Weird Stains

That happens to us, too, and it's so aggravating. I don't know what it is, but I scrub a bar of Fels Naptha soap and warm water into it and without rinsing it, I toss it back into the laundry. That usually works. I also use a mushroom brush to scrub the soap into the fabric (the mushroom brush is really soft so it doesn't pill the fabric). Hope it helps!

We had this problem a few years ago and it was oil leaking from either the washer or dryer. Can't remember which (we had a stackable unit). It was too expensive to repair so we ended up having to replace the unit. Hope you can just have it repaired!

Hi Meredith,

When you do your wash are you adding the detergents before the cloths and letting dissolve before you put the clothes in? The stains may be detergent that didn’t break down. Good luck!

It happens to me too.....Lestoil does the trick - Found at Krogers. Just a dab. Good luck!

Hi Meredith,

I pretty much agree with everyone else. I would guess something left in a pocket or somethings wrong with the washer/or dryer. As for the stains, I work with products that are green and have no poison or harsh toxic chemicals in them......we have some great stain removing products. It's also great for the kids because there isn't any thing in them to poison them. It helps your family breath easier as well. Bleach is very toxic to you and with kids, I would not recommend it. It gets into your skin through your clothes and sheets. Just like a patch does for smoking or birth control. So don't use bleach, you are hurting your lungs and body doing so. Good luck and if you would like more information, let me know. Put patches over the stains if you can and make the clothes look cute and new. That is, if you can't get the stains out. Good luck and congrats on your new little baby boy.
D.

Sounds like there might be residue in your washer from something that you washed. Try running a cycle or two with your washer empty and see if that helps. Or scrub the inside of the washer and then throw just an old towel in and wash that to see if the stains still show up. If they do then you might want to consider switching your soap.

Hi Meredith...
To be honest, we had that problem too. I'm the one that washes laundry and I see this almost all the time, so what I usually do is in between washes take a cup of bleach and put it on med. size cycle and let it run an empty course. But there would be times I'd still see these stains, but when our dryer went out...we got a new one...and since haven't had problems with the stains, I still run a course of bleach water in the washer to be on the safe side...so I don't run into that problem again. :) Good luck!

If your clothes are going in clean but coming out stained, I would geuss you have some kind of oil leak in your washer or dryer and should have a repair man come take a look.

Once you have the stain though, dawn dishwashing detergent (put directly on the stain, not into the washer) works wonders!

Sorry my dear, but the transmission is going out on your washing machine. I am a mom and grandma and had the same problem thirty years ago. Stay blessed.

Sounds like you have rust etc., build up in your water pipes or your washer or dryer are leaking oil into the wash loads. I would have the pipes and units checked out.

We've had the same problem, and we finally figured out it was a food stain...from our kid's food (esp anything made w veg or olive oil, or that has it in it). We have a 2 y.o. and a 10 month old, the stains started when our 2 y.o. started eating solids (not jar food, more like table food). The best remedy I've found is rinsing his stained shirts before putting them in the wash, removing any food residue prior to washing. Like you, we didn't have much luck with stain treatments after the fact, but if you get to it before the wash that should help. I can't say that we still don't see these mysterious stains every once in a while, despite our efforts. But it is NOT something in your washer (unless it's left over food), the washer isn't broken, and there isn't an invisible grease monkey in there! ;)

Best of luck!

It has worked for me to spray goo gone directly on the stains before putting them into the washer. I also really dawn with bleach alternitive for stains. Hope it helps. I know how frustrating it is!

Hmm... interesting. My guess would also be that maybe there's something in the washer or dryer that is causing them. Perhaps some sort of leaking oil from a random part?

As far as the stains themselves go, not knowing what it is, I can't guarantee it would work, but Shaklee's Basic H2 is great at removing oily/greasy stains from things. I'm actually a distributor and would be happy to send you a free sample to try if you are interested. Just send me your address and I'll get it in the mail to you!

-C.
http://shaklee.net/carriebarta

I recently had the EXACT same problem! We use the homemade laundry detergent too, and I could NOT figure it out! I ran an empty load with just hot water, vinegar and the laundry soap, then I wiped out the dryer. I think it may have been because I was adding the detergent on top of the clothes and not filling the washer w/ soap and water first. I don't know though. I do know that nothing has come out stained since I washed/wiped everything and starting adding the detergent first. I have NO idea how to take those greasy looking stains out either. The only other time I've had problems was when I used the liquid fabric softener with the Downy ball. It ruined SO many of my clothes. Good luck! :)

Not sure how you're getting the stains, but if they're a grease type stain, Dawn dishwashing liquid does great. Just pretreat the stain with it and wash as usual. I use just the plain old original Dawn.
I saw where someone suggested Iron-Out, I would suggest that for whites only, it'll bleach out any color, and not too sure it works on grease or oil.
Best of luck.

I have gotten these myself, but have discovered it is grease or oil. I have to wash in warmest water the fabric can take and sometimes have to put the detergent right on the stains. If they are not on there when you put them in, maybe some grease or oil has gotten into the washer or dryer. May want to try washing them out good with very hot water.

You might try something called Iron-Out - don't use much, but it works wonders for grease and oil - my father and brother have always worked on semi trucks, and we used to use Iron-Out to help with it - also you can try a degreaser on it, that might help too :) Good Luck!

That is strange! I guess you need to figure out what is causing the stain because it has to be SOMEthing right?
You know what that sounded like to me the moment I read it? It sounds like what I get every time one of my kids or hubby leaves a chapstick in their pocket and it goes thru the wash.(it happens a lot)
Are you sure that hasn't happened and you just didn't catch the tube? Good luck figuring it out. ~K.

Try Hair spray , I know it sounds weird but it really works. The only reason it would not work if the stain has already been dryed in the dryer, in that case it is set there for life! good luck and let me know if it comes out

maybe it's something that is stuck in the dryer? Have you tried wiping the inside of the dryer drum with a damp cloth and dish soap?

I get these dark spots on the clothes that seem to come from nowhere. I've had two different sets of washer/dryers - regular and front loaders. Doesn't matter. I've had this problem for years... I've used different detergents in different temperature cycles..no effect. I don't usually catch it until it's gone through the dryer, so that doesn't help. Just yesterday, I tried a little cornstarch on the spots thinking it was some sort of grease, but haven't washed the shirt yet, so don't know if that worked. Someone once said it could be defects in the fabrics and has nothing to do with the laundering process, but I'm not so sure about that. I'm sorry I don't have an answer, and can only commiserate with you. If you DO find something, please post! The last shirt with those stains is my sister's maternity shirt! Eeek!