Perhaps you recently made a dish with tomato sauce that left a stain on your favorite ceramic tray. Your first instinct might have been to quickly put it in the dishwasher or wash it by hand, just to find the stain didn’t budge. Although frustrating, there’s another stain-removal method you might not have considered. Enter: sunlight.

Yes, you read that right. You might have heard about using sunlight and lemon juice to help remove stains from clothes, but it can also work on dishes in some cases as a last resort.

We spoke with a professional cleaner about using sunlight to remove stains from dishes and utilizing Mother Nature’s powerful UV rays to get your dishes back into shape.

Can You Actually Remove Stains From Dishes With Sunlight?

Yes, you can remove stains from dishes with sunlight. It’s important to note that sunlight won’t remove stains from all dishes — it depends on factors such as the type of stain and the dish’s material.

Deep-colored stains, such as those left by beets, wine, and tomato sauce, can be a little trickier to remove; however, this method can be helpful if you’ve exhausted other stain-removal methods, such as baking soda and soaking in hot water with vinegar and detergent.

Aside from potentially removing stains from dishes, sunlight may also help eliminate lingering odors and sanitize dishes, as UV rays can kill some bacteria and germs.

Why Does This Method Work?

According to Marisol Rivera, cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid Austin, sunlight contains UV rays that act as a natural bleach, breaking down stain molecules through photobleaching and oxidation, similar to how sunlight fades fabrics or white fabrics outdoors.

“It works best on organic stains like food and tannins, but it is not as effective on metal marks, heavy mineral deposits, or etched crazing in fine china,” she says. Think coffee, tea, wine, tomato sauce, etc.

It’s worth noting that it’s not a quick fix in most cases. Although some stains might disappear more quickly, Rivera says to plan for dishes to be out in the sun for 2 and 6 hours, and for multiple sessions for stubborn spots. You can put them on a dish rack outside or leave them on a towel, whichever you prefer.

There’s also the option to pre-treat the stains with lemon juice before leaving them in the sun. This can be beneficial as lemon juice works as a natural bleaching agent although it’s not always needed or required for stain removal.

If you don’t want to wait that long or perhaps live in an area with little direct sunlight, then Rivera recommends a hydrogen peroxide soak for those pesky stains. This involves filling a basin with warm water and three percent hydrogen peroxide, letting the dishes soak for 30 minutes, and then washing as usual.

“The peroxide bubbles and oxidizes stains chemically, lifting them without scrubbing, and it is safe for glass, plastic, and most ceramics,” she says.

Is This Stain Removal Method Safe?

Rivera says that sun-stain removal is completely safe for most non-metallic dishes, like glass, plastic containers, and unglazed stoneware, since it doesn’t use chemicals and avoids acids that can etch glazes or damage finishes.

“Avoid it on delicate china with metallic trim, colored glazes, or anything sensitive to UV fading, and do not use it on silverware or aluminum, which can pit or discolor,” she explains.

After leaving dishes in the sun, Rivera recommends rinsing them thoroughly to remove any loosened residue and ensuring they are completely clean.

About The Experts

• Marisol Rivera, cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid Austin