Creative Homemaking

[Christopher]

I'm reposting these messages from the old messgae board in hopes someone can help with this problem:


Author Subject: Mysterious "Water Spots" on Clothes
Lori Posted At 21:31:43 10/15/2002
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I have a problem with mysterious "water" spots on my
clothes coming out of the wash. I don't know if it's
fabric softener....I use the liquid kind. I don't
think so because it happens when I don't use it in the
load. Does anyone else get these?? It's driving me
nuts! I won't even buy solid color clothing anymore
because I know after a few washes the item will be
ruined. Can anyone help me? Thanks.
Loree Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 21:32:19 10/15/2002
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I have the same problem with my clothes! I can not understand what is making it happen.Every time I buy new clothes I get to wear them once or twice and then the spots happen. It happens on solid light colored clothes. I once thought it was fabric softner causing it so I stoped using it all together,but it still happened. The thing is, it only happens on my clothes, not my Husbans or my kids clothes. Now today after these spots happening for years, I notice on my new bed sheets (LIGHT BLUE),they to have spots on my side of the bed! They have never been washed yet, so I now think it has something to do with my skin. Does this sound crazy? Can anyone help me!
Terri Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 00:15:06 10/20/2002
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I discovered that my hair products were causing stains on my clothes. I am the only one that uses hair products in my home. Since I have made an effort not to let my wet hair touch or drip on my clothes I no long get spots on my clothes.
Kathleen Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 02:12:56 10/23/2002
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Hi all. I've also had the same problem and couldn't figure out what it was from. The hair products make perfect sense. I have been able to save many items by rubbing detergent into the spot (I only use Tide but I'm sure any kind would work) and then rewashing them. This has worked even after they come out of the dryer. I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Not that I wish anyone else to have spotted laundry but I thought I was becoming a terrible slob!
Amber Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 18:31:59 10/30/2002
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In our town, we have hard water (iron and manganese) which randomly leaves orange or yellow stains on light-colored fabrics, sometimes on only one or two items in the wash and no others. These stains usually come out with a re-wash in a product called Iron-Out.
Many different deodorants and beauty products that I have tried will discolor fabric - I've found that only natural products from the health food store don't have that effect.
Bodily fluids of various types will sometimes create a stain out of the blue where it never did before - I've had our sheets soaking a couple of times from that, and neither one of us wet the bed, if you get my drift.
Also, baby clothes will sometimes show mysterious stains (spit-up) after being in storage awhile, even if it was clan when you packed it away. Soaking usually works well but sometimes you have no choice but to toss and replace...
Mary M. Re: Getting iron out of clothing (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 15:54:20 12/02/2002
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I live in an area where my well has alot of iron.
What do I do to get the yellow/brown stain out of my whites???? Please Help!
Carnette Ball Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 12:58:38 12/25/2002
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I believe those spots are actually oil from food or something oily or greasy you came in contact with. Using murphys oil or a cheaper dollar store version of the oil soap should remove the stains.
Jessica Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 17:30:25 01/05/2003
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Mary M. I have the same problem with iron in my water. Every so often I give them a soak in Iron Out and that takes care of my whites but, it will act as a bleach on some colors. That is what I need help with. Some of my color clothes have white in them and I don't know what to use to get iron stains out of color clothes. Can anyone help me with this. I have searched and searched.

J Re: Mysterious (Currently 2 replies)
Posted At 01:00:19 02/20/2003
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I have some interesting findings...........I first noticed bright orange (almost bleach looking spots ) on cotton shirts when I was in bootcamp in the army. All of us soldiers were issued brown cotton shirts that are worn under our comouflage (BDU's). I noticed that about ten or eleven other guys including myself would find our shirts suddenly having these spots either after first washing them or after sweating on them the first time they were worn.
Usually after the first time the spots appear, you can wash the shirts or sweat on them again numerous times without any new spots forming. This leads me to beleive that it is not acid in ones sweat or bleach left over in the washer that is causing the problem, otherwise I think it would keep ocurring due to more use or more washing.

