Washing Machine Stains That Appear On Clothes After Wash Them

by SR101 Reader

A SR101 reader asked me a question about washing machine stains, the kind where you don't have a stain on your clothes before you wash something, but then you take it out of the machine and a stain has now appeared.

SR101 Reader asks:

I often have stains on my clothes that weren't there before I put them in the washer. Could this be from fabric softner?

Taylor says:

Thanks for your question. I just hate stains from the washing machine itself, since it just means more work for you when all you want to do is get your laundry done.


You've actually identified one of the biggest culprits which causes stains to appear on your clothes after they get into the wash -- fabric softener.

That is because most softeners are oil based, and if too much is used, or added too soon or late into the cycle, or hits your clothes without being diluted enough, it will cause oily spots on your clothes. Typically, these spots are about the size of a dime and look almost milky or bluish, almost with an oily sheen to them.

You can learn more about fabric softener stains here, and how to remove them.

However, you've not shared with me what your particular stain looks like, and that is important in being able to identify what it is.

Another common type of stain you can experience on clothing that comes from the washing process is rust stains. These can come either from rust which is developing in your washing machine itself, or from the water you are using to wash your clothes, if it has high mineral content. This can be worsened with the use of chlorine bleach, because bleach will set the stains.

Those are the two most common stains from a washing machine that I can think of, that you can get on your clothes. If you've got any more please share them in the comments.

I've answered this question as part of my stain removal help section on my website. You can ask your own questions, or read others I've already answered too.

Photo by alancowper

Brown Mystery Stains From Washing Machine

by B
(Denver, Colorado, US)

B wrote me in this laundry question, along with sending in these pictures of the problem she is having.

B says:

Lately, I've been getting brown mystery stains from my washing machine.

I know it's the washing machine because I've checked before putting the clothes in the dryer. On the lighter fabrics, it almost looks like it's been burned or smeared with mud and sometimes has the imprint of the surface of the washing machine (a bunch of little holes).

I tried cleaning the inside of the washing machine, even sticking rolled up paper towels into the little holes, but there was no residue.

I tried just rinsing the stains to see if anything happened, but since I have no idea what's staining my clothes, I don't know how to fix it.

It doesn't seem to happen with every load. I'd been adding vinegar to my loads to help remove stains and when I saw these new stains, I stopped, but they're still showing up. Help!

I have so much laundry to do and I can't afford to ruin my favorite clothes or my husband's work clothes.

Taylor says:

B, I am sorry you are having trouble with stains from your washing machine.

It is very frustrating to put clothes in there, to get them clean, just for them to get stained during the washing process.

I cannot be sure of the problem, but it sounds like it is rust stains, especially based on your description of the imprint of the washing machine drum being involved.

Unfortunately, if a part of your machine begins to rust, some of the rust comes loose during the wash cycle, at least some of the time, and then can deposit on your clothes during the cycle. This is most likely to happen if you let your clothes sit in there for a while after the machine finishes, but can also happen during the washing process itself.

One way to check to see if these are rust stains is to try to remove them while they are fresh, and before you put the clothes in the dryer. Something mildly acidic, like lemon juice or vinegar, when dribbled onto the fresh stain, will typically lighten or remove it. You can also use a commercial rust stain remover to remove these stains, as long as what you choose is safe for clothing (and for the color clothing you have the stain on).

Typically, when you are getting stains from an appliance, such as your washing machine, it makes sense to clean it. However, typically when you clean your washing machine you may use chlorine bleach. In this instance, that would be a bad idea since chlorine bleach can cause rust stains to set.

Instead, you can try to clean your rusty machine with a rust stain remover designed for appliances. (Click here to read rust stain removers reviews provided by other readers of this site.) The one that first comes to my mind is Super Iron Out, although many products are available that could do the job.

If that does not remove the rust from your machine, and you continue to see these stains continuing, it is time to call a repair person. You may be able to identify and replace the rusting part. Unfortunately, if the problem is severe or the machine is very old it may cost more to repair than replace it.

Of course, I am not for certain it is rust, although this is really the most common reason for these mystery stains. If it isn't rust though, I really don't know what it is, unless it is grease from your machine. If it were this, however, I would expect a slightly different color than what you describe, but if it doesn't respond to the lemon juice, but instead is removed or lightened with dishwashing liquid, this may be the culprit.

I know this may not be what you wanted to hear B, but I do hope it helps you identify and solve your problem. I know how frustrating it can be to get behind on your laundry because of issues like this.

Does any other reader have any other suggestions for B about this problem, or how to fix it? In addition, have you suffered from similar stains in your washing machine? If so, did you identify what caused them, and how did you fix the problem? Please tell me in the comments.

In addition, you can also ask your laundry questions here, as B did, and I will give it a go to answer them.

Related Links At Stain-Removal-101.com

Ask For Stain Removal Help Here

Mystery Stain From Dryer - Looks Oily

Laundry Supplies Reviews - What To Stock In Your Laundry Room

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