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Original poster

Noooo! What is this and how do I get it out?!

31 replies

RedPandaFluff · 06/03/2022 15:41

This dress was given to DD as a gift and one wear/wash later, it has weird dark splashy stains on it! What the heck happened?! It wasn't like that when I put the dress in the wash, the only marks on it were some pale orange stains from spilled juice (which came out easily).

There are no stains on anything else that was in the wash at the same time, the washing machine was clean (we put that cleaner stuff through it a couple of weeks ago), and the usual stain removers (Vanish etc.) aren't shifting it.

Gutted! I have a feeling nothing can be done, though, especially when I don't know what it is Sad

Noooo! What is this and how do I get it out?!
OP posts:
Moonopoly · 06/03/2022 15:48

Is it joules? I had this happen to a Joules top

Squiff70 · 06/03/2022 16:14

I'd try different Stain Devils on it tbh. I hope it can be saved. Sad face.

JaneJeffer · 06/03/2022 16:17

Try fairy liquid.

findingsomeone · 06/03/2022 16:18

Have you tried a vanish soap bar? I find if I wet something use the soap bar then wet it more and leave it overnight, then wash on a normal cycle, it's pretty good at getting stuff out. Normal powder vanish I find useless.

If it's possibly food, soaking in white vinegar and water prior to a wash my help too.

Marcipex · 06/03/2022 16:21

Is it wet?
Do the marks only show when wet and not when it’s dry, so you didn’t notice?

CombatBarbie · 06/03/2022 16:21

I think, with experience with Joules, it's ran in the wash.

Marcipex · 06/03/2022 16:22

I’d return it if it’s new.

ProbablyLate · 06/03/2022 16:22

Did you dry it outside op? Occasionally I’ve had something similar happen to my bottom sheets when they’ve been line dried. I have no idea what it is but it has come out when I re wash them. Curious to know if anyone knows what it is

KickinTheRibs · 06/03/2022 16:44

Is your DH a mechanic or similar?

Looks exactly like how my daughters clothes come out when he’s decided to throw his work clothes in on top.

Caulidop · 06/03/2022 16:54

I had this happen to a couple of my kids outfits a few months ago, dark stains that showed up worse when held up in the light. No idea what happened. At first I thought maybe mud or some other staining that had spread in the wash, but never worked it out. Sorry not very helpful OP.

LittleSnakes · 06/03/2022 16:55

I’ve had this and took so long to figure out. Got worse in the wash. Turned out it was bubble mixture from when they were blowing bubbles. Nothing got it out.

Hanitiser · 06/03/2022 16:56

Bubbles? I know that bubble mixture can cause this but I haven't found a fix yet, unfortunately.

gunnersgold · 06/03/2022 17:02

What else was in the wash with it ? Looks like dye from something darker . Wash again on 60 with vanish spray and in wash on its own !
I am an expert !

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 06/03/2022 17:43

Had exactly the same on a stripy POP top a few years ago… complete mystery stains, and nothing would shift them.

Original poster
RedPandaFluff · 07/03/2022 07:21

BUBBLES!

YES!

They were playing with bubbles! That has to be it. And there's no way of getting the stains out?

I'm absolutely amazed by this - I never expected bubble mixture to cause such dark marks!

It's a Jojo Maman Bébé dress too, so not cheap to replace Sad

OP posts:
nearlyspringyay · 07/03/2022 07:30

Bubbles! I banned my kids from playing with them unless they weee in really old clothes, the stains don't come out.

Ofcourseinamechangedforthisyou · 07/03/2022 07:34

It's not as good as commercial bubble mixture but use the wands and bottles with fairy liquid - bubbles without stains

Summerofcontent · 07/03/2022 07:45

Add a teaspoon of glycerine to fairy liquid for homemade bubbles

CircleofWillis · 07/03/2022 10:01

BUBBLES?!! Thank you everyone you have solved a frustrating mystery for me. I have had lots of theses stains appear on my clothes over the years and I thought it was some kind of defect with my washing machine. I work with children and bubbles are a vital part of my arsenal.

LittleSnakes · 07/03/2022 11:10

It took me about two years to figure out it was bubble mix! Couldn’t for the life of me work out what these dark stains were that appeared in the washing machine but looked like liquid splashes. They now only play with an apron on. It’s so annoying.

BoredZelda · 07/03/2022 13:11

I had this happen to my daughter’s yellow school polo shirts. I have no idea what it was and never got it out. The only solution I found was not to wash them with other washing.

BoredZelda · 07/03/2022 13:12

*just saw the update. My daughter never used bubbles!

Phos · 07/03/2022 13:20

Try water, white vinegar and some washing up liquid and give it a scrub with a sponge. Never had to try it on bubbles but it's got bolognese sauce, blood, poo and all sorts out of clothes before for me! I just got a stubborn Bolognese stain off a Jojo T-shirt with it.

MintMocha · 07/03/2022 13:24

I hate walking past toy shops and places like that where they are constantly blowing bubbles at passersby or having a bubble machine - I always thought they'd cause a greasy sort of mark if they popped on my clothes; or just an annoying blob on my glasses etc. But now I know that it could be a much worse stain, I'll really avoid them. It's quite antisocial of shops/buskers etc to do this!

Opal8 · 07/03/2022 13:25

Elbow grease spray

Trust me ☺️

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