About four years later, I purchased a pair of Kenneth Cole Pants from Bloomingdales in Beverly Hills California near my current home. I remember walking on a sidewalk and getting my pant leg sprayed by a sprinkler. Moments later upstairs from this sidewalk in my office someone pointed to my brand new $60 pants and asked me what I had on me. There was a bright orange-whitish spot where the water dried. I returned the pants thinking in my mind that the fabric had to be the problem since it was brand new, hadn't been washed and not sweat upon. A few days later I tried the brand new replacement pair I got from the return and I dabbed some water in different spots onto the pants. Sure enough the pants developed bright orange spots in sporadic places that I wet. I was furious and returned the pants to Bloomingdales. I also made the sales associate retrieve an ice cube and place it on the pants for her and her manager to see. As the ice melted, spots also formed right before our eyes (only certain spots). I retrieved my money and will never again purchase that exact pair of pants.

Later I found out that my Dentist also had the same thing occur to his Kenneth Cole Khaki Pants. Just as many people probably do, he threw them out thinking he got bleach on them. I asked him if he used bleach and he said no but he assumed it was on something he leaned on.

I have been doing some research, and I have found that there are certain cost cutting solutions textile companies go through in the dyeing process of cottons. I do beleive that sometimes these high priced clothing, especially when made in other countries are produced poorly. I would not be so quick to blame your hair gels or your skin oils. Analyze the situation, does it happen to all your clothing, or just cotton? Is it certain manufacturers or lots of different ones? If people don't speak up and the consumer accepts certain low quality, then we will be sold the calibur of quality we accept!

Last of all, even if it was your acidic skin or your hair gel that is causing this problem, don't you think that you deserve a more durable article of clothing that doesn't discolor so easily?

marta Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 03:09:55 04/02/2003
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Just two weeks back I received my hubby's pant from the laundry after dry cleaning, my hubby noticed dry water spots marks on the lower part of the pants- the colour of the pants were light beige(the colour of milky tea)..after reading the above message it makes me wonder
aviva Re: Mysterious (Currently 1 replies)
Posted At 19:31:52 04/02/2003
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My hair is ruined I have natural coarse thick curly red hair, And The water has completely ruined it, I have used the most expensive products, but it wont help cause of the iron & magnese (orange stuff) What can I do,I am so depressed, I can handle being a little overweight but not my hair too, help please any comments on this?
Richard Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 13:15:14 04/30/2003
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I have the same problem. Colored clothes look like they were bleached. I m pretty certin that it has something to do with my body chemistry but i have know idea what to do about it. Any advice would be greatly apreciated.

ps
avira
hang in there sweetheart!
maybe you can get a watter filter for your showerhead.





Matt Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 07:32:45 05/07/2003
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Hi Guys

I get the same exact problem down here in Australia.
Some things i've noticed:

- Occurs on pure cotton
- Occurs preddominatley around the neck area and bottom of shirt - maybe
where sweat occurs?
- Occurs on light colours mostly offwhites/greys/light greens etc. not
reds/blues.
- Has occured in multiple locations, with multiple (and no) detergents,
multiple washing machines.
- Doesn't seem to happen to any one else who uses the same washing machine
as me. I'm not sure how much of their clothes are cotton though.
- Mostly expensive clothing, cheaper brands doesnt happen to

If I try to return clothes - often doesnt happen because they think I have
bleached it etc... So I have wasted a lot of money on clothes just been
thrown away.

I have 3 questions:
What is the research you said you have done into this J. Could you provide me
with more detail. it could help me more in obtaining refunds/exchanges in
the future.

Have you found anyway to get rid of the stains or are they just bascially
bleach?

Is it a cause of our sweat? To me it appears to be. Why does it happen to
some and not others?

