In some cases, the cause of stained clothing is not actually your washer, but the plumbing that feeds your washer. If you have old pipes where the water can come out rusty, then this can cause stains.
More commonly, you have hard water and the water itself can cause stains. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to hard water can cause build up that may flake off and stain clothing unexpectedly. It is highly recommended that you get a water softener system for your home if you have hard water and it is causing these issues.
It is not just a problem that the hard water is staining your clothes, but it is incredibly hard on all water-using appliances. Aside from that, running white vinegar can help break up the hard water build up in your washer so it can stop staining your clothing, at least temporarily. Many of the issues that cause your washer to leave stains on clothing are fully able to be handled by the appliance owner. However, the more technical concerns like the drive belt or the bearings will be better left to a professional hand.
In truth, some appliance owners may want to leave even changing the door seal to a professional to make sure no leaks occur after it is done. Finally, if you have checked all these sources and simply cannot find what is causing it, a professional eye can help you find the root cause as well as get it quickly fixed. We can help with that. Contact us today to see what Appliance Express can do to help fix up all your appliances quickly and safely.
You must be logged in to post a comment. Appliance Express. December 3, Washer Repair. The Machine is Too Full You might suspect that if you are really wedging every last scrap of clothing in the washer, it might not be getting washed very well. Too Much Fabric Softener Have you ever gotten fabric softener on your hands? Moldy Door Seal If you have clothing coming out with black streaks and spots on it, you will want to take a peak at the gasket on your washer.
Damaged Drive Belt The drive belt is what psychically rotates the drum. Not all washers have drive belts. Standpipe Issues If you have been doing work behind your washer or with the standpipe in particular, you will want to make sure it is properly adjusted. Plumbing Issues In some cases, the cause of stained clothing is not actually your washer, but the plumbing that feeds your washer.
The blotchy marks that are sometimes left on your clothes after you've washed them can be caused by 'scrud', which is a waxy build-up of fabric softener or detergent in the drum of your washing machine.
Scrud is more likely to build up if you only wash in cold water, and counter-intuitively if you don't use enough detergent. Aside from leaving marks on your clothes it can also cause problems for the washing machine itself so it's worth taking care of it early.
To eliminate scrud, try the following:. When mould grows on the seals of your washing machine or in the drum itself, it can start to smell bad and make your clothes smell as well. Mould occurs because more people wash in cold water, which doesn't get rid of mould and washing machine designs can allow water to sit in the seal, promoting mould growth. Unlike your top loader of old which you could open at any time, the door on your front loader locks during use. This can be frustrating if you want to add additional items after the cycle starts, but it's an important feature because opening the door mid-cycle could mean flooding your laundry with potentially scaldingly hot, soapy wash water.
But what happens if something goes wrong, and you need to unlock your washing machine in an emergency? Say, you realise you've left your keys or phone in your pants pocket. Don't panic, because depending on the make and model of your washing machine, there's usually a way to unlock it. The emergency unlocking procedure will vary from brand to brand and model to model, so you'll need to conduct an internet search for instructions for your specific washer, but there are some general guidelines to follow first.
Firstly, stop the cycle and turn the washing machine off — at the very least this will limit the the damage to washer and contents from the turning drum. Now wait a few minutes — if you're lucky then the lock will deactivate automatically and you'll be able to open the door again. Do what you need to do, and restart the wash as necessary.
If your washer's mid-cycle and full of water though, chances are the door won't unlock until you've drained it. Does your machine have a 'drain' program? If it doesn't, the power's out or the washing machine just won't cooperate then you'll need to use the emergency drain function. This job's as messy as it is awkward, so you'll need some old towels to soak up any spills, a bucket or receptacle to drain the water into, and some bricks, blocks or equivalent to raise up the front of the washer so you can get the bucket under it.
First, if you can, tilt the washing machine backwards and prop the front up on the aforementioned bricks. Then, I have to wash the clothing two or more times in hot water and detergent only.
