watermark stains

[winkywinkola]

My white washes are coming out with watermark type stains on them.

I can't get them out. They're like a slightly darker version of the original fabric colour.

What is causing them? Any idea? My paler clothes are looking ruined!

[wowfudge]

What detergent are you using, what temperature are you washing at and do you have hard or soft water?

[winkywinkola]

I use Persil. Comfort fabric conditioner. And we have hard water. These stains are only appearing now after three years of living here.

[wowfudge]

Persil powder or liquid? What temperature are you washing at please? I suspect you might need to run a hot wash (hottest cottons programme) with the machine empty and some soda crystals or distilled vinegar to clean the machine out.

[winkywinkola]

Hallo.

Powder and always at 40 degrees

[wowfudge]

If you only ever wash at 40 and you are in a hard water area I think your machine needs cleaning as I described. Higher temperatures are needed to keep the innards of the machine clean. In a hard water area the detergent won't dissolve as effectively so there's probably a build up of sludge that you can't see and the marks are to do with that. I know this probably sounds crackers, but it isn't and there are lots of threads on here about it!

Try running two maintenance washes (long, hot washes without detergent but with soda crystal or vinegar and no washing in the machine) back-to-back. One to loosen everything up and one to clear it out.

Does the water look grey or is there any foaming?

I would also look at using some soda crystals with the powder in every wash as it acts as a water softener and should make the powder dissolve and work more effectively. Also don't just wash everything at 40. Wash towels on a hot wash - so at 60 or above - in a wash just containing towels and this will help prevent the build up in the machine in the future.

[winkywinkola]

Thank you very much. I will do some maintenance washes!

[monicaglenfield]

I would agree with wowfudge it sounds like you need to deep clean your washing machine. A washing machine cleaner like this will be very beneficial for you. This will get rid of any bacteria that has built up inside your machine and should hopefully get your whites comming out clean again.

[wowfudge]

While I recognise the convenience of using a product like that recommended by the pp, a large bag of soda crystals (washing soda not bicarbonate of soda/baking soda) will likely cost less, last longer and do more!

[winkywinkola]

Or vinegar you said? Normal chip shop vinegar??

[wowfudge]

Any vinegar will do - distilled malt vinegar, which is clear, is usually recommended for cleaning tasks, but whatever the vinegar it is all acetic acid. If you chip shop vinegar in, it will do fine.