Thanks
Matt L

Bad Betty Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 16:38:22 05/12/2003
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I get these clear oil like satins on my clothes, that were not here when they went into the washer. Do not have a problem with rust in my area but found this article and think this may help some....
http://repair2000.com/oil.html
Robyn Brown spots on my whites (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 12:32:05 05/19/2003
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For some reason every so often, I'll do a load of white laundry and one or two shirts will come out with brown spots or streaks all over them. I don't use bleach or fabric softner because it irritates my daughter's skin. After reading a few posts, I'm thinking it could be my hair products since I have long curly hair and I let it air dry. The question is, how do I get the stains out? Can anyone help me please?
Sheri so, is there an answer to mystery water stains?????? (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 17:09:38 05/19/2003
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So, now that we've all griped about this problem (mystery water stains)... who has an answer to how to get rid of them?!

Lori Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 17:47:58 05/20/2003
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Hi: I think I'm the "Lori" who asked about my darn water spots: I'm still finding little spots here and there on solids after I've pulled them out of the wash and then dried them. I'm wondering if, since I live in an area with hard water, the minerals are causing the spots. I wonder if getting a water softener installed would solve the problem?
wingfat Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 16:08:39 05/25/2003
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i have the same problem, basically on whites, not on all, but sometimes when i remove the whites from the washer every now and then there are small yellowish spots, i have tried bleach, shout, spot removals, they don't budge.. what the hell is it??
von Re: Mysterious (Currently 1 replies)
Posted At 23:10:36 06/11/2003
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I have the same problem with spots on articles of clothing, also on almost new towels and wash cloths. It mainley happens to my 14 yr old daughters new clothing, which is sometimes expensive. The spots are usually pinkish or yellowish and seem to appear more often on light blue or green materials. The color is gone from these articles and it looks just like bleach spots, but I don't use bleach, not even color-safe bleach. I have spot tested several products she uses such as toothpaste, cologne, deodorant, etc. but I can't get the spots to appear when I want them to. Help!!! This is getting expensive!!!
JG Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 12:33:51 06/17/2003
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i am from holland, but live in the usa now. have never had this issue there, but here i find the orange spots mostly on my 'sand' colored clothes, around the neck the most, and on the sheets on my side of the bed. my wife doesn't have this issue (and she does sleep in the same bed as i do...)
Loree Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 18:05:23 06/18/2003
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hi its loree, the second poster again. well since i first started to believe it was my skin on my face causing the " bleach spots" to happen,i think i proved it to be that. i now try my best not to let my face touch my shirts when putting them on, or taking them off. never sleep in good clothes !! try this little test , take a shirt that already has the spots and rub your face in one spot on the shirt, let it sit for a day or too, them wash it . are there white spots????? if not try it again ,they will come. i dont have hard water, i dont use hair products, it is NOT oil stains, and i dont use bleach. one other thing, a few monthes ago i was playing with my baby, who was wearing a light blue shirt. i was rubbing my face on her stomach making her laugh, a few days later, there it was, white spot on her shirt. ps ALL OF MY CLOTHES IT HAPPENS TO ARE ALL COTTON!!
Gary Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 02:06:06 07/23/2003
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Different people have different Ph levels in their sweat and body fluids. certain foods and such can cause your ph level to rise causing your sweat to discolor your clothes.
Gary
l.peralta Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 22:41:13 08/03/2003
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ok guys, you have been struggling for a good while with these oranges spots on cotton clothes and probably other colors as well.... which is due to the color of the fabric softner that you use.
all you have to do is remove the top of the center structure of the washing machine, where you normally pour the fabric softner, clean very well the housing where the removable part lies, because this is going to be dirty with hard or gummy residue which is old fabric softner. finally clean the part that was removed earlier with hot water and Clorox until fully cleaned and no more residue comes out.

