Laundry/Bleach Question

[threeboysmom]

OK, this is aggravating. I use bleach when I do my white load, but for whatever reason, when I did a color load afterwards, a couple of the shirts came out with big bleach spots on them!! This has never happened before to me.

Makes me want to just throw out the bleach - I'm so upset. These were expensive shirts.

Do you all run an empty cycle whenever you've done a white load to remove all traces of bleach? How can I prevent this from happening again? I'm scared to do another white load.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

My bleach load is always the last load. If you have a top loader, you don't have to use the dispenser, you can pour the bleach in after the washer is filled with water, that way it can't stain another load since it will be rinsed out of the tub with the wash water.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Ohh, that's a shame OP. That's right up there with the ENTIRE load my DS12 ruined when he left a SHARPIE in the pocket of his white shorts which opened and painted an entire gigantic load of light colors. Peachy

I usually try to do bleach then towels or sheets then colors and i always try to rinse off the inside lid and other parts when the towels go in because I think the splashing around sends the bleach flying which leads to ruined clothes like happened to you. It's also possible you may have dripped some bleach on the outside of the machine when you put it in and didn't notice it, maybe a wipe down with one of the towels going into the wash could prevent that in the future.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Did you use the dispenser? I never use it for this reason.

I always fill up the tub with water, then add the bleach, then add the clothes.

Sorry about what happened. Laundry sucks.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I know how frustrating that can be! I have a similar problem with washing clothes and towels from the pool. I can't remember if some items went in with those clothes that shouldn't have or if it was a load right after. But I ruined a really cute dress that way. Never been worn and has discolorations throughout. Ugh. I am more diligent with separating the clothes now.

I've had the second load have discolorations too, from bleach. I can't put the bleach in the water as the washer locks after it has started.

Ohh, that's a shame OP. That's right up there with the ENTIRE load my DS12 ruined when he left a SHARPIE in the pocket of his white shorts which opened and painted an entire gigantic load of light colors. Peachy

I usually try to do bleach then towels or sheets then colors and i always try to rinse off the inside lid and other parts when the towels go in because I think the splashing around sends the bleach flying which leads to ruined clothes like happened to you. It's also possible you may have dripped some bleach on the outside of the machine when you put it in and didn't notice it, maybe a wipe down with one of the towels going into the wash could prevent that in the future.

Me too.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I usually try to do bleach then towels or sheets then colors

Same here, I always do towels if I bleach.

Also, I do not bleach until necessary. I use Borax presoak most of the time for whites.

 

[ndelaware]

Putting bleach and soap in the washing machine water at the same time will make the soap worthless.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Putting bleach and soap in the washing machine water at the same time will make the soap worthless.

Ah, yes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgxcYz5cLN8

 

[Piglet843]

My bleach load is always the last load. If you have a top loader, you don't have to use the dispenser, you can pour the bleach in after the washer is filled with water, that way it can't stain another load since it will be rinsed out of the tub with the wash water.

There's never a "last load" at my house...
It seems my washer is always going...



OP - I have done this before too... and I quit using bleach altogether when it happened.
But If I do use it again - I'm just gonna run an empty load in between to wash it all out for sure....

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I don't bleach to much but if I do I bleach and then re wash with soapd so it dosen't have that bleach smell.

 

[kristilew]

Another "bleach load followed by towel load" person here. DH thinks I'm so neurotic b/c the laundry has to be done in a certain order - but it's what works best for me so why not? Anyway, my second-to-last load is always the bleach load, then the final load is towels. After that, I leave the lid up overnight and everything dries out. I haven't had a problem with leftover bleach since I started doing this.

 

[threeboysmom]

My bleach load is always the last load. If you have a top loader, you don't have to use the dispenser, you can pour the bleach in after the washer is filled with water, that way it can't stain another load since it will be rinsed out of the tub with the wash water.

Not sure how bleach load is always the last load? At some point you have to do another load, lol.

What I did was wash my towels in bleach/soap on Friday. (And I do put the bleach right in with the water so that wasn't the issue either.) I guess technically you could say it was the "last load" of the day.

Problem came on Saturday when I did a load of colored clothes.

My towels are what I'm bleaching, so can't throw a batch of towels in afterwards.

I'm stumped. I have a feeling my rinse cycle didn't rinse like it was supposed to and that's what has me concerned about using bleach again.

I'm hoping maybe it was just a spill on the outside like some have suggested. That would be the easiest solution. But I would think after 24 hours, it would have dried? I'm usually very careful about pouring directly into the machine so I can't imagine I dumped a ton all over the machine.

I thought maybe this was a common occurence, but apparently not. Was hoping it was not machine-related, but sounds like my rinse cycle perhaps is not working right.

Thanks, everyone. Still frustrated. I may end up having to wash my white towels twice just to make sure all bleach is removed. Really don't dare ruin any more clothes.

Or.... I could just ditch my beautiful white spa-like towels that I love...

Stupid laundry, lol.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Ok, last load of the day. Bleach breaks down, so in the dilute amount that could be left in the machine after a proper rinse cycle should not damage clothes the next day. Sounds like your machine may not be rinsing well or that you may have had a full strength spill that you didn't see.
That said, when I do use bleach a second rinse cycle is usually used since I don't like the smell of bleach on my clothes/towels. I work at a preschool and we use a bleach water solution(that has to be made daily because the bleach breaks down so fast)to disinfect, so I really don't want to smell bleach more than I have too.