If you have a gas dryier and it is not venting well you might be getting burned lint gas (smoke) in the circulating air inside the tub. The wet clothes ger pregnated with the particles getting a fairly even gray stain on everything. There is usually evidence in the tub specially near the center of the doorand the inner vent griddle. Solution clean everything and make sure theer are no obstructions in the exit air tube before triing again. The silt stains are hard to elbow out, Paint thinners will make the perfect explotion heat-vapor-spark-air. Cocacola or other no solvent degreaser migh help. Run drier witrhout gas first if smoke stain come back is time to calibrate the flame by a pro.
Mine too started when I began using the concentrate detergent. It has ruined almost all of my whites including my sons uniform shirts.
A friend pointed out to me that she never got these stains or heard of them until the concentrated washing detergent came out. SHe now adds water to the detergent before putting it in her washer and uses less detergent. Claims she hasn't been getting the spots.
Has anyone figured this out???? I just turned in my old washer/dryer thinking they were the culprit and it is still happening with a brand spanking new one!!! The repair man told me to use use very little soap which I do. I have been doing laundry for 20 years and have not had this happen. Laundry should not be so difficult! It is costing me hundreds of dollars in clothes for my family! Frustrated!!!!!
My shirts will randomly get these. Only thing that removes them is Shout stain removing gel.
Sorry, after 4 months not 54!
I am getting these spots on my clothes and I don't use bleach, fabric softener, and little soap. The washer is less than a year old and started doing this after 54 months. It is a GE top loading HE.
I have a NEW HE washer and on occasion I get these greasy type spots...only on my darks, I'm guessing because they wouldn't be noticeable on my whites, but I do use Bounce dryer sheets in my dryer, I don't know how else to avoid static cling and what not without using these products that I think may be the culprit behind the spotting...can anyone give me some ideas, I honestly don't think my washer and dryer are to blame. Thanx
oh man, this was the death knell of my former washing machine! I had a few loads with some random dark grease stains on the clothes (never did get them out and cut those duds up for rags), and my dad diagnosed the transmission problem. We took the washer to the dump and got a new one. Good luck!
You can try to clean your washer from grease spots by washing a couple of old towels (to rub against the sides)in hot water with a little bit of detergent and a two-liter of Coca Cola BRAND soda.
Sounds crazy, but Coke will take grease spots out (my husband worked at an oil plant for a while and came home with industrial strength grease on his clothes. A can of coke got his jumpsuits clean).
We had the transmission issue with our washer, grease spots galore! Our grease spots were yellowish in color.
Good luck!
Previous post: Menu Monday 12/3
Next post: Cookie-a-day: Pepparkakor (Swedish Cookies)
Laundry Perplexion: Sourcing Mystery Spots
by Heather on December 3, 2007
Dear Home Ec 101:
I don’t use softeners or softener sheets and every piece of clothing we own is being ruined by these grease stains. I have no idea what it is but I can only assume its from the dryer. And I know, with kids, stains are highly likely but even their brand spanking new clothes are coming out with these stains (as well as my clothes and the hubby’s) Any ideas? At this point, I’m ready to just buy a new dryer because by the time I pay for a service call, labor and parts, it costs the same (if not less to replace!!) Crazy!! Any ideas??
~Spittin’ Mad At These Spots
There are several places from which spots may spring.
Dark spots of grease may be caused by a problem within the washer itself. Occasionally the transmission will leak oil, creating spots on clothing.
Tagged as: From the comments