5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Pesky Summer Stains

1. Erase sunscreen streaks with a dab of hand sanitizer 

Sunscreen is formulated with oil, which repels water, making it tough to get out of clothing. Luckily, the fix may be as close as your purse, says Leslie Reichert, author of The Joy of Green Cleaning. “Cover the stain with hand sanitizer and massage it in,” she suggests. “Its alcohols break down oil, lifting the stain. Then simply flush it with water and pat dry with a cloth.”

2. Remove red wine spills with a dash of table salt 

The quick trick that makes vino stains vanish: Blot them with a paper towel, then cover with salt, gently rubbing it in, advises Reichert. “The salt will absorb any lingering liquid and loosen the tannin, a natural dye found in wine,” she explains. “When the spot feels mostly dry, simply rinse the fabric with cool water.”

3. Lift grass streaks with a splash of soda 

Chlorophyll gives grass its green hue— trouble is, it can also seep deep into clothing fibers, creating a stubborn streak. The fix? Douse it with club soda. Says Reichert, “Its bubbles and salt help agitate the stain particles, lifting them out of the fabric.”

4. Clear hot dog splotches with a sprinkling of Splenda 

Ketchup and mustard contain strong pigments that can dye clothes. “And they can become permanent fast, so act quickly,” urges Reichert. “Just scrape off as much as you can, then cover with an artificial sweetener like Splenda. Wait a few minutes, then brush it away and flush the spot with water. Splenda’s fine granules act like micro-sponges to soak up moisture from the stain.”

5. Make fruit juice disappear with a spritz of lemon 

If fresh produce like cherries and strawberries has left its mark on your clothes, grab a lemon wedge and squeeze the juice onto the stain, says Reichert. Citric acid in the lemon has mild bleaching properties that help break down fruit stains. (Lemon is typically safe for colored clothing, but it’s still smart to test on a small area first.)

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