We’ve all had it happen – you jump into your car after a day at the beach and the next day you find sunscreen marks all over your car’s leather seats!
When sunscreen gets all over your car, it can be difficult to remove. But with a little patience and the right products, you can usually get sunscreen off leather seats without damaging them.
Option #1: Use Cornstarch or Baking Soda
- Step 1. Blot off any excess sunscreen. Remember to blot, not wipe! If you wipe large gobs of sunscreen around, it’ll just spread more and make a larger stain area you’ll have to clean.
- Step 2. Apply some cornstarch or baking soda to fully cover the affected area. Leave it on the area overnight,
- Step 3. Remove the cornstarch or baking soda. If you still see a stain, try repeating the process.
Still having issues? Try Option #2, using a leather cleaner.
Option #2: Use a Leather Cleaner
Another option for removing sunscreen from your leather seats is to use a leather cleaner.
- Step 1. Spray the leather cleaner onto a microfiber cloth
- Step 2. Gently rub the cloth over the sunscreen stain
- Step 3. Wipe the area clean with a dry, fresh microfiber cloth
You may need to repeat this process a few times to get the sunscreen completely out of the leather.
Why Does Sunscreen Stain Leather Car Seats So Badly?
Sunscreens are designed to be water resistant, which is what allows them to continue to provide UV protection even when you’re swimming. The downside is that this water-resistance also means that traditional car cleaning products won’t get rid of them!
The main culprits are polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide – these ingredients work great at reflecting light and protecting our skin from UV rays. However, when they come into contact with leather, they can leave a white residue that’s difficult to remove.
Other Ways to Prevent Sunscreen Stains on Leather Car Seats
There are a few ways you can lessen your risk of getting sunscreen stains on your leather car:
- Use car seat covers. Using seat covers will create a barrier between your skin and the leather, making it less likely that sunscreen will come into contact with the leather seats.
- Sit on a towel or blanket. If you’ve just finished up a trip to the beach, sit on a towel or blanket instead of directly on the leather seat.
- Wash sunscreen off of your hands. Before getting into your car, make sure to wash any sunscreen off of your hands. This will help to prevent any accidental transfer of sunscreen onto the leather seats. If you want to completely get sunscreen off your skin, make sure you are using an oil-based cleanser to really get it all off!
- Remove sunscreen ASAP. The longer you wait to get sunscreen off leather seats, the more time the sunscreen has to soak in and become embedded in the leather. Get it off as soon as possible for your best chance of success!
If you have sunscreen on your leather seats, the best thing to do is to try to remove it as soon as possible. The longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove.
Have you ever had a troublesome sunscreen stain on your car’s leather seats? How did you get rid of it? Let us know in the comments!
FAQs About Getting Sunscreen Out of Leather
Does sunscreen come out of leather?
Yes! Sunscreen can be difficult to remove from leather, but it is possible with the right products and patience.
What takes sunscreen out of leather?
One popular method for removing sunscreen from leather involves applying cornstarch or baking soda to the problem area and leaving it overnight. Alternatively, several applications of leather cleaner usually gets the job done too!