I prefer to buy not make the product. I've heard that it might be from the gray rubber surrounding the drum but I don't know how to fix it. If I could afford it I would buy another washer because this is horrible.
I would also recommend to someone thinking of purchasing a front loader not to do it. It's not worth it, at least in my case it's NOT. Stains caused by HE detergent by: Anonymous We've now purchased two new Maytag washing machines that leave stains on cotton clothing due to the HE detergent.
I have verified this with simple experiment in the sink. Have not yet found a solution but Oxiclean will remove the stains after the fact. White stains on black clothes by: Lynel It's white spots on my black clothes even when I don't use fabric softener. I tried everything, like put less detergent or put less clothes to wash, but still the same problem. I even bought some expensive detergents but still the same. Can you help???????
The spots have appeared twice in the past 6 months. They look like you dip a paint brush in oil and splatter it on the clothes. The stains are worse on synthetic fibers as opposed to all cotton. Soaking in oxyclean and water helps to remove it from some fabrics while doing nothing with others. It was HE powder detergent that was causing my stains!
After years of experiencing quarter to silver dollar sized spots in our colored clothing we finally realized that it wasn't our water - rather the detergent itself. Stopped using the detergent in favor of a Borax based home made, and have NO issues anymore. Yellow stains on white clothes after laundering by: Steve I have yellow stains on white clothes coming out of our laundry. They are in various spots so not the result of sweating. Could this be from liquid detergent or rust in the wash machine?
If so, how do I get it out of the clothes, and out of the wash machine if that is the culprit? Bleach stain when not using bleach by: Shannon We have a top load machine that you put the detergent and softener in prior to starting the cycle. Lately our colors have been coming out with bleach looking stains and I am not using bleach and our detergent and softener don't contain any bleach.
Any ideas why? Ever since doing laundry in them I have the following problems: 1. My husband's white under t shirts and his work shirts have black stains under the arms. And now my t shirts and other shirts are starting to get the same black stains 3.
The elastic in his underwear are stretching totally out. I use Tide pods. I sometimes use liquid Downy fabric softener. If not liquid I use Downy dryer sheets. I live in Florida with hard water. I use bleach on whites and Tide OXI stain remover as a pre wash on colors.
Please HELP! Phantom redish stains after wasing by: AlanG I have had a consistent issue with my white t-shirts developing reddish blotches after washing. Tiny silver specks suddenly appearing in our clothes by: Anonymous About six months ago we suddenly noticed - only in the sunshine were they're visible - tiny, silver specks embedded in our clothes. We have no idea where these have come from - could it be from the washing machine, detergent or what?? They cannot be washed or brushed out and it is a real problem.
Have never used fabric softener, have changed washing powders and have bought a new machine. Still doing it! We are now wondering if it relates to rainwater acidic pH and soft and or copper corrosion in the pipes? Has anyone had similar? Brown stains from front loader by: Jody I have had these same types of stains from my front loading machine as well. The owners manual recommends cleaning the machine frequently to prevent these.
I found brown slimy growth behind the detergent dispenser even! Run a washer basket clean with bleach at least once a month. Take out the detergent dispenser drawer to clean and wipe out the space it goes in. Another thing I do is dry out the door gasket when done washing so water doesn't sit in there. I also keep the front door and detergent dispenser door cracked open so air can circulate to dry it out. Hope this helps!!! Disgusted with Whirlpool by: Cindy I randomly get stains on my clothes.
The appliance place told me to rinse my tub with at least a cup of bleach, now that I read this, I will not do that! I have the whirlpool duet, bought them in I have never been so disgusted with whirlpool.
I will never get another front load ever again! There is a class action lawsuit against them, if you google it, you will see. Clean my washer by: Janice T Ladies I came across a cleaner for my washer and with my husband working construction his clothes are a large challenge, believe me.
He also has a hobby of restoring old cars too. Anyways: I use the cleaner LemiShine at least every two weeks to a month in my washer.
