Tutor Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Help! For the last couple of weeks, we have been noticing mysterious pink stains on some of our laundry. The odd thing is that it doesn't seem to have a pattern. Usually only one (occasionally two) pieces of clothing per load have a pink stain (looks kind of like a faint ink stain) but not in every load. Pulling out anything with even a hint of red or pink dye and washing it in a separate load seems to do no good; the stains still randomly appear in the non-red loads. We moved to this house in August, but there were no problems until a couple weeks ago so I find it hard to believe it's a plumbing or washer issue (although I guess it could be something that developed over the last 5 months). We've also been using the same detergent this whole time. I'm stumped. Some facts: - detergent is All Free & Clear - fabric softener is either white vinegar or nothing - city water (which smells like a swimming pool - blech) - all loads washed in cold wash/ cold rinse - loads either run in early am or late pm or split between both - no drier sheets - top loading washer and drier I am grasping at straws as to what it could be. Any suggestions? If I wanted to clean the washer, how would I do that? Any hope of getting the stains out of the clothes? My boys would really prefer not to wear pink-splotched camouflage shirts. :lol: And I don't want to have to replace wardrobes... which is the direction we're heading if this keeps up. :glare: TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in AL Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Could it be the red serratia (it likes water I think). Do you have a front loader washer? If so it could need cleaning (don't know how to do that either). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) Could there be a red sock or marker stuck in the drum or drain of the washer? Are you missing any small red items? Is it more of an all over stain (like a dye that is bleeding into the water) or a few spots (like a pen is writing on something? Is there a marker stuck in a laundry basket or hamper? I could imagine this happening in one of our larger, dark colored, woven baskets. Is there something that was put on an item or spilled somewhere that could be rubbing off onto clothes? Like a marker drawing on a seat chair, or koolaide spilled in a dark cloth seat. Is there a red detail on a clothing item that bleeds just a bit? Maybe a clothing tag or red collar? Do you have iron in your water? You would likely have red rings in your toilet bowl or bath tub if you do. That can cause iron spots to appear. Is it consistently on one location of clothes? Is it consistently on one type of fabric? ETA: you may try the dye catching clothes for the washer in the mean while. Cheaper than replacing clothing items! Edited January 6, 2012 by Tap, tap, tap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Chapstick left in pockets. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalicoKat Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 candy left in pockets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 I discovered that my son's acne meds were bleaching his clothes. On some colors of clothing, it's pinkish tint. On others, it's orangish/yellowish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 It sounds like it could be rust stains from too much iron in the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Could your teen girls be leaving a lip gloss in their jeans pockets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Try running a load of towels in HOT water and vinegar through the wash and put some vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser to clean your machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 It could be iron. We've had this happen, and it's almost always a piece of candy or crayon/marker that was in someone's pocket. :glare: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.Balaban Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Sounds like my random yellow stains...... except, well, they are yellow. Good luck! Hope you figure it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisamarie Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I have the random pink stains as well. But I have well water. It's ruined quite a few clothes around here. I tried running the washer empty with bleach to clean it out. Didn't work. I've replaced the water inlet valve (unrelated issue) but that hasn't helped. We do use iron out water softener salt, but when we don't we do get the orange in our toilet. Maybe we need even better softener salt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nono Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Try Iron Out to see if it'll remove the stains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Cherry chapstick washed and dried in a load of whites. Ask me how I know! :001_huh: Ruth in NZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookfiend Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Is it on all pieces of clothing or only shirts? We had this happen. It looked just like bleach stains. Then I realized the boys were dribbling toothpaste spit (gross I know) on their shirts occasionally. The whitening toothpaste was bleaching the clothes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Huh. I have an LG front loader and have never had any stains or spots that have remained "mysterious" for long. Usually it's something like bits of maribou from a boa in the dress up box, or ends of embroidery floss. Or the classic chapstick/pen/crayon/whatever in the pocket. In my old condo, with the old washer, I would get odd spots, but it was most definitely hard water. Here, we have soft water and no mystery colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Postgrad Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 OK , " lisamarie,pink and green mom,tutor, and postgrad" so far and at least two of us have LG washers , how about the other two , and may I ask what brand water heater ? I have a new GE water heater , we are getting so close to the answer ! I am starting to see a pattern with the LG WASHER ! Please let me know and I am so thankful for your time and effort on this to help us all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Postgrad Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Not tinny at all 3 inches to the size of your hand ! one piece of clothing to 3 per load affected, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Postgrad Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Waiting to hear from ( lisamarie and Tutor ) on what brand washing machine and or water heater they have, I believe that it is more than just a coincidence that pink and green mom and me 'postgrad' have LG WASHING MACHINES and have the same laundry issues with sporadic pinkish stains showing up on clothing after washing. I won't rest on this issue until I solve it for all of us,again Thank You ALL So much for your time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I have a front loader and things can hide in tjose. Lost my license for a week and found it jammed under the plastic thing that turns the clothes in the washer. I have also had a nail sneak into one of the holes and put rust on clothes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skywards Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Do you use softscrub to clean with? I have had that ruin several shirts with big pink blotches :glare:. