I have been noticing small stains on clothing AFTER going through the washer and dryer. They're like little grease stains and resemble what happened when my daughter left Chapstick in her pocket in the dryer years ago. This is a different washer and dryer now, I haven't had any issues with crayons/Chapsticks or anything, but I'm noticing stains. I think there's something in the washer or dryer, but I've checked and wiped them down and can't find anything. HELP!!! Our wardrobes are being ruined and I don't even know why!!
I also have this very frustrating problem, and I use neither fabric softener nor dryer sheets. And it mostly happens when I wash my toddler's clothes, but sometimes to the grown-ups' clothes too. And it never happens when I wash sheets and towels. My W/Ds only 4 years old. How perplexing!
Try CLR run it in the machine with no cloths in it.. You can find in I know at K-mart. Its worth a shot.
I used to have the same problem. My solution is 2 parts. One, I add, every other load about a cup of vinegar to the wash. Before you do that though, put some in a spray bottle and spray the insides down and then do a rinse cycle on it. Spray again and see if you notice anything coming out of the holes on the sides.
2. Greased lightning, use it on the spots on your clothes. Rub the spots down with the greased lightning let it sit for an hour or so, (or if you're like me until the next day when I get back to doing laundry!) and throw it in the wash. It should come right out.
You can get Greased Lightning at Lowes or Home Depot. I used to get it in the grocery store but I can't find it there anymore. It is my favorite tough spot cleaner.
I agree that it was probably from the fabric softener. I've been getting these stains on my clothes a lot, and figured out what it was a while ago. I use less fabric softener than I normally would (only up to the first line in the top), and I don't get them as much. They come right out in subsequent washings, though. I didn't realize it was because the fabric softener dispenser was not emptying all the way, though. Our washer is over 12 yrs old. Time for a new one?? :)
Does your washer have a fabric soften "dispenser" in the middle that you use? This should completely empty after the 1st spin cycle, between washing and rinsing the clothes. But I've noticed that sometimes I see spots of fabric softener in the washer after the last spin (so it didn't completely empty when it should have). The fabric softener that gets onto the clothes at the very end, and not into the rinse water like it should, can leave grease-like stains.
I haven't found a solution to this, since I don't have time to hang around the washer and wait for the rinse cycle to add the softener manually. I'd love to know if someone else has found a way to keep this from happening!
I have this same problem and have also been wondering what the stains are from! I had the same problem with chapstick in the past but havent had any go through the washer in a long time. I dont use fabric softener and rarely use dryer sheets (and dont use them on the loads that have the stains). So after reading the comments below, I am still at a loss for ideas. I will have to keep checking back for others comments.
Unfortunately, it's your fabric sheets that are causing this. There's really no way around it. I even use Bounce because I'm allergic to just about everything else and can't use many liquid softeners, and I still have this problem.
OMG! I have this same problem!!! And I could never figure out what it is!
We live next door to my mom, and she watched my son when I work, so some of his clothes are washed there, and she NEVER has this problem, so I am thinking, "what the heck am I doing differently?" And attributing it to something probably in the washer. I never even gave a thought to dryer sheets?????? REALLY???? I thought for sure this was coming most probably from the fabric softener I put in the washer, but don't really have anything to back that up...
Well, I am definitely going to think this over again!
I had the same problem. I had little brown grease like stains on my clothes. I narrowed it down to my dryer. It came with the house and was pretty old. I tried every home remedy I heard of and none worked. I can't tell you how many work blouses were ruined. I finally bought a new dryer - problem solved.
It could be fabric softener stains. If it is the fabric softener adding a 1/2 cup white vinegar when you add your soap will clear that issue up and it gets your clothes really clean. I have heard that dryer sheets can also leave spots on your clothes though I wouldn't know because we don't use them.
try running an empty load with baking soda. sometimes the oils on your body get on your clothes and affect your wash. Baking soda should take any oils out of the washing machine.
Can you narrow it down to the washer OR the dryer? Try running a cycle in your washer without clothes, just soap. Let it do the whole cycle through. I know of some good stain removers too, but you'll probably want to fix the problem first. And sometimes just washing the clothes a second time will take out the spots.
Do you use dryer sheets? they will leave marks on clothing. I don't use them anymore for that reason and the fact that they bother my daughter and I's asthma. Try liquid softener.
