Spots on freshly laundered clothes.

[Mom loves Disney]

I found that Dawn (blue) will take the spots out. You may have to do it two times, but it has worked so far.

 

[pocomom]

Could you being using too much product in your machine? I'm amazed at how little you really need... maybe it is not rinsing out effectively/or there is build up in the washer? Have you tried cleaning the washer?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I googled the question and got these answers:

http://www.ehow.com/info_10069753_those-mystery-greasy-spots-left-laundry-detergent.html

http://www.mamapedia.com/article/help-me-spots-on-my-clothes-after-being-washed

http://laundry.about.com/od/laundryproblems/f/Dryergreasestai.htm

The one about Tide adding fiberglass to the detergent really got me. I checked the MSDS on line and there is no fiberglass in Tide.

Do you have hard water?

 

[bumbershoot]

I thought it was my detergent but I've switched several times and it's still happening.

I have a regular top load washer.

If I recall correctly from our cloth-diapering days (how best to wash them to make sure they retain their absorbency without developing icky smells is a BIG topic), the optical brighteners so common in detergents can cause spots. Have all the detergents you used had optical brighteners?


If you have Simple Green around, about 10 spritzes in a load of laundry might help; it's a grease-cutter (like Dawn) and I've found it to be quite effective.

 

[2manypets]

Do you do put in every load? And did it get rid of the spots that were already on the clothes (previously)? This is so annoying, and I am glad to read of others with the same problem!

It took a few washings with the vinegar at first to get rid of the spots, but now I only add it about once a month to prevent the spots.

 

[ceecee]

This happens to me all the time! I only notice it on DH's dress shirts (expensive pinpoints). I have a new front loader and use liquid Tide with no fabric softener, I use vinegar instead. I got lines, not so much spots. Since all of the shirts are white, I use a Clorox stain stick and it comes right out. We also have a top of the line water softener so it's not from the hard water. I would love to know what's causing it.

 

[PatMcDuck]

EXACTLY, it is coming from inside the drum, through the holes. Sometimes, on my white towels, I would see a row of dots from where the towels were pushed against the wall of the washer. I think it was worst on my towels, because they are heavy and when the machine spins, they really get whipped into the wall. and this is why a dirty fabric softener thing can be the problem, it is designed to dispense thru the washer holes into the wash, isn't it? I cleaned mine out, and clean it every few weeks now. And I NEVER use fabric softener at all, never put anything into this thing.

 

[pigletto]

This happened to me all the time and you'll never guess what it was

I was sure it was the machine or the products I was using. I finally called someone to come look at it. Dd had left her chapstick in her pocket!!! I wash in cold, so it was in the drum and leaving greasy little spots on the clothes for at least a month!!!

I doubt that's your issue but I thought I'd mention it because I was relieved to finally figure it out!

 

[queenofthehive]

Pigletto- Yep, that is what I first thought too... I can't count the times my daughters have left their Burt's Bees Chapstick in their pockets and it caused a bunch a of grease spotted laundry. Now, my son tends to leave rocks in his pockets but I digress...