GOOD LUCK!!!!


l peralta Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 14:50:14 08/04/2003
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something i forgot to mention on the message above: if the spots are of the size of a penny or larger is possible that washing machine is releasing fabric softner before the rinsing cycle begins and drops of softner are comming. down on clothes with no water in the washing machine { because it was just drained }. if tha is the cese you have to call for service to have that cycle adjust. good luck
Jamie Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 11:39:58 08/07/2003
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Well I would have to say that I definitly disagree with l.peralta. I have the same problem all my life. Many of my articles of clothing including cheap and expensive get bleached with spots after just wearing them once. I do not even have to wash them them for them to appear. I bleach comforters and pillows with my sweat. Only certain colors. So I do not think it has anything to do with fabric softner. I never even used to use fabric softener. And it always happened to me. I have ruined so many good clothes. From gap to theory. I beleive it has something to do with the imbalance of minerals in our bodies. But am am not too sure. I would love to find out ,because I am really getting sick of ruining things.
jamie
Paul Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 13:59:47 08/12/2003
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I'm pretty confidant that the orange stains are caused by an individual's body chemistry + type of fabric/dye + something else. Why?

*Same issue with brown t-shirts in the military as the other poster; 36 guys all washing clothes together but it only happens to some people, about 11 out of 36 was my experience
*This happens to non-brown/khaki clothes too (e.g. sage), but has never happened with certain colors (e.g. white or black)
*All clothes were 100% cotten or cotten blends.
*Does not always happen - sometimes occurs with new clothes, sometimes on clothes I've worn/washed for years.
*Not all clothes in same batch of wash are affected
*Stains occur in areas of sweat
*No one else in my family has this problem, even if we wash the same clothes at the same time, etc.

Nothing I've found gets the stains out - I just throw the clothes away.

So from what I read, no one knows precisely the combination of factors that causes it to happen, how to prevent it from happening, or how to clean it up once it happens.


Rene Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 14:50:49 08/21/2003
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Wow, I'm glad there are a bunch of you with the same problem. I have been going nuts for years with this problem. It happens on new or used clothes. Mostly if not only on cottons and appears to be only on light colored clothes. Very random and with no ryhme or reason to it. I suspect that it is the clothes. Yes, its a conspirecy to make us keep buying clothes. I believe manufactures even label there care instructions wrong so that you have to keep buying new clothes. I have tried everything and the spots keep coming back. It's random and doesnt happen every time. So I dont believe its body chemistry or a dirty washer. If it was body chemistry it would happen every time and it doesnt. I play basketball almost everyday and I sweat like a pig everytime and the spots dont happen every time. SO go figure.
Pete Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 10:16:38 08/25/2003
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Wow! Its great to see that I am not alone... A few of you described the same problem to a T. ie. "around the neck, sweat areas, name brands, cotton or cotton blends" It happens to any color though. Some cloths on the first wear, others after many washes. I have returned many purchases to stores and have had no problem yet... forunately.

It does seem that No One has a solution though. I have been forced to buy very inexpensive shirts, that I can basically toss out after a few wears. Interested point is that this did not start happening until a few years ago. I have been told that during periods of stress, your body chemistry changes and your sweat can casue this. If thats the case, I doubt there is much we can do other than analyse what brands and colors work best for us individually.

Good-Luck, and I hope someone, somewhere comes up with a real solution.
TC Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 14:49:36 08/26/2003
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Same here. Orange spots on light colored clothes. Here are a few facts that I know:

1. Did not start until after I moved out of parents house and in with wife.

2. Have bought both new washer and dryer

3. Have changed deodorants and detergeants

4. Always orange in tint

5. Happens on expensive and cheap shirts and pants.

6. Only my clothes not wife's.

With this info, I narrow it down to either the combination of my wife's clothes to mine (don't know what to do with that) or her clearisil, hairspray, etc.
Melanie Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 19:48:33 08/27/2003
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I too have had a problem with mysterious bleach spots on my good clothing. At first I thought it was low quality dye in the clothes that I was buying, but my sister and I both bought the same shirt and she never has this problem. I have ruined and returned about 7 shirts because of this mysterious bleaching. I also thought it was the washing machine, but no one else in my family has this problem. I thought it was the detergent to I started using cheer colorguard. Then one day I was washing my clothes by hand and before my eyes the dye in the shirt went from blue to white. What is going on???
Tracey Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 07:20:22 08/30/2003
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I have the same bleaching situation that you are all describing and am so glad to find out that it is not just ME! Anyway, I was trying my best to find out why, etc.. when I stumbled across the following Q & A on a natural health website... Gee... do you think we might all of eating disorders?! Please!! Anyway, just thought it was interesting... I have been thinking that I have a problem with Sodium and that is why the bleaching occurs... and this lady mentions Chloride... I'm not a chemist, but sodium and chloride are related, right? Do any of you have problems with sodium?

