Today we’re sharing some surprising things you can clean with sunlight!
If there was ever a perfect cleaning article for summer, this is it. With long sunny days and plenty of sunshine to spare, there’s no better time to take advantage of one of nature’s most powerful cleaning tools. Here in Texas, the July sun can be intense, but that bright sunshine can do much more than warm up your patio.
As a chemist, I’ve always been fascinated by how versatile sunlight is. God created the perfect resource with the sun, and I love the science going on behind the scenes. It helps power homes through solar energy, supports plant growth, warms water, and even plays a role in breaking down odors and helping certain surfaces feel fresher. There is some incredible science happening in every beam of sunlight.
One of my favorite things about sunshine is that it’s completely free and already available right outside your door. Let’s explore some of the surprising things you can clean, refresh, and deodorize with sunlight around your home this summer.
Things You Can Clean With Sunlight
The reason you can clean with just sunlight, is due to the UV rays. UV rays are incredibly complex, and you could spend hours studying how they work. There are three main types of UV rays: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C rays. About 95% of UV-B rays are absorbed by the Earth’s ozone, so the majority of what we experience are UV-A and UV-C.
According to the FDA, direct exposure to UV-C rays can destroy the protein coating of a virus or bacteria. It is important to note that this article from the FDA also says this must be direct exposure. If something is blocked by soil or dust, it won’t get directly to the viral or bacterial strand. This goes back to our information on cleaning vs disinfecting. I highly recommend reading our article to understand why you must clean surfaces first before disinfecting.
This lab experiment and report compares disinfecting with bleach to UV rays. These UV rays from sunlight are basically a natural bleach and disinfectant, so we can utilize this at home! Let’s check out some neat things you can clean with sunlight.
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Remove Odors From Fabrics
First up is my favorite thing to do with sunlight. You can remove odors quickly with UV rays! Check out our post from earlier in the year on removing odor from clothing. You can do this for clothing, furniture, towels, sheets, or anything fabric. The UV rays kill bacteria that cause odor, but also neutralizes any perfume type scents. I recommend this time of year (summer), to only leave things out for about an hour to avoid any fading of fabrics.
If your towels still have that lingering musty smell, be sure to check out our post on how to remove musty odors from towels. As a chemist, one of my favorite tricks is using a simple DIY towel soak to pull out the hidden buildup that regular washing can leave behind. Then, we let the sun do the rest! Sunlight naturally helps freshen fabrics, so this two-step method gives your towels a powerful one-two punch against stubborn odors.
Whiten Whites
If you have some dingy white fabric, then you can clean it with sunlight! This is where the bleaching comes into play. Hang up white sheets, towels, socks, shirts, or tablecloths after washing them if needed. Any yellowing or discoloration can be naturally bleached with the UV rays. For this, you can leave it outside for hours in the summer sun. The longer, the more whitening power you can get out of the sun.
Freshen and Sanitize Pillows
Sunlight can work wonders for pillows. It will kill bacteria lingering in pillow fabric, whiten the fabric, and freshen any odors!
Comforters and Quilts
While you are at it, you can take your comforter or quilt from your bed and freshen it outside. I can’t fit my king size bed quilt in the washing machine, so I take it outside! Hang it in the sun for a few hours, flip it over and do the next side. Not only will the freshen, but it kill dust mites or bacteria on your quilt. If you have a white comforter, you can double the time to help whiten dinginess. I really love this for freshening mine up. You can also spray some essential oil on the comforter when you bring it inside.
Mold On Any Surface
If you have mold on something like plastic, wood, or fabric, then sunshine is your answer! I have shared this tip with readers for years who email me about a molded item. One lady told me she had mold on an old book, and she said it also smelled very musty. I told her to put it outside in the sunlight for a few hours. She said it got rid of the smell and also killed the mold! Once the sunlight kills the mold spores, you can wipe it off with a damp microfiber cloth then dry it. I have done this on just about every surface even wood!
Stained Plastic
If you have a plastic surface with a stain like plastic storage containers or any plastic around your house, the sunlight can naturally bleach dyes or stains in plastic! I tried this with one of my food storage containers that had spaghetti in it. The plastic was stained red even after washing with hot water and soap, soaking in hot water in soap, using vinegar, and even scrubbing with baking soda. I set it outside in direct sunlight for a few hours, and it bleached the red color! After I washed it again, it looked as good as new! Try it out with anything plastic.
Mildewed Outdoor Furniture
If you have some outdoor cushions or furniture, you can utilize the sunlight to clean it! Lay it in direct sunlight for a few hours making sure to rotate so all sides get the direct sun. You can then wash it with an outdoor furniture cleaner, and it will be clean to new!
Rugs or Throws
I have a big bulldog who loves sleeping on the laundry room rug, and it can get stinky! I clean it regularly, but nothing beats laying it outside in the sun. A few hours in the sunlight, and all the pup odor is completely gone! You can do this with blankets or throws too.
What About UV Lights?
UV sanitizing lights can be a great addition to your cleaning routine. UV-C technology has been used for years in hospitals and professional settings to help reduce bacteria and other microorganisms on surfaces. Today, there are many highly rated options available for home use, including UV sanitizer boxes for phones and personal items, portable UV wands for surfaces, and larger UV lamps designed for rooms. These can be especially helpful for items that are difficult to clean regularly.
As a chemist, I don’t consider UV lights a replacement for regular cleaning and disinfecting, but they can provide an extra layer of protection.
I hope you enjoyed this fun, summer themed, informative post today!
About the Author
Alexis Rochester is an investigative chemist, mom, and the founder of Chemistry Cachet, where she shares practical science-backed tips for a cleaner home, healthier skin, and simpler living. When she’s not testing cleaning hacks or skincare products, you’ll find her enjoying coffee, Pilates, and life with her family in Texas.
Follow along for more chemist-approved tips on Instagram and Facebook, where Alexis shares videos, product finds, cleaning tricks, skincare advice, and everyday mom-life favorites.
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Thank you for this, I found it super interesting
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
These are great! Thanks for the reminders. Keep up the good scientific work.
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hi Alexis… a lot late on commenting on this post… I love putting things in the sun for drying, refreshing, cleaning! We have morning sun in the front yard, and sun after 2pm in the backyard. The dog’s blankets sit the morning sun (on our bushes!) for several hours while I clean house. I air dry towels, etc. Thanks for the tips on the pillows!
Thanks Laurie! Sunlight is so great for those pet odors! I like to do that with RUger’s towel and blanket, it makes it so easy!
Do you use any special clothes line or rack outside for drying things ?
I actually just hang front a tree or one of our fences. I don’t have a clothes line 🙂
My mom always used to spray down the mattresses with vinegar then sit them up in front of an open window first thing in the morning so that then sunlight could shine on the mattress all day!
It is such a great way to freshen and sanitize!
I’m renovating a property and by the end of the day my clothes have been sweat through a couple times. I hang them outside in the evening, and then leave them out until they have been exposed to the strong Florida summer sun for a few hours. Not only are they dry, but they don’t smell. I swear I could wear them another day in an emergency.
The sun works amazing for odors and freshens clothes so well!