Can anyone think what the orangey /yellow marks are on hubbys shirts?

alison6692

Brilliant Thanks pink-winged! I am going to give the washing machine a big clean out - Great - Thanks for finding that thread for me x

altyfc

I posted my problem here - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2767332 - not realising that was just going to result in smart-!!!! remarks. Thankfully, some people were kind enough to give some useful suggestions - including posting here - but most seemed just intent on telling me where to go because I dared to suggest that I was only wishing to have sensible responses. Ah well... hopefully I'll find a more friendly bunch lurking here.

To cut to the chase... we've been noticing a lot of tiny yellow spots on our 'lights', particularly cottons. T-shirts, pillow cases, bedding, etc.

There have been lots of ideas from bee poo to pollen but none of them seem to quite add up. We've looked for any signs of rust in the relatively new machines but can't see anything. We've asked neighbours if they've got similar problems in case it's the water, but again that resulted in nothing.

We'd really like to get to the bottom of it as it's ruining a lot of clothes and bedding.

Thanks for any pointers.

Penelope_Penguin

If it's on everything, I suspect it's in your washing machine

Take a look at this older thread, too (and the link that Pink-winged mentions). That may give you more answers; I'll merge this thread later.

Sublime_2

I think its your washing machine too.

altyfc

Thanks, folks. Strangely, it doesn't seem to be on everything. It only seems to be on light clothes and more on the cottons like sheets and T-shirts. I don't know why but towels don't seem to have it on them at all.

redruby

do you hang it on an airer ?? my old one was a metal one covered in white rubber plastic stuff, the rubber had worn through in several place, which caused tiny yellow spots on the clothes, it might be the same with yours ??

hth

altyfc

We have a line that's in fairly good condition. We had thought it could be due to pollen from the garden but the marks are on my wife's coat which has been through the wash (but not hung out on the line outside). I guess that would point towards the machine or the water...???

Or could it be a mould of some kind???

emiff6

Could it be oil from the gear box coming up into the drum? It would sort of emulsify while the water was agitated, then settle as tiny droplets when the water drained out and the spin cycle started.