Sunscreen Warning

Summer 2017

Problem of “Sunscreen

 In recent years Sunscreen Lotion introduced products with broad-spectrum protections (UVA and UVB) SPF values, 30 and above. When these products Additionally, these same additives are increasing found in everyday and lotions. There is no reclaim product which is 100% effective to into service without permanently attempts double or triple production cost to the fabric damaged incurred during the recovery last a short time before being pull

Most Sunscreen manufactures have warnings printed products “may stain some fabrics, or may stain or damage some fabrics or surfa Sunscreen lotions applied to the skin or pink stains, particularly in pool actives, specifically “Avobenzone & Oxybenzone resistant properties, the length of time sunscreen stays on the body, often stains to travel into hotel rooms and contaminate all types of room linens.

 Why Sunscreen Stains Appear Typically, alkali based washing products are used to remove oil lotions are oil-base, using alkali products to remove the oil will cause a reaction between the alkali and the sunscreen’s active Permanent yellow/orange, blue, or pink ingredients to wash laundry. Without the alkali component, soils will not break down and be removed. Thus grey, dingy, linen with soil Therefore removal of alkali is not a sunscreen stain prevention alternative.

 What Can Be Done to Remove Stains Some studies have found adding stain reaction, if it is a fresh stain that has not been set with heat piece of linen would have to be inspected after washing and before drying or ironing and s then sent to rewash with double handl is not a practicable procedure in environment. Caution should be noted here: S stain also cause damage to cotton linen life. Even though strong sour agents react

Sunscreen Lotion” Staining Linens 

In recent years Sunscreen Lotion Stains have become worse because manufactures have spectrum protections (UVA and UVB) with progressively higher . When these products contact linen, permanent stains additives are increasing found in everyday products such as here is no reclaim product which is 100% effective to restore stain ly damaging the fabric in the recovery process. A or triple production cost and generally only yield a temporary 10% recovery to the fabric damaged incurred during the recovery process. After recovery, fabrics pulled out of service due to fabric damage.

creen manufactures have warnings printed on their labels stating use of these “may stain some fabrics, or may stain or damage some fabrics or surfa lotions applied to the skin and transferred to linen cause bright yellow pool-side terry towels. These stains are caused by sunscreen Avobenzone & Oxybenzone”. Additionally, with enhanced water resistant properties, the length of time sunscreen stays on the body, often cause stains to travel into hotel rooms and contaminate all types of room linens. 

Why Sunscreen Stains Appear washing products are used to remove oil-base soils. Although sunscreen base, using alkali products to remove the oil will cause a reaction between the ali and the sunscreen’s actives (such as Avobenzone & Oxybenzone) thus creating a , blue, or pink stain. However, alkalis and detergents are wash laundry. Without the alkali component, soils will not break down and be , linen with soil re-deposition will quickly affect the entire linen stock. emoval of alkali is not a sunscreen stain prevention alternative.

What Can Be Done to Remove Stains adding a strong sour in the last rinse or in the first flush is a fresh stain that has not been set with heat. In other words inspected after washing and before drying or ironing and s double handling cost to treat a second time in strong sour procedure in today’s high volume, low cost to produce, clean linen should be noted here: Strong sour agents below 5 Ph which discolor the to cotton cellulose fiber quickly reducing tensile strength strong sour agents react and “temporally discolor” stains

because manufactures have progressively higher tains are yielded. such as cosmetics stained linen back . Also recovery 10% recovery due fabrics typically only

use of these “may stain some fabrics, or may stain or damage some fabrics or surfaces”. w/orange, blue, side terry towels. These stains are caused by sunscreen Additionally, with enhanced water e sunscreen

Although sunscreen base, using alkali products to remove the oil will cause a reaction between the such as Avobenzone & Oxybenzone) thus creating a and detergents are standard wash laundry. Without the alkali component, soils will not break down and be the entire linen stock.

or in the first flush can reverse In other words, every inspected after washing and before drying or ironing and stains in strong sour cycles. This clean linen which discolor the strength and shorten stains, the next time fabric is washed the stain will reappear with alkali contact in subsequent washes. Thus strong sour cycles are not a stain prevention alternative either.

Chlorine bleach also reacts with sunscreen actives, BUT rather than “bleach out” the stain, the results is an even brighter stain. Oxalic acid can help reverse the effect of chlorine bleach. However, the volume of oxalic acid required to discolor the stain becomes damaging to the linen even quicker than the sour discussion above. Chlorine bleach is not a solution with sunscreen stain recovery.

 So What is the Solution to Sunscreen Staining Permanent stains are routinely pulled from circulation. Stains that are permanent include: Carbon, Concrete, Dye, Abuse, and now Sunscreen. 

 Prevention is the best solution. In other words, mitigate or remove altogether, products from hotel gift shops & pool side services, which are known to cause stains. When stains are found immediately pull them out of service. It is less expensive to retire the linen from service than it is to continually rewash & stain treat the linen. Retired linen has value and can be converted to cleaning rag stock, or dyed new colors for new uses, or sold to linen salvage companies who recycle it for a multitude of new uses. Some light weight concrete mixtures even use this recycled linen stock.