It shines and smells great once again. Lemishine is for dishwashers and I have used this in both machines for over 5 years. Just never put clothes in when doing this as it will discolor them. Problem with LG by: Anonymous I get the same brown crap on my clothes. It's not rust or anything. It's not hard to get out for the most part. You need stain remover and rub it hard.
It is harder on the white clothes. I get the same thing on my dark clothes but it is a lighter stain on the dark clothes. I now wash everything inside out just in case. This is a pain though. I clean everywhere I can get to and even clean the drain hose and filter. I tried today, after it happened yet again, to wipe inside the drum.
I stuffed a paper towel as far as I could between the rubber and the drum. That stuff is coming from there. Not sure if it's because of my well water but this never happened with my previous smaller front loader. This one is an LG.
I am going to contact the company! Total frustration by: Anonymous I never had these problems until I bought a new washing machine! I absolutely hate it, the machine! I have also have clothes ruined with bleach spots. I do not like being able to put water in the machine first then the detergent and bleach in the water before clothes. I also prefer being able to put the fabric softener in after it fills with rinse water.
However, I cant afford to by another new machine! Kenmore causing issues by: Anonymous I use liquid clothes detergent, I don't use fabric softener but at times have staining on clothes that wasn't there prior to washing. My washer is kenmore, it's a low water washer. I think a common denominator is a new piece of clothing.
I washed a new sweatshirt, grey, and it came out with pink splotches. Some time later I washed a dark blue new pair of jeans with like colors and they had lighter streaks down the legs. I was able to scratch some of the discoloration off with my nails. Some dark clothing will have the same appearance. I washed a new pair of khaki colored pants and got small dark discoloration on the front of these pants.
I turn them all inside out when I wash, hoping to prevent this. Any thoughts on what's going on? I would appreciate some help!
Problem with Cabrea machine by: Anonymous I have a one month old cabrea washing machine. Now finding grease stains that weren't there prior to washing. I don't use fabric softener. What is causing this? Need help by: Anonymous I periodically get streaky dark gray stains on my clothes that usually rub off.
I don't know if they're from the washer 5 year old front loader or the dryer which is about 15 yrs old. I no longer use fabric softener but dryer sheets instead.
Any thoughts on this? Yellow spots on linens by: Anonymous I get large yellow spots on my Battenberg linens after washing, or maybe they appear when I iron the tablecloths and napkins. Takes days of soaking to remove. Need solution by: Gill Kilroy Hi, I have had this happen twice only. A few brown blotches, not large, show up,on my sheets after washing. It doesn't,t happen every wash, nor on other items, just the sheets.
I've tried the rust remover technique, vinegar and salt, no good. I tried Oxywash and sterilizing fluid and they also failed. Just don't know what's causing it. Surely if rust it would be on other items too. Any ideas please? Have had to hang out in the sun with some lemon juice for now, but that didn't work before. Any help appreciated. Small black spots by: Anonymous I have been getting little black spots on my clothes after removing them from the washer.
Maybe sunscreen by: Donna Reed Some sunscreens cause discoloration of whites when it comes into contact with the material. Bleach only makes it worse. Is she using any lotions that use a sunscreen? Maybe that is the culprit and a change in lotion is worth a try. Similar problem by: Anonymous Weekend guests have left and I just did bed linens for 5 different beds. I washed all top sheets together, all fitted sheets together, and all pillowcases together, so this is the result of multiple loads, not due to something in the washing machine.
Spots are most heavily on the pillowcases, but also some are on one end of the fitted sheet, and a couple small ones are on the top sheet near the top hemmed edge. Given this I'm quite sure it must have been caused by some type of face cream. Bleach has not worked.
Is it our water? Wondering if this has improved your issues? The other cause we have been suspecting is our water, we moved into new home a few months ago and the washer came along with the house. Have also had our water tested, we've got fairly high levels of manganese and considering a water softener, but it is quite expensive.