Q: My daughters' sweat bleaches clothes. She can bleach out her clothing sometimes in a matter of hours; around the edges, waist, etc. I've had her to the Doctor's twice and she's had blood tests come back normal. I'm worried because she's 19, a vegetarian who eats and exercises and is currently healthy but has a history of anorexia.

A: You are right to be concerned about your daughter's sweat bleaching her clothes. When sweat contains higher than normal mineral content of ammonia and chloride, it may suggest inadequate nutrition. Research has shown high levels of ammonia and chloride in the sweat of malnourished individuals, including persons with anorexia and athletes. I suggest that you get a referral to an eating disorders specialist. It's important to evaluate your daughter's diet and exercise program. It may just be a matter of improving her vegetarian diet to compensate for exercise.
Deb Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 14:11:25 08/31/2003
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I had a similar problem with bleach-like stains on a set of brand new towels. I returned them (and received suspicious glares from the salespeople) because I knew I had not bleached them. Unfortunately, one of our new towels also became stained! After reading the above messages and pursuing the issue from all angles, I believe I figured it out! My three teenaged children all use benzoyl peroxide products on their faces, and I learned that this causes bleach stains. I've instructed them to wash their faces better in the shower and use only light colored towels. Case closed (I hope)!
Mars Re: Mysterious (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 21:46:34 09/01/2003
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Tracey, thank you! My son's clothing gets orange-bleached spots, beginning a few years back, just before he developed colitis. Body chemistry/improper nutrition could explain it!

BTW, he uses the same shampoos/soaps/deodorant as the rest of the family. The same washing machine/detergent as us. The orange spots do not happen to anyone else in our family of eight.

[corbiegirl]

Just found the following, here:
http://www.compareindia.com/tips/washing-machine-laundry.htm

"If blue fabric comes into contact with benzoyl peroxide, there is removal of the blue colour, resulting in a white spot on the garment If the affected item is green, the result is a yellow spot when the blue is removed, since green is a combination of blue and yellow."

I haven't been having a bleaching problem with blue clothes, but then, I don't wear many blue shirts, now that I'm thinking about it. I do wear a lot of green. So, of course, I'm noticing the problem on my green shirts. I haven't seen any bleaching on other colors (red, black, etc.)

So, at least for me, the benzoyl peroxide is probably the solution.

Sounds like there are several different causes for bleaching, so your mileage may vary.

[quick]

Finally I decided to do search about these mysterious orange bleach stains in my clothes.

And look like im not the only one, good to know there is others with the same issue, it was driving me crazy trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

I wasted probably 100's of dollars on ruined shirts. Seems to happen around the neck like other have mentioned.

I've noticed some similarities in some ideas thrown out here...

1. Sweat ph levels
2. Sodium (i eat tons of salt)
3. Malnutrition (i have Crohn's disease which makes my diet extremely restricted salt,water,meat,rice thats it i can't even eat vitamins.)
4. Used multiple detergents and washing machines/dryers
5. Only cotton clothes

I could go on, but my best guess is it really comes down to a mix of chemicals that once they come in contact in the right conditions it bleaches the dye out.

It definately is a huge annoyance, costly, and sux when its your favorite shirts

Hopefully there is a solution to this soon...

