Dish soap and hot water handle most sunscreen stains.

Act fast. Sunscreen is basically oil and zinc—dish soap cuts through both better than laundry detergent alone.

Scrape off any excess. Blot the stain with a paper towel—don’t rub, that pushes it deeper. Then squirt a generous amount of grease-cutting dish soap (Dawn works) directly on the stain and rub it in gently with your fingers or a soft brush. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Wash the blanket in the hottest water the fabric can handle. Check the stain before drying—once you put it in the dryer, that stain is set. If it’s still there, repeat the dish soap treatment or try a laundry stain remover with enzymes (like Shout or OxiClean).

For stubborn set-in stains, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply it thick, and leave it overnight before washing again. This usually lifts the greasy residue.

Don’t let it see the dryer until you’re sure it’s gone.