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisamarie Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I have a Maytag washer. Top loader. It's 9 years old if that makes a difference. And my pink spots range from little dots to big hand sized marks. I don't use bleach in my washer. I only use All Free and Clear. Nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Another vote here for the possibility of iron/rust in the water. But when we had that problem, the stain was more of a brick/mud color than pink. Let us know when you solve the mystery! I'm quite curious now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest faniejones Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Hopefully this thread is still alive ... I have had the bright pink sporadic stains happening in my washing machine for about a year now. I just noticed they stopped for a while when I briefly switched detergents. It only happens when I wash the light colored clothes (thank heavens it's never affected the whites). It is definitely not caused by something left in the pockets ... lipstick, Chapstick, candy, crayon, marker. I have cleaned my machine every way mentioned. It has to be a chemical reaction. It happens maybe to 1 out of every 6 light-colored loads, and have mostly used the same detergent. some of my facts: •I too use All Free&Clear •Whirlpool front loader •all loads washed in cold/cold cycle •Washer is 5 years old, started a year ago •only a few items in the load are affected •stains come out with lye soap •city water •also do laundry early AM or late PM I really think it's from a chemical reaction, frustrated that I can't find an explanation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Hopefully this thread is still alive ... I have had the bright pink sporadic stains happening in my washing machine for about a year now. I just noticed they stopped for a while when I briefly switched detergents. It only happens when I wash the light colored clothes (thank heavens it's never affected the whites). It is definitely not caused by something left in the pockets ... lipstick, Chapstick, candy, crayon, marker. I have cleaned my machine every way mentioned. It has to be a chemical reaction. It happens maybe to 1 out of every 6 light-colored loads, and have mostly used the same detergent. some of my facts: •I too use All Free&Clear •Whirlpool front loader •all loads washed in cold/cold cycle •Washer is 5 years old, started a year ago •only a few items in the load are affected •stains come out with lye soap •city water •also do laundry early AM or late PM I really think it's from a chemical reaction, frustrated that I can't find an explanation I think you must be right about a chemical reaction. Have you talked to your neighbors? I have NOT had such stains, and I use All Free & Clear, too. Maytag front loader, washing in warm or cold, depending upon clothes (cold rinses). DH likes fabric softener in the wash and again in the dryer to handle static on his office clothes. Other than that I use 1/2 sheet in the dryer to cut static -- anything more and I itch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Annakatherine87 Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Hello, I came across this thread while googling this same exact problem. I have been getting mysterious hot pink stains sporadically in my laundry for a few months now, and I am completely stumped on the cause. What I do know is: 1. Out of my household, it only happens to my laundry. 2. Therefore, it is NOT something stuck in the washing machine or dryer. 3. It is not something in my pockets and it is NOT dye from a bright colored item. It has happened to all white loads. 4. When it does happen, it's only a select few items that get stained, not the entire load. 5. The stains look like bright pink ink or marker, sometimes a small spot, sometimes all over (like tie dye). My only conclusion is that it must be a chemical reaction between some bathroom or beauty product I am using, reacting with the detergent. It is extremely frustrating and is ruining my clothes, towels, etc. If anyone on this thread is still having this issue or found a resolution, please respond! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrammarGirl Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 I discovered that my son's acne meds were bleaching his clothes. On some colors of clothing, it's pinkish tint. On others, it's orangish/yellowish. It's the benzyl peroxide. It happened in our home with Proactive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blablabla000 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Did you ever figure out what was causing this or how to stop it from happening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 A piece of red crayon melted onto the dryer somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Did you ever figure out what was causing this or how to stop it from happening? This thread is 4 years old. I doubt that they are having the same problem 4 years later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blablabla000 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 (edited) yeah I was thinking something was stuck in the washer but I've taken it apart, cleaned it, ran cycles. I'm stumped and desperate. Some of the pink spots have actually come out of certain clothes, but stayed in others. They seem to spread in the wash. Edited August 9, 2016 by blablabla000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blablabla000 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 This thread is 4 years old. I doubt that they are having the same problem 4 years later. No need to be rude. I was just wondering if they ever determined a solution, not if they're still having the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 No need to be rude. I was just wondering if they ever determined a solution, not if they're still having the problem. Tutor hasn't been on this site in 18 months. Pointing out that you resurrected a zombie thread, is not rude. It's a simple fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 1st time poster resurrecting a very old threadZOMBIE ALERT... ZOMBIE ALERT... THIS IS NOT A DRILL... 🧟♂️ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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