First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Brush off any loose residue.
- Rinse under cold running water.
- Keep the area wet until you're ready to clean it.
Sunscreen that lands on concrete usually leaves an oily film, and some formulas add an orange mark that looks like rust. The oily part comes up with a rinse and some scrubbing, but the orange part is tougher since one ingredient can react with iron in hard water, so check the color before you push harder. A fresh mark usually lifts within a round or two, while an old orange one may only fade over several rounds.
Sunscreen really does stain concrete, so catch it while it's still fresh, before the orange sets in. If the tint hangs on after a couple of rinses, a grout cleaner is the product to reach for. On an older mark, patch test a corner first and rinse it well before you try anything stronger.
Before you start
What concrete, brick & driveways can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Hot water
- Soaking
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
6 items
What you'll need
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- Stiff fiber brushFor the wet brushing pass. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff bristle brushFor scrubbing with the detergent. (opens Amazon)
- Mild detergent or kitchen cleanserFor the scrub; a mild liquid dish soap works. (opens Amazon)
- Garden hose or cold running waterFor the rinses and to soak the concrete.
- Heavy-duty rubber glovesFor any rust remover. (opens Amazon)
- Proprietary masonry cleaner made for the stainOnly for a spot that survives the basic steps. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Test the gentlest method first
Choose the gentlest cleaning method that could work and try it on a small, out-of-sight patch of concrete. Let that patch dry and look at it before you treat the full stain.
Tip. Start gentle; you can always move to a stronger method later.
Step 2 of 6
Brush off and rinse
Brush off any loose residue, then rinse the stain under cold running water. Higher water pressure helps, so aim a firm stream at the mark rather than a trickle.
Step 3 of 6
Soak the concrete with water
Soak the stain and the concrete below it with water before any cleaner goes on. Keep the area wet until the cleaner is applied.
Step 4 of 6
Brush with a stiff fiber brush
Brush the wet stain with a stiff fiber brush and plain water, covering the whole mark. Keep the surface wet as you work.
Step 5 of 6
Scrub with a mild detergent
Apply a mild detergent or kitchen cleanser to the wet stain and scrub it with a stiff bristle brush. Rinse the area thoroughly with water once you've finished scrubbing.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse and check the result
Rinse the concrete with cold running water until no suds or residue remain. Let it dry fully, then look at it in good light, since a faint mark can still be there.
Tip. If a mark is left, move to the stronger treatments below.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for sunscreen on concrete, brick & driveways
Look for a proprietary masonry cleaner labeled for the specific stain, and follow its label exactly. Rust removers are a separate product type, so check that the label covers concrete or masonry.
Dawn Ultra Dish Soap Refill Jug
These are the everyday supplies the steps above use, in the versions most people buy on Amazon.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. 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
Each round should leave the mark a shade lighter, and the greasy sheen should go first. Wait for the concrete to dry completely before you judge, because it looks darker while it's wet. If two full rounds leave the same orange tint, it has likely set, so move on to the old-stain notes.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your concrete, brick & driveways
Fresh sunscreen
A fresh spill is the easiest version, because the greasy part hasn't had time to set. Brush off what you can and rinse it under cold running water straight away, then move through the steps without rushing. Save the stronger treatments for a mark that's still there after the rinse.
Don't wait for a better cleaner while the spill sits on the concrete. The sooner it's rinsed, the less there is to scrub.
Orange or rust-colored sunscreen
An orange mark means the rust part of the sunscreen is still there after the basic steps. Run the same steps first, since the scrub and rinse may lift part of it before anything stronger is needed.
If the mark is still orange, the rust remover is the one change from the basic method. Use it only per its label, and rinse the concrete thoroughly afterward.
Oily sunscreen residue
The greasy part of sunscreen is handled like any other oil stain. A commercial oil and tar remover is the product to reach for, and it should be used with care on concrete.
Rinse the area well when the remover has done its work, then check the spot before you scrub again.
Textured concrete
Textured or broom-finished concrete holds residue in its grooves, so the brushing takes longer. Work the stiff fiber brush into the texture while keeping the surface wet.