Wondering if you had experience with manganese and if a softener is only option? New machine causing problem by: Carol I have a new washer and dryer only a few months old. The first few weeks I had no problems at all but then i had the spots on the t-shirts. I am not using bleach or fabric softener, only the dryer sheets.
Also for my clothes i use cold water, hot for towels. Silicone Oil by: Conni I have the same type of wet looking stains on my clothing. I do not use fabric softener, so that is not the problem. The problem has only started since purchasing a new machine that requires HE detergents! The silicone oil in detergent is the only response that makes sense to me. What detergents can I purchase that do not have silicone oil?
Blue on cotton by: Annette Yes I am also seeing blue stains on my cotton clothing and sheets. I have a high efficiency washer and use Tide he detergent.
I have had no success in getting these stains out and am ready to contact Tide manufacturers about this.
This is ruining a lot of expensive clothing. I have about had it with he washers also. This washer I have now is my second one in four years. The first one was a pain in the neck and was always causing me mechanical trouble. It was a Maytag. Then I got a LG and now the stain stain problem.
The money I have lost using these machines could have paid for water for many years and bought me a new wardrobe. I would love to know how to get these stains out. Can anyone offer a solution to this problem!! Oil spots by: Anonymous This is a problem for me too.
Only 1 t-shirt had stain blotches. I have a new washer and use he Gain detergent? Known issue with Gain by: Taylor To the reader who submitted the previous comment, there appears to be an issue with Gain detergent causing these types of stains.
I suggest you look at my article on the issue. Here is the link. Can you help with the reason and how to get these stains out. This does not happen with every wash. Blotches on Dark Clothes by: Anonymous Hi, I am very frustrated from my top loader machine as my dark clothes like black pants, warm night suites, track suits and blankets come out with white blotches, It seems like grey or white waste of other clothes.
Not getting the solution. I am using only cold load. Any solution please? Black lines on laundry by: Phyllis My laundry is covered in randomly spaces black lines about 2" long. It's a top-loading Maytag if that's important. Any ideas what's causing this? My mystery stains solved - well water in front loader by: Anonymous I have a front load washer. I didn't have it long when I would get spots on our clothing. I have well water so I thought maybe because I had moved from the city to a rural area I needed to ask some local ladies about my problem, so I did and this is what I was told.
Wipe out around the front rim by door after every load with vinegar to remove any debris. The rubber there had already started to turn black, yuck. I didn't know so I did this diligently and also to forget about using anything in the fabric softener dispenser.
I have been doing this for the last 6 years and have no more mystery spots. But it's only one article of clothing in each load. One was the white that was on a sweatshirt and one was a tan dress.
Both very different materials and done about 3 weeks apart. Nothing else has been stained in between or in the loads with these two. Please help. What could be the cause? We live out in the country and have very hard, brackish well water.
I am wondering if that is where my problems started. I ran a load a week ago and I had what looked to be a bumped up round dime size blood stain like from a tick. Like those bloody sacks the tick lives in? It was a very dry hard stain and it did have a bit of hair on it. I don't know if the tiny hairs were attracted to it or if it was in fact a tick that had come off of our dog.
GRRRR side note, the dog has different tick meds. It was so hard I couldn't soak it enough to get it to soften up to remove and by pulling it off it ripped a whole in my slacks. I then noticed I had some of that gunk inside another pair of slacks so I took them to my mom since she is the laundry pro. She said she thought it was something from my washing machine and not tick blood. It again was extremely hard but not in a perfect circle it was more in a dashed line and had the feel of almost plastic or glue it was so hard.
My mom was able to get the stain out mostly. There is still a bit of it there but as this particular stain was on the inside of the clothes it isn't noticeable on the outside so I can live with it.
A few days later my next load, clothes that had no stains come out with stains. My dressy shirt got the worst of it. It seriously looked like I have a blood stain on my shirt and it is about the size of a golf ball maybe bigger. But, it isn't really hard and plastic feeling and was more absorbed into the shirt where you can see it rather than see and feel it like the other hard stains.
