How to Get Self-Tanner Out of Clothes: A Complete Guide

Self-tanner has made a lot of progress in recent years. Now you can land a feigned sunkissed glow in your desired shade of bronze (versus oompa-loompa orange) — if done correctly, that is. However, there's one self-tanner woe that still remains: product transfer. So knowing how to get self-tanner out of clothes, bedsheets, and even your hands, is prized intel. Fortunately, we have a slew of laundry experts to help us out in that department. Ahead, we round up tips on how to remove self-tanner stains, stat.

What Causes Self-Tanner to Stain?

First, you should know the popular tanning ingredient, dihydroxyacetone, isn't what causes stains, says Mary Gagliardi (a.k.a. Dr. Laundry), Clorox's in-house cleaning and laundry expert. This ingredient is colorless. What causes the stain is the other ingredients combined with the oils in the formula, or any colorants used to give the product color. Opting for a clear or colorless self-tanner, such as Tan Luxe Hydra-Mousse Hydrating Self-Tan Mousse, could be the answer to all your woes.

How much product you use and how long you let it dry can also contribute to the likelihood of the product transferring onto your clothes and bedsheets, add Theresa and Corinna Williams, co-founders of Celsious laundry mat. When you're short on time, they recommend opting for a long pajama set or dark clothing and bedding. "Remember that sweating increases transfer, so set your room temperature to cool and brush on baby powder before getting into bed to decrease sweating," they advise.

How Do I Remove Self-Tanner Stains?

Let's say you follow all of those directions, but your favorite tried-and-true tanner still transfers, then what? "Self-tanner stains aren't too hard to tackle, but make sure you deal with them as soon as possible," emphasize the Williams sisters. "Like any other stain, you don't want to let it sit for too long. The longer you wait, the lower your chances are of actually lifting it."

Step One: Pretreat the Self-Tanner Stain

Start by brushing any excess residue from the stain that sits on the surface of the fabric, instructs Jennifer Ahoni, Tide senior scientist. Next, rinse in warm water before pre-treating with a liquid detergent, like Tide Hygienic Clean Duty 10x), and leave on for 20 minutes. If you have sensitive skin or require unscented products, try Tide Hygienic Clean Unscented Liquid Detergent.

For whites, Gagliardi says to soak immediately in the hottest recommended water with detergent and a cup of bleach, such as Clorox Ultimate Care Bleach.

Treat the stain with a soap-based product, like the Wunderbar Stain Stick, to break up any oil particles while running cold water on the reverse side of the stain, suggest the Williams sisters. Working from the outer edge of the stain will prevent spreading, they add. You can even use a soft-bristle toothbrush if the stain is deeply set.

Step Two: Wash the Self-tanner-Stained Item

Without removing the detergent used to pretreat, pop the item in the washer on warm cycle (if washing instructions permit), comment the Williams sisters. Then add in a color-safe oxygen brightener (they suggest their Supersalt product), which is a great alternative to bleach.

"In addition to being harsh on your lungs, chlorine bleach is harsh on fabrics and can lead to premature fiber breakage (holes)," they tell us. "Counterintuitively, it can also cause whites to yellow over time, when exposed to too much bleach." If you need something a little stronger, Ahoni recommends a color-safe bleach without chlorine, like hydrogen peroxide.

If the stain isn't removed after the first wash, do not put it in the dryer, which will only set the stain, stresses Ahoni. Repeat the above steps by soaking the item in warm water and the oxygen brightener overnight. (You can always perform a short test patch if you're worried about ruining the fabric.)

Step Three: Rinse and Repeat

Continue washing until the stain is removed. The Williams sisters say that as long as there's progress between washes, the treatment is working and you can continue until the stain is no longer visible.

Step Four: The Last Resort

If you've tried everything to no avail, the co-founders of Celsious recommend applying 100 percent vegetable glycerine directly onto the spot before washing again.

Step 5: Dry the Item

Now that the stains are removed you are permitted to dry the item. If all else fails and the stain is unable to be removed, don't despair. The Williams sister suggests tie-dye as a fun and creative way to mask the stain and salvage your sheets or clothing item.

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