If you’re ever had clothes come out of the wash seeming dirtier than when they went in, you’re not alone. Having a washing machine leaving marks on clothes is a common laundry issue, whether it’s a dark spot or grimy mark.
But there are often very simple ways to deal with this issue. The first place to start is by finding out what’s causing the marks. So, here are some the most common reasons you’ll find marks on your clothes after washing them.
7 reasons for a washing machine leaving marks on clothes
Nicole Gibson is the Laundry Queen at Söka Australia. If you have a stain, she can help you remove it. In a recent Instagram post, Nicole unpacks how random stains wind up on your clothes during washing.
1. Overfilling your washing machine
Cramming as many clothes as you can in your washing machine is counter-productive. If there’s no room for your clothes to move, your machine can’t clean them as effectively.
“The clothes shoved and stuck against the drum are at risk of absorbing dirt, grime and oils,” she writes.
2. Not cleaning your washing machine
Yes, the dirt in your washing machine can make your clothes dirtier while washing.
Nicole says: “If your drum hasn’t been cleaned in a while, it may have a lot of build-up of oils, grime and dirt, which can contribute to random stains.”
Here’s how to clean your washing machine properly.
3. Fabric imperfections
If you notice stains appearing on new clothes after the first wash,” Nicole says, “It could be a fault with the fabric. The reaction of the water on the fabric highlights the original fabric imperfections. In this case, report it to the clothing company and request a refund.”
4. Using laundry detergents that contain fillers
It turns out lots of washing detergents contain something called fillers.
Fillers are made from chemicals, ground down into a sand-like consistency, and added to detergent as a bulking agent. Read more about laundry detergent fillers here.
“Fillers don’t dissolve,” writes Nicole. “They cause extra build-up and grime in washing machines and contribute to random stains.”
5. Mixing lights and darks
When you wash clothes, the agitation and water temperature can cause the dye to run and mix with the water. If you wash whites and darks together, there’s a chance the dye from the dark clothes can transfer to the whites, resulting in unwanted stains.
“Dark clothes are notorious for bleeding colour, so it’s best to keep whites together,” says Nicole.
6. Previously filthy load
Similar to having a dirty washing machine, it’s possible that grime from your previous load can rub off onto the next one.
“If you have a particularly filthy load or a leaky pen, go through the wash, then avoid doing a white wash straight after until you can clean the machine,” says Nicole.
7. Not protecting your favourite items
Nicole says a mesh washing bag is your best friend for protecting your favourite items.
“Using a mesh bag can help protect your favourite items from dirt and oils in the washing machine.
“Discolouration will first be absorbed into the mesh bag rather on the clothing item.”