I have quite a few that I have been finding that have just one or two hard to see speckles of rust color stains. However, I then had 2 items get stained terribly. One item I just threw away because it had so many stains all over it. The stains are little circles but occasionally you might see a dime size stain but for the most part they are all about the size of the holes on the washing machine. This leads me to wonder if my husband did a no no by putting CLR in our water line that goes into the washing machine.
The last clothes that have staines lead me to believe they are rust after reading some of your other posts. However, the first two have me puzzled since they had a plastic feel and were darker in color. Any ideas on what might be wrong and how to fix it? Thank you! They are usually around the neck or waist areas.
It kinda looks like they've been bleached but I've never used bleach in his washer. It's just his, mine are all fine. At first I just thought it was old dark t-shirts but his khakis are doing it too now along with brand new shirts that have only been worn once or twice. It makes that crackling noise and "breaks" so it's not stretchy anymore.
Any ideas what is causing both of these problems? I use melaleuca HE detergent with no softener and Oxiclean as a spot treater. At first I thought it was a negative reaction between the soaps because they are all on the front of our lighter colored clothes. But then I noticed the spots on clothes that didn't have Oxiclean on them, but still, on the front.
Like the stains are drawn to spots on clothes. Especially since they are mainly on our children's clothes and some on mine, but pretty much never on my husbands, since he stays clean while at work. I'm beyond frustrated! I've tried switching to melaleucas spot treatment and their Sol-U-Mel, I've tried spraying with vinegar, dawn soap mixed with vinegar, soaking in water.
I don't even know what else to do. Brown dirt stains when I wash whites typically linens by: SB For some reason, every time I do a load of whites with bleach I seem to find brown dirt stains on my clothes. It seems to happen more on my white linens, i. I first noticed it with my old washer. When we bought the house the washer and dryer came with it so I didn't know exactly how old it was nor did I know the history of the maintenance on it.
So we blamed the washer and bought a new one. I've only had it for 4 months and now it's doing it again! I do the monthly self clean and clean around the rubber linings etc. I know it's not rust or mildew. My other thoughts are: could it be the old pipes? But then why does it only happen to my whites and when I use hot water 90 degrees?
Could it be that I have hard water? Could it be that we have a septic tank and it's full and somehow the dirty water washes back? I've looked online, other threads and no one seems to have an answer??
Please help!! Grey machine stain by: Steph I can't get a grey stain out of my clothes. Also I do not know where it came from. Is it the washing machine?
How can I get rid of it? I'm getting little brown spots on white clothes from my washer? How do I get them out, what are they from?
Yellow stains by: Elaine I am getting yellow stains on my clothes after washing. HE laundry stains by: Anonymous This is exactly what happens to me.
Usually just one item, and stained permanently. I put the detergent in with the water, let the water fill, then start adding my laundry. No matter. Still leaves an oily dark stain on items. Frustrating, as it has ruined quite a few items. One was a brand new sweater, the other a new skirt. I use Tide HE and purposely use less than is called for. Wish someone could come up with a good cleaning solution! Same here!
We get purplish tie dye stains by: Jarrett Wilson We have a Whirlpool Duet and my wife gets the exact same type of stains. Literally, they're exactly how you describe.
Did you ever find the cause? We would love to know. Same problem with pinkish and reddish stains by: SC I think we have the same problem, how do you get the stains out?
I put one white sweater in a plastic pail of cold water with Tide powder detergent and it come out with random pink dots, as if marked with a pen tip. This same sweater I washed previously with the same pail and same detergent in cold water with no issue. Does anyone know why this happened? I rewash second time without detergent, works for me by: Deb Thank you! I agree I think it's from the He low suds detergent. I started washing the clothes a second time without laundry detergent and the marks come out.
I don't like wasting water but it's the only solution for me. HE Detergents by: Fustrated Just wanted to share. I have been having problems with my wash for over two years with oily looking stains on my cotton clothes. It happens in cold and hot water. I just bought a new washer and dryer trying to eliminate this and had my water tested. I am not sure of the color of the stains because on colored clothes it just looks oily. I also get yellow spots. I am not sure that this is related.
