Here’s how to get fake tan out of your bed sheets

Brown stains be gone.

If you’re chasing a healthy glow without the UV damage, fake tan can be a great solution. But as much as your artificial glow may be angelic on the streets, it can certainly be dirty in the sheets and let’s face it, taking it to bed is often inevitable.

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Unfortunately, anything designed to stay on your skin for longer than a day is going to be a pain to remove. But fear not! It’s possible to rid your sheets of fake tan stains. Here’s how.

Should I use hot or cold water when removing fake tan stains?

Fake tan is made with two parts, an oil base and added dye, so each part needs to be treated differently to properly remove stains. You’ll need to use both cold and warm water. First, try removing the oil by flushing the opposite side of the stain with cold water – this is to loosen the tan on the fabric. You’ll then need to make a warm solution of water and liquid detergent to target the dye.

Dabbing is key here. Grab a microfibre cloth and gently blot the area of concern with the warm water solution, working from the outer edges into the centre. Even though it may seem tempting, avoid any harsh rubbing as it can push the stain deeper into the fabric and make it even more difficult to remove. Continually rinse your cloth in warm water or swap it out to ensure you aren’t dabbing what you’ve already removed back into the sheet.

Rinse and repeat with the cold and warm water until the stain is gone. When you’re satisfied with the result, throw your sheets in the washing machine and run them with your regular laundry detergent.

What if I don’t have the cleaning products I need to remove the stain?

The key to easy stain removal is to act quickly! So if you don’t have liquid washing detergent for your warm water solution, dishwashing liquid will do the job. Your solution should be two parts water and one part detergent.

If you don’t have a microfibre cloth laying around, cotton cloth or a good old handful of paper towels can act as another absorbent material – as long as you replace it when it gets grubby.

What do I do if liquid detergent doesn’t remove the fake tan from my white sheets?

Removing fake tan from white sheets can sometimes feel like trying to defeat Keanu Reeves in the John Wick franchise. If you’ve tried and failed with the cold and warm water method, it may be necessary to soak your white sheets overnight in cold water and oxygen-based bleach.

It’s a good idea to test the bleach mixture on a small and discrete part of the sheet before you leave it overnight. This will prevent you from ruining the fabric. Also, remember to wear a good pair of non-permeable gloves when working with the bleach as it can be harmful and cause skin irritation.

After your sheets have soaked overnight, the stain should finally be defeated. Run them through a regular wash one more time and your linen will be sparkling again.

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