically oil-based with added dye. If it's a plain tanning lotion, treat it as an oily stain and use the same order: cold blot, detergent solution, cold wash.
If the sheets have no care label, keep every step cold, since cold water is always the safe choice for an unknown fabric. Skip any stronger treatment until you know what the sheets are made of.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old self tanner is harder to lift than a fresh mark, because it has had longer to sink into the weave. If it has dried, brush or scrape off any crusted residue first, then soak the sheets in cold water with a detergent or enzyme presoak. Dried marks usually need more than one round, so expect to repeat the soak.
If the sheets have been through the dryer, the heat has probably set the mark, so it may only lighten rather than disappear. For colorfast white sheets, an overnight cold soak in an all-fabric oxygen bleach is the stronger option. Follow the packet directions for the amount to use.
If it's still visible after two rounds, the stain is likely permanent. A professional cleaner can try a stronger solvent treatment on washable sheets that you can't fix at home.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on self tanner on sheets, towels & table linens?
Plenty of household remedies get suggested for this stain, but most don't belong on sheets. A few are worth using on sheets, and the rest you can skip.
Works1Helps1Skip4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub with bar soap
Soap sets many stains, so rubbing a fresh mark with a bar of it can lock the color in. Use the detergent solution from the steps instead, applied with a cloth.
Don't reach for milk or old home remedies
Milk adds a protein stain on top of the one that's already there, which makes the mark harder to lift. Stick to the cold blot and the detergent solution instead.
Don't bleach colored sheets untested
Oxygen bleach can change the color of colored sheets, so test a hidden corner before you use it. Skip bleach altogether on silk.
Don't leave the sheets sitting
Self tanner gets harder to lift the longer it stays in the fabric, so a bed that goes unwashed for days can turn a quick job into a long soak. Get the sheets into the wash as soon as you notice the mark.
Don't leave a pretreater on too long
Spray and stick pretreaters can fade some dyes when they sit longer than the label allows. Set a timer when you use one, then rinse the spot thoroughly before the wash.
When to call a professional
A dry cleaner is the safer bet when the mark is wide, the fabric is fragile, or the piece is too bulky to wash at home, even if the label says washable. Mention the fiber content and the self tanner, along with the detergents you've used so far.
Questions
Do self tan and fake tan stain sheets?
Yes. Self tan and fake tan are typically oil-based with added dye, so they can leave a mark that sets if it's dried or heated. Treat it quickly with cold water and a detergent solution, then follow the steps above.
How do I avoid self tan stains on white sheets?
Let the tan dry fully before you get into bed, since fresh product rubs off onto fabric most easily. For the first night or two, wear loose, dark nightwear so the tan has less to rub against the sheet.
Will a faint mark come out after a few more washes?
It may, if it has faded to a light shadow. Repeat the cold blot and detergent dab on that spot, then wash again. If it's still there after two rounds, it's likely set in, so move on to the set-in section.
Does the pillowcase need the same treatment as the sheet?
Yes, treat it the same way, with the cold blot and detergent dab, and wash it in the same cold load. Check both sides, since pillowcases can pick up the mark from the face or hair.
Should I wash white sheets in hot water with this mark on them?
Not until the mark is gone. Cold comes first on this stain, because heat can set what's left, and once it's out the hottest setting on the care label is safe for white cotton.
Can I bleach colored sheets to lift the mark?
Chlorine is off the table for colored sheets unless the label clearly allows it and a test patch holds its color. Oxygen-based bleach is the option to reach for, and test it on an inconspicuous corner first.
Can sheets soak overnight to lift a stubborn mark?
Yes, if the mark is still there after the first wash. Use cold water with a stain-fighting detergent, leave the sheets overnight, and wash them again the next morning.
Self Tanner on other materials
Other stains on sheets, towels & table linens
Start from the bigger picture
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.