[Angry 1]

This problem is also occuring in my clothes and towels. I am 15, and buy clothes from various stores such as Aeropostale, American Eagle, Gap and Old Navy. This bleaching seems to occur mostly in the clothing from Aeropostale, Gap, and Old Navy, however. Recent stains include:

-An either very light blue or white stain on a baby blue shirt from Gap (a large circle on the shoulder and some sparatic "dripping" like marks on the stomach)

-Orange bleach spots on a pair of khaki shorts from American Outpost, the outlet for American Eagle (some "dripping" like marks near the pocket and the bottom of the short)

-Orange bleach marks on a sand-colored Aeropostale t-shirt (orange stains on the collar and inside of collar)

-Flourescent orange bleach marks on a dark sea-green Old Navy t-shirt (bright orange spots around collar and on sleeves)

It seems as though the marks will occur for me only after I have washed them a few times. I use Benzoyl Peroxide on my face, however this doesn't explain the large spots around the shoulder of my shirt and on my shorts.

There are also bright pink marks on all of our family's purple towels, so many of them that it looks almost tye-died.

Not only are these marks on our towels and clothing, but they are also on various carpets within our home. We have even found bleach stains on some of our walls!

However, the bleach marks will only occur exclusively on my clothing. My older sister also uses Benzoyl Peroxide on her face, and her clothing has no stains. My younger sister, mother and father all use the same water, detergent, and such as I do, and their clothing has no problems.

It is apparent to me that the bleach stains do not occur on only light-colored clothing, as I have mentioned above, with my sea-green t-shirt and dark purple towels.

This leaves me with absolutely no solution, as this color loss/gain on my clothing is completely random. I have concluded that it MUST be some sort of reaction with the oils that my body releases and some dyes, and cannot think of a way to help this. Perhaps some people release a bleaching agent in their sweat. But this also seems illogical as the stains appear in either places that do not excessively persperate, or on the outside of thick clothing like khaki. Yet the problem is even more perplexing, as it only happens to certain people.

If anyone knows any solution for this problem that I, and many others seem to be having, please post your answers. I really need to find a way to prevent this from happening, I can't keep having to buy new clothing!

[cdris]

Glad I did this search.

I've been having this problem since about May 1 of this year. Mostly light blue, lighter greens and tan clothing/towels.

Two things could coincide.

1. Started the South Beach Diet (low carb) right around then
2. Began using a prescription acne wash for my back/chest breakouts.

So I am suspect of the possible nutrition imbalance and have ceased the diet as of two weeks ago. Also, wonder about the use of Splenda on the diet! That's gone too.

Will give it a couple of weeks and will then remove the benzoil peroxide wash if still seeing the issue.

If I see any success I will post another reply.

[AlsoAnnoyed]

Me too in Canada.

Has only been happening for last year or so. Small bleached-out spots on just my cotton clothes--no problem with navy or black though. However, it became specially obvious when I bought new dark burgundy towels & washcloths--they have quickly became marked with much larger streaky orange spots. On old navy towels, didn't have this problem.

I blamed concentrated Tide--changed to regular. Then started disolving it before adding clothes (instead of putting in machine dispenser). Then reduced fabric softener (liquid), then stopped using spot treatments. After all this, medium blue t-shirt washed yesterday for first time came out with 1/4 inch white spot on front. However, haven't noticed with handwashing--but I'm not going to handwash towels! The benzol peroxide is an interesting thought; maybe I'll try using just one old towel & washcloth & wash them separately for a while.

Does any manufacturer of cotton fabric have any ideas?

[ddincaliif]

I have been crying for 1/2 hour because of all my kids school clothes just got ruined with the bleach spots!!! I even was crying when I made the Service Call to Sears to come out. I don't know if I'm getting closer to a solution to this bleach spot problem but here's my story:::

I bought a Kenmore Calypso washing machine (Water saving machines) July 2003. I used the machine for a couple weeks and noticed the clothes weren't looking very clean. My whites especially looked like wet dirty clothes after they went through the 63 minute cycle.

I decided to use Clorax bleach. I Used less of the required amount and used 1/2 C. A little bit better looking but still had that stained looked. Frustrated, I washed them again in bleach.. Again, not much of an improvment. I gave up, put the whites in the dryer w/5 dryer sheets (I hate the smell of bleaach) and threw in a load of cold water dark clothing.

I got them out of the washer w/these orange bleach spots all over. I was devestated. I ran an empty wash on the white cycle to clean out all the bleach I felt was left over in the machine.