Rinse thoroughly before you judge the result, since residue and cleaner can hide in the grooves. The same brushes and detergent apply, so only the time and effort change.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A stain that has dried for days is an older stain, and the basic steps alone may not lift it. Start with a poultice of talc, whiting, fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth or clay mixed with the right solvent. Spread it at least 1/8 inch thick, cover it with plastic for 24 hours, let it dry, then scrape or brush it off.
If a mark is still there after the scrub, use a proprietary masonry cleaner made for that stain, following its label. For an orange mark, a commercial rust remover is the other option, used only per its label.
Repeat the poultice as needed, but expect that older accumulated stains need stronger methods, with more risk of damage to the concrete. Proprietary cleaners made for the stain are the better choice over homemade mixes, and if the mark still won't lift after that, you may have to accept a faint trace.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on sunscreen on concrete, brick & driveways?
A mild detergent scrub already does this job on concrete, so kitchen remedies add nothing. Dish soap is the one that fits, as the mild detergent in the scrub. The others aren't needed, since a mild detergent scrub does the work on concrete.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach on an orange mark
Bleach sets rust and makes an orange sunscreen stain worse, so keep it away from the spot. Never mix it with vinegar or an acidic rust remover either, since that releases chlorine gas.
Don't handle a rust remover without gloves
Rust removers are strong acids, so use them only per the label. Wear heavy-duty rubber gloves for the whole job, including the rinse.
Don't scrub an unidentified stain with strong chemicals
Stronger chemicals on a stain you can't identify can create marks that are harder to remove. If the gentle steps don't work and you still can't tell what it is, a testing lab can identify it.
Don't heat an oily mark
Heat sets oily stains, so keep a heater or dryer away from the spot while you work on it. Let the concrete air-dry between rounds so you can judge the result fairly.
Don't skip the patch test
Sunscreen brands and formulas differ, so test the gentlest method on a small, inconspicuous area first. That shows you how the concrete reacts before you commit the whole mark to a stronger product.
Don't assume an orange mark is only oily
An orange tint means the rust-colored part is present, and an oil-focused approach may not lift it. Check the color after the rinse, because that tells you whether you need a rust-focused product.
When to call a professional
Call a specialist if the orange mark survives a rust-focused product, or if an old sealer seems to block the cleaner. Tell them it was sunscreen, how long it has been there, and which products you've already used. If you still can't name the mark, a testing lab can identify a sample before anything stronger goes on.
Questions
Does sunscreen stain concrete?
Yes. The greasy part leaves a film, and some formulas leave an orange, rust-colored mark as well. Brush, rinse and scrub it soon, since an older stain needs stronger methods.
Why does sunscreen turn orange on concrete?
Avobenzone in sunscreen can react with iron in hard water and leave orange, rust-colored stains. That's why some sunscreen marks look rusty instead of greasy. Treat the orange part as the harder, rust-type stain.
Can I use a rust remover on a sunscreen stain?
Yes, but only for an orange mark that survives the scrub, and only following the label. Use it after the basic steps, not in place of them. Then rinse the concrete thoroughly.
Can I get the whole stain out of concrete?
A fresh stain often comes out with the basic steps. An older or orange stain may need stronger methods, which carry more risk of damage to the concrete, so weigh that before you go further.
How long should a poultice stay on?
Leave it covered with plastic for 24 hours, then let it dry before you scrape or brush it off. If the mark is still there, repeat it as needed.
How do I know when the stain is gone?
Rinse the area, let it dry fully, and check it in good light. If a faint mark remains, repeat the step that worked best before trying anything stronger.
Will a pressure washer lift sunscreen off concrete faster?
It can help with the oily film, but keep the pressure at 400 psi or less, use a 25 to 50 degree fan tip, and hold the nozzle at least 12 inches from the surface. Pushing harder erodes the concrete, and extra force won't remove the rust-colored part any better.
Why should I soak the concrete before I scrub?
Soaking first keeps the cleaner and the loosened residue on the surface, where the rinse can carry them away. On dry concrete the surface drinks up the solution and pulls the dirt in with it, which makes the mark harder to clear.
Is chlorine bleach ever safe on a sunscreen mark?
Not on an orange or rust-colored mark, because chlorine bleach sets rust and makes the stain worse. Never mix it with vinegar or an acidic rust remover either, since that combination releases chlorine gas.
Sunscreen on other materials
Other stains on concrete, brick & driveways
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.