I am using Tide products. I do not use any fabric softener. The repair people claim it's the HE detergent and manufacturer of the product claims there is no silicone oil in them and the products go through testing with all washers.
They claim it is not the detergent. Not sure what to do next to figure it out. White stains on black jeans by: Anonymous I just recently purchased some black jeans. They're not a cheap pair by all means as I've never had a problem with this jean brand before, but after I washed them some white stains appeared forming frigid lines interspersed all over the legs of the jean and the butt area.
It almost looks like dust but it's not and it won't come out. I only use cold water on my laundry and Tide pods as the detergent. I've never had this problem before and I don't know what to do! Also I did forget to turn them inside out and washed them with a mix load of whites and colors but I've never experienced discolour like this before. Are my new jeans ruined and a waste of money? Same problem! Black spots look like ink stains, but no ink by: Krystian I have the same problem!
It just happened on a pair of my daughter's pants a month ago and again today on a rug! And it never effects everything in the wash! What's going on!? I use homemade laundry detergent, no fabric softener.
But there was a machine in college that did the same thing, too! I had a load of laundry and only two white shirts out of the whole load have dark black ink spots all over them but there was no pen or ink washed with the load. I'm so confused! My washer is only a few months old and we clean it regularly with Affresh. Cleaning products possible cause of bleach stains by: Anonymous My daughter did a "science experiment" using Comet powder and spilled some on the bathroom rug.
When I washed the rug it had bleach stains and so did some of the other clothes. Perhaps it is another cleaning product you used to clean that got into the load? The best way we have found to get rid of stains is Bosisto's Pre-Wash Stain Remover Eucalyptus and let clothes sit over night then wash as normal. Iron Out by: Anonymous I tried all the others oxy clean, grease lightening, vinegar and baking soda but Iron Out did the trick! Good luck to you! Brown mystery stains by: Anonymous I had the same problem.
It was caused by my husband who washed a huge load of garage towels old towels he had used to wash the car, clean up after car maintenance, etc. The overly large load couldn't rinse completely and left grease and dirt behind. Of course, I happened to wash a brand new set of white bed sheets the next day. Brown mystery streaks by: Anonymous I too have found brown mystery streaks on clothes.
I have tried to wipe behind the rubber gasket after every 2 or 3 loads and it still happens. I also try not to put the spin cycle on high because It seems I find more of it. For me these streaks come out using Oxy Clean gel. I am hoping this is just soap build up and will soon find a way to manage it until I get rid of the machine. Use dry fabric softener. Only washed with white underwear and towels. Nothing red. It is from gunk around seal! I did have a repairman come because my washer needed regular maintenance anyway.
He said there was no oil leak - it is from the build up of gunk around the seal he believes. I noticed there are two rings inner and outer where the gunk can collect. Any hints on how to get the brown stains off of the clothes that are now damaged? Help please Tie dyed stains by: Anonymous My dark clothes have stains that look like it is being tie dyed. I use HE detergent but it doesn't seem to help.
If you do not have an HE machine do not use HE detergent, it will spot your clothes, since it contains oil. Use Dawn to get spots out. We don't use a fabric softener. The rust stains aren't on other clothing items. Just face cloths and towels. I'm guessing makeup? So do we need to separate face cloths and towels for everything?
Oil stains from my washing machine by: Charlene I am getting oil stains from my washing machine. I don't use fabric softener on my clothes during only time while washing but I am still getting stains what could have caused it and what can I do to prevent this it's ruining my shirts? Bleach-like stains but don't use bleach by: Anonymous Many of my clothes are coming out of the washer with what appears to be bleach stains.
I don't use bleach or fabric softeners. What possibly could be causing these stains? My washer is about 12 years old and this problem doesn't happen every time.
I always make sure I mix the liquid detergent well before I put clothes in to wash.
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