Washing machine - mystery brown spots - please help!

mr_moneysaver_2

Hi. My washing machine is sometimes putting small brown spots on clothes. The spots do not come out so the clothes are being ruined.
I'd really appreciate any help in identifying what is causing this.

A photo of the spots can be found on flickr.com/s7s6c/4099372148/

Some more information:
- The spots are randomly scattered.
- They go right through the material so turning clothes inside out is no help.
- It is definitely the washing machine causing them as I do not use a dryer.
- My washing machine is an Indesit model Omega 1200 WDG 1295 W. It is about 10 years old.

I think the most likely cause is oil or rust from within the machine. Other potential causes could be mould or perhaps it is to do with the washing powder or fabric conditioner.

Can anyone help identify what the stains are or a likely cause? Hopefully the photo will make this easier.

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

Chocolate80

As soon as I saw your post, I had to reply!

I've had this before too, both with the old washing machine and the one I have now. My current one is about 3 yrs old and is a Zanussi. I think this machine has only put the spots on once or twice but it has certainly not done this for about 6 months or so. As for what it is or what to do about it, I don't know.

Have you used the machine since it put brown spots on your washing? Does it happen every time you wash things?

mr_moneysaver_2

Hi Chocolate80. It's happened very occasionally for some time, however it has happened 3 times recently. Oddly only one piece of clothing has been damaged each time.

Hopefully someone can tell us what they think the spots are from the photo.

I'm considering buying a new machine but think it would be better to understand what the cause of the spots is before making an expensive new purchase.

PasturesNew

I've no idea ... but have you tried doing one of those super-hot boil wash/cleaning cycles in the machine? To get rid of any lurking gunk

Edit: I gave it a quick google, a few are suggesting it's rust. When you've done your washing in the past 10 years, do you always leave the door open, or do you close it (trapping the moisture inside)?

mr_moneysaver_2

Hi PasturesNew. I do super-hot boil washes occasionally and also leave the door open to let the machine dry out and stop it from smelling.

I have to clean the dispensing tray occasionally too because washing powder seems to build up there over time.

It's very frustrating that I can't figure out what's causing the brown spots!

fishing-girl

sometimes if you put too many items in your machine it can force the fabric into the tiny holes in the drum (normally the finer fabric)when on spin. i used to get tiny holes in my clothes, but this could be rust or something else from the metal on the drum.try again but with a smaller load.

DVardysShadow

Rust. Iron oxide. Either there is some iron pipework which is shedding rust into the water or some iron filings have been picked up on the clothes - eg being close to anglegrinding etc.

frogeyesimon

Could be drum bearing failing - grease leaking though the oil seal - any play in the drum ? (shouldn't rock more than a couple of mm relative to the tub)

poppyolivia

My s-i-l had this problem, got a guy out and he said it was oil from the machine and would cost more to fix than just buying one....it was like brown spots.

janjul

Had exactly same thing with our Hopoint Ultra. We always have warranty on our appliances as they always seem to conk out - particularly our washer. The brown spots happened when the bearings on the drum were going. Was repaired under warranty and no problems since. We had a similar brown marking on clothes in the tumble drier and that turned out to be the thermostat gone and the marks were burn marks.

Hope the info helps

mr_moneysaver_2

Thanks very much for all the replies.

To address a few of the suggestions:
- The marks have happened with quite small loads so I don't think overfilling the machine is an issue.
- The flats I live in are about 10 years old so I don't believe there should be iron pipework. Also I don't do any activities that should cause iron to get on the clothes.

It seems most like it could be the bearings going. The drum rocks backwards and forwards by a centimetre or so. However I can't move the drum up and down vertically at all. Does this sound consistent with a problem with the bearings?

Would still welcome further comments from anyone else who has had a similar experience or has knowledge of washing machines. Thanks again.