Cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie has shared three household remedies to remove stubborn sun cream stains from clothing, with tea tree oil as the surprising star ingredient. The self-styled Queen of Clean appeared on ITV's This Morning in 2025 to discuss stain removal, revealing that during summer, she is asked about sun cream stains almost every day.
Lynsey reassured viewers that tackling sun cream stains isn't as daunting as it might seem. She explained that because sun cream is grease-based, ingredients with natural degreasing qualities are needed to lift the stain and soak up the grease.
The Star Ingredient: Tea Tree Oil
Lynsey championed tea tree oil for stain removal, despite acknowledging it may sound unconventional. She said: "And a really unusual method for sun cream stains is actually tea tree oil. It's actually a natural degreaser in there, so don't use too much and dilute it with water, so don't just drop it on, mix it with water and that combats it as well."
Tea tree oil's antibacterial and antiseptic qualities make it effective for stain removal. When sun cream stains are left untreated, the oils, emulsifiers and chemical UV filters react with fabric dyes and minerals in water or perspiration, causing discolouration, fading or yellowish-brown marks, especially on polyester or nylon.
Other Household Remedies
Lynsey also suggested using bicarbonate of soda and washing-up liquid for embedded stains. She said: "Sprinkle the bicarb on, dampen it slightly first then add some washing up liquid, little toothbrush, leave it to soak." She recommended leaving the mixture for a few hours for the mark to vanish. Alternatively, white vinegar can be applied generously to the stain and allowed to penetrate.