I then did towels and my machines then leaked water. Called out the service guy. He said I overloaded the basket, also used too much detergent, and kept blaming me for the machine.

I decided to myself it was bleach being stuck in machine and vowed never to use bleach again. The next load and light colored cold wash... Again, more spots on my light yellow tank top (I still have the shirt and the spots have now turned into holes). That is the result of bleach.

Now over a year of not using bleach, I have not had these problems.. However, I do strongly feel my clothes are not as clean as I think they should be. Last weekend, my last loads were of whites, I did a large white load that need extra cleaning, grounded in dirt in socks, etc... I USED THE DREADED BLEACH!!! The load again, wasn't impressive, so I figured I'm stuck with this crappy machine. I did a cold white load after. I ran 3 empty loads on the white cycle to make sure the bleach was out of the machine. Four days later, I did a load of towels (my towels are white, some green, and some beach towels they were okay)..

I thought, okay, no problems.. I needed to desperatedly do some school clothes of my daughters and some shirts of my son's.. all dark colors.

You guessed it.. orange stains on her dark brown shirt on the back, on the shoulder and under the collar of her shirt and on the front. My son's stains were down the front and one side of his black shirt.

We do not use any type of acne cream, we use only Dove soap for our face. They are too young to be using the chemicals listed in above messages.

I blame the washing machine with the combination of using BLEACH. I feel the bleach does not get out of the system of the washing machine. I do not use fabric softner, only dryer sheets. These dark items hang dry.

Modern technology at it's finest.. I think I'll try washing the clothes in a stream off a rock!!!!

[shannon]

I can't believe how many other people have this problem. It's getting expensive and frustrating to keep replacing clothes after only one or two uses. Here's what I've noticed:

Bleach spots all over the fronts of my green, blue, or tan t-shirts, from Old Navy or Wal-Mart (don't have much money to buy expensive clothes!) Shirts are made of 100% cotton or 50% cotten/50% polyester.

Some bleach spots on 100% cotton blue jeans

Bleach spots on blue cotton towels made in the USA purchased at Kohl's.

Has only been happening since I moved to a new home 4 years ago--problemm is getting MUCH worse.

OF course, I DO NOT USE BLEACH!!! I do not even use fabric softner. I've tried switching detergents and nothing helps.

Well, I'm glad I'm not alone.

I can't imagine it's a body chemistry problem--as this has only begun happening over the past few years. However, it is something to think about because it only happens to MY clothes. I suppose I must have used the towels too.

It is SOOO frustrating that I'm sitting here searching the internet and griping about this when I have many other things I could be doing.

One more thing-- my husband bought us a brand new Maytag front loading washer. I was wondering if front loading washers might have anything to do with it as I've heard somehow they tend to re-deposit detergents sometimes.

[shannon]

To ddincaliif:

I feel so bad for you. I have 3 little boys and I've never found a spot on their clothes, only mine.

I was wondering about your new washing machine. Is it front loading by any chance?

It is so disheartening to go and buy brand new clothes and then have then ruined in an instant.

Maybe we should copy this webpage and send it to the stores we've bought our clothes from. Perhaps it is the dyeing process of the factories that make the clothes and towels. Maybe there is some sort of low end dye that companies are using to cut costs that are causing these problems and raising costs for us.

[paul]

hey i have the problem but my know-it-all mum told me how to get rid of them and it works!

I bought Vanish Oxy Action Max (I live in the UK - not sure if this is available abroad). Anyhow - one spoonful into a cup and two spoonfuls of hot tap water (that's right - ignore the warnings on the packaging). OK - now mix it into a paste and spread generously over the stained area and leave for about 15mins.

When you get back there will be a heap of powder on the stain and it'll be pretty dry, so add another spoonful of water over the stain and leave it again for 10-20mins (as before this is not recommended by the instructions but it works)

so after 30 odd minutes you can take a look to see if it worked. I found that the middle of the brown stain had disappeared and was left with a donought shaped orange ring. I gently rubbed the stains with the spoon and this really finished it off. Give it a rinse and then into the washing machine.

