How to remove fake tan from sheets and keep them ‘bright white’

Despite what some people would have us believe, there’s no such thing as a safe or healthy tan unless it’s out of the bottle.

Even if your skin doesn’t burn, if it goes a darker colour after being in the sun than it is naturally supposed to be, it could be damaged.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation: “While often associated with good health, the ‘glow’ of a tan is the very opposite of healthy; it is evidence of DNA injury to your skin. Tanning damages your skin cells and speeds up visible signs of aging. Worst of all, tanning can lead to skin cancer.”

With this in mind, it’s no wonder so many of us choose to fake it instead of lying out in the sun. And while products on the market are better than ever at giving flawless coverage, they can still leave pesky stains on clothes and bed sheets.

Over on TikTok, the topic of tan-stained bedsheets has racked up more than 49.7million posts with many people sharing how they remove the product from their linens. Luckily, furniture brand Wayfair has spoken to cleaning aficionado Ann Russell, who has 2.6million followers on TikTok, for her take on the problem.

She said: “I find using oxygen bleach of some description works a treat. Also, if you have white bedding, a dose of Ariel, spray pre-wash with either Ace Green or Peroxide on a long 60C cotton wash restores the bedding to bright white.”

Lynsey Crombie, aka the Queen of Clean, suggests spraying white vinegar all over the bedding before washing to remove fake tan. She also suggested using the pre-wash cycle to tackle really stained items.

People on TikTok have also shared tricks for stopping sheets getting stained in the first place. Vicky Gilchrist revealed she sleeps in an old duvet cover to stop tan getting everywhere.

While many people were impressed, others were adamant they wouldn’t be able to cope. One user replied: “No because I’d wake up twisted and panic!” Someone else penned: “I would forget, and probably break my neck going to the toilet in the middle of the night.”

Others suggested using talcum powder to prevent tan transferring to sheets. Discussing it in the comments, one person wrote: “Just let it dry for an hour or so then put talc on.” And many other people agreed. According to tanning experts, a light dusting of talc on areas like your underarms, inner elbows, and back of knees, can prevent sweat from affecting the tan’s activation.