This DIY guide will show you how to remove sunscreen from car interiors. Cleaning your car with household items and store-bought cleaners is recommended.
With summer here, we’re going to be spending a lot of time in the car. You’re probably going to pick up some sunscreen whether you’re on a family road trip or just going to the grocery store.
You will most likely find a white spot at the spot where you applied sunscreen to your arms that got transferred to the seat once you take off your clothes, remove the towel from around your neck, and slip into those shorts.
How to remove sunscreen from the car interior
The following household products can be used to remove sunscreen stains from car seats.
Soapy water
Remove the stain with a sponge or cloth dipped in soapy water.
Both old and new stains can be removed with this method, but it may not be effective in extreme cases.
Step 1
Using a wet wipe or a dry cloth, wipe any leftover residue off the car seat if the stain is new. Make sure you use circular motions to avoid spreading the stain.
Step 2
You can use dish detergent or soap that is on hand or find some soap and water. Create suds by mixing them together. To a quart of water, you should add two tablespoons of soap.
Make sure the soap you are using is safe for upholstery that is made of leather and fabric.
Step 3
You don’t want too much soapy liquid to drip onto your car seat, so dip your sponge or cloth into the mixture and wring out any excess liquid.
Step 4
Rub fabric and leather seats until sunscreen is gone.
Repeat as needed until all sunscreen is gone (this might take a while)
You should remove excess water from the sponge and cloth before rubbing. If you have a fabric car seat that you can bleach, you can apply bleach directly to stains (not leather!
Step 5
If necessary, rinse with water to remove soap residue, then dry off excess moisture with a clean towel or paper towels.
Vinegar
This household product can be used to remove stains, oils, and grease from a variety of surfaces.
By mixing vinegar with baking soda, you can make an abrasive paste that works well for removing those pesky white spots left by sunscreen!
Avoid rubbing too hard since the fabric may be damaged if too much pressure is applied.
Step 1
The first step is to turn on your car’s ventilator so that any excess odors can be removed. The smell of vinegar will also dissipate faster with this method.
Step 2
Combine vinegar and baking soda (both household products) to create an abrasive paste. Baking soda is usually mixed with vinegar in a ratio of two to one.
Step 3
Scrub off sunscreen stains from fabric seats with circular motions after using a sponge or cloth dipped in this mixture!
Don’t forget to remove excess water from the sponge or cloth before rubbing, and scrub gently.
Step 4
Dry off thoroughly after rinsing.
If you have a leather car seat, wash it with a pH-balanced soap to remove any vinegar residue.
Lemon
It is easy to remove sunscreen from the car interior with the help of lemons, which are citrus fruits. It breaks down any stubborn stains on your clothes without much difficulty due to the acidity of the fruit.
With just a few fresh lemons and some water, you can remove those pesky sunscreen stains from your upholstery.
Step 1
Remove the seeds from some fresh lemons and cut them in half.
Steps 2
On the stain on your car seat, squeeze about three or four halves of a lemon over it.
Steps 3
Wait about five minutes before scrubbing with a sponge or cloth.
Steps 4
Remove any excess lemon juice by rinsing with water and drying the seat with a cloth.
If no stains remain, use a clean towel or paper towels to wipe away any remaining lemon juice residue.
Rubbing alcohol
Because it can break down the material as well, rubbing alcohol is an excellent solution for removing sunscreen stains from car seats.
Additionally, it can remove old stains from the interior, so if you have an oily residue, this is a good choice.
Step 1
Let the car seat’s stain soak for several minutes with some rubbing alcohol. Spray bottles of rubbing alcohol are better since they can be applied faster.
Steps 2
Using a clean sponge or cloth, rub off the sunscreen.
Make sure you use a clean cloth or sponge to prevent dirt from accumulating. Alcohol is safe for upholstered furniture, too.
Repeat until you’ve gotten all the stains out!
Before rubbing, make sure to remove all excess moisture from the sponge or cloth, and be gentle.
Steps 3
You can rinse with water if necessary to remove any residue before patting dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
Most car seats can be removed from sunscreen stains with these methods, but they may not be 100% effective.
It is recommended that you consult with a local detailer or use one of the products recommended below if this is the case for your vehicle’s interior.
Store-Bought Cleaners
If you don’t want to do DIY cleaning, here are the best cleaners you can find in stores.
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Chemical Guys Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
When it comes to cleaning leather upholstery without scrubbing, toxic chemicals, ammonia, bleach, color damaging detergents or solvents, Chemical Guys Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner is the best option!
It needs to be sprayed on and then wiped off with a clean cloth.
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Dawn Dish Soap
Even the most stubborn stains can be removed with this product without any hassle.
In addition, Dawn dish soap works wonders on oil and grease stains often left behind by sunscreen!
Squeeze some of the liquid onto the stained fabric. To remove those pesky white spots, scrub with a sponge for two minutes then rinse off!
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Mr. Clean has been around for years and is a household favorite. This cleaner uses sponge material to remove sunscreen stains from car seats.
No scrubbing is necessary because it has an abrasive texture that breaks down stains easily.
Goo Gone
Including sunscreen, this product is great for removing sticky substances from your car seats!
Goo gone has a distinctive orange smell, so it might not be the best option if you prefer fragrance-free products.
Overall, this cleaner does an excellent job of eliminating pesky white spots left by sunscreens.
The product is also effective on other residues on fabric and leather upholstery alike – without leaving any traces!
Leather Honey Leather Cleaner
Leather Honey provides a durable layer that protects your car seats from future stains caused by oils, dirt, or spills, while leaving a pleasant leather scent behind.
Other useful items
You might also need these products to remove sunscreen from upholstered surfaces in your vehicle.
Shout Wipe and Go Instant Stain Remover
These wipes remove tough stains like sunscreen without much difficulty at all! Just be sure not to leave them sitting open.
Eventually, they may become more difficult to remove the next time you need them.
Zwipes Microfiber Cloth
You can use this gentle cleaning cloth to remove stubborn stains, such as sunscreen, without damaging the upholstery of your car!
Please make sure to select the size and color that best suits your needs when ordering Zwipes.
Why do you want to remove the sunscreen your car
Many people do not know that sunscreens are bad for cars since they think their purpose is to protect us against UV rays while driving outside in the sun.
Even the most effective sunscreen won’t protect you from UV rays that reflect off of cars and buildings.
In addition, because sunscreen is petroleum-based, it will absorb into dashboards and leather interiors.
There’s no point in having a car full of sunscreen stains because you can’t enjoy the clean dashboard or leather seats.
So why not just use sunblock when you’re outside (which is specially designed for this purpose) instead?
Exterior Damage
Additionally, sunscreens can cause the paint on your car to fade sooner. They prevent the paint from forming a protective layer since they coat its surface.
Surfaces can even turn white due to them. Mineral deposits are generally left behind when products are applied too liberally.
Ways of preventing future sunscreen stains on car
If you want to avoid sunscreen stains on your car’s dashboard and seats, you should vacuum any loose dirt and dust from the interior regularly.
This will help in preventing sunscreen from sticking to the surfaces of your seats while also protecting against harmful UV rays. These can damage the leather surface over time.
In addition, you should use car wax to protect your surfaces. By using an auto detailer, any mineral deposits left behind by sunscreen can be removed.
Conclusion
Instead of using greasy hand towels, clean the interior of your car. The DIY guide on how to remove sunscreen stains from a car, as well as store-bought cleaners, is intended to help you clean up any future messes without damaging your vehicle or its occupants.
The next step is prevention so be sure not to get sunscreen on anything other than skin! Happy driving!