So far today I've rescued four shirts and a top which in total cost over £300 so i'm well happy. I also tore a shirt (now in the bin) through over vigourous rubbing - so be careful!

hope it works for you too.
paul

[SallyW]

I'm glad I found this thread - I've been looking for information about what might be possibly causing pink stains on my clothing. I've only noticed it on two articles of clothing - a bra that I use for everday/around the house, where the band has turned almost completely pink over the course of about a year (the colour change was gradual but I can't get the stains out and they've compounded in time), and on a tank top I wear to bed almost every night. Lately the underarms in the tank top have started turning faintly pink as well. It's obviously my perspiration, but I have no idea what might be causing it. Mostly people in this thread have mentioned orange or bleach spots, but has anyone ever seen pink?

I certainly hope it isn't malnutrition causing it, as I am currently pregnant and eating an extremely healthy diet, and the tank top has only recently begun to stain.

Any ideas?

[Friend]

For a large portion of you, your problem is benzoyl peroxide. If the stains/spots appear to be lighter or a different color than the fabric's natural color, then it indicates bleaching of one of the dyes. Benzoyl peroxide will mess up blue dyes. It results in subtracting blue from the color of the cloth. Purple - blue = pink. Green - blue = yellow. Black - blue = brown (rare). Khaki - blue = orange. Grey - blue = orange too. I know some of those seem counterintuitive, but it's just the way dyeing works.

Take an old garment that has one of the suspicious stains, and put spots of all the skin care products you use on it, especially ones that list benzoyl peroxide as an ingredient on the bottle. Let it sit, then wash it in the sink. This way, you might be able to identify the culprit(s).

[guest]

Have had this problem for years with bleach spots mysteriously appearring on towels and occassionally on some t-shirts. I thought it was the detergent not mixing properly in the washing machine, I switched brands of detergents and still it occurred every now and then. Finally I realised the other day it has to be something else I use in the bathroom, or it's my body chemistry. I figured it could be my deoderant, Right Guard, or Clearasil. I decided to test my theory...got a green cotton towel, put some deoderant on it, put some Clearasil on it in a different spot, moistened the towel, even added a little detergent on top, let it sit for half an hour...sure enough the spot where the Clearasil was added bleached out! I finally read the warnings on Clearasil- "Avoid contact with dyed fabrics, including carpet and clothing which may be bleached with this product." Two lessons learned here 1) be careful of Clearasil residue on your face and hands 2) don't just read the labels on clothing, read the labels on EVERYTHING.

[Guest]

I am 15 and have just recently began using Proactiv solution on the blemishes on my face (by the way it works!) and started to notice bleach-spots on my towels and on some of my pjs. The culprit is the benzoyl perozide chemical that is in most cleansers. The peroxide removes the dye on the material, so u can only re-dye it to it's original colour, it's not as if it's a stain that will wash out. It is not water soluable, it takes a while to come off of your hands and face so if you happen to touch your pants, the towels, whatever, there is a chance that it will stain. Also, the temperature and humidity are factors in the staining, it could take a few hours to a few moths for the discolouring to appear! I advise you to use older towels to dry your face, ones that you don't particularly mind if they get stained, and rinse, rinse, rinse as much as you can to remove all residue. This works even better in the shower. Wash hands with soap as well before you touch your clothing. I have found that moisturizers with benzoyl peroxide tend not to do as much damage as the actual cleansers. Hope it helps!

[BrettnLaurynsmommi]

I have had this problem before too. I found that adding 'Amaze" to the washing machine along with your detergent works wonders. Amaze is a powder detergent aid made for baby clothes. Or I have also bought "So Clean" by arm and hammer and you add it to your washing machine with the laundry detergent and its great. They are both safe for colours as well as whites. Another cheap trick that works well for any kind of stain is rubbing Sunlight dishsoap on the stain before washing. It works great on greasy staings like butter or margarine. Good luck!