Anyone experience orange staining from SPF/moisturisers on white (perhaps other) coloured clothing

Triathlon Forum
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Ok so upfront disclaimer I am a gent. I’ve asked a somewhat related question in the LR some time ago but at the time thought it was due to heavy sweating. However…

I’ve noticed that it typically just affects my white undershirts and mainly on the front of the collar. Never underarm sweat stains. Occasionally light shirt collars and also around the hem on a pair of white shorts.

It has bugged me for so long as I am diligent with cleaning my neck area (exfoliating etc) but the dilemma goes on. I thought about what I do differently there and it dawned on me that for some time I have used a Nivea moisturiser on my face and neck that generally has a built in SPF sunscreen. So I googled sunscreen stains and there appears to be a bit of consensus that it can be a cause. It ties in with the shorts having applied sunscreen to my legs.

I figured that women are more likely to use moisturisers with, or in addition to, a sunscreen. This room also has active women who spend more time outdoors than their sedentary peers, increasing the odds of sunscreen. I also figure women often wear light coloured clothing and therefore may have encountered this.

Anyway I think that’s sufficient information to draw out any responses. I just banished about 15 white shirts (with dirty collars) to the duster box and bought brand new ones which I’'d like to keep clean for longer. More importantly I want to spare some of the new business shirts and a white, linen smart casual shirt from the same fate.

Over to the womens…

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I can’t help with a solution… happens to me too. My sunscreen bottle says it may stain clothes, which it does. Trying different brands may help as not all stain as much/bad as others, but I’m more concerned about not getting sunburned than white shirts staining - I just try to stay away from white shirts if possible. I’ll be following to see if others have actual useful info!

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The following is a collation of comments I read from forums…

I have read (for what it’s worth) that it relates to chemicals used in certain sunscreens/moisturisers and the iron content in the water used to wash the items. The chemical (avobenzone) is an oxidiser and oxidises the iron in the water, leaving essentially rush stains. A variety of treatments were suggested, largely bathroom type lime/rust removers that are fabric safe (products quoted included ALL, Fab, Iron Out, The Works, Lysol Toilet Cleaner Power Lime and Rust, CLR, Grapefruit Juice Concentrate, Lemon juice ). Regarding the juices, citric acid is a good chelator, meaning it grabs on to cations (i.e. metals) in the water - often used in washing machine cleaners.

To avoid repeats people have suggested avoiding sunscreens that use avobenzone/Parsol 1789 (another name used on labels is butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane). Otherwise wait until dry before putting on clothes to minimise transfer.

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I like Elta MD UV lotion broad-spectrum SPF 30+. It contains 7.5% octinoxate and 7.0% zinc oxide and doesn’t stain. My brother likes it too.

https://www.amazon.com/Elta-UV-Lotion-SPF-30/dp/B000PHP8L4/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484566971&sr=8-1&keywords=elta+md+uv+lotion+broad-spectrum+spf+30%2B