Getting Burned? Put on a Shirt

Australians have found a new way to protect themselves from the fierce sunlight: laundry detergent with UV protection. With every wash, the sun protection provided by T-shirts and other clothing is increased until it's five to 10 times more effective.

Most people think clothing will protect you from getting a sunburn. It does, but only to a mild extent - "Light, loose-weave fabrics like cottons offer as little sun protection as SPF 5 to 8," said Jon Starr, a dermatologist at Stanford Unversity.

The UV protection from Australia's Radiant 3 in 1 Colour Care laundry detergent comes from a special UV-absorbing chemical compound called Tinosorb FD, which is made by Switzerland's Ciba Specialty Chemicals. Tinosorb FD helps protect against both UVA and UVB radiation.

According to the manufacturer, Radiant can increase the sun protection provided by clothing so the garments block at least 96 percent of UV radiation.