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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to get rid of the skin care that is bleaching all our towels!

90 replies

bleechhhhh · 03/01/2024 10:03

Recently I noticed that small beach spots have been appearing on many of our coloured towels. We rarely use bleach, only really in the toilets which I couldn’t work out how it was getting on to towels from bathrooms, not toilets (separate rooms) Noticed in DSS’s bathroom that he uses lots of skincare that contain various strengths of hydrogen peroxide. Asked DH to have a chat to DSS about being more careful with it, washing his hands after using it etc.
Still kept happening, asked again and suggested he only picks white towels from the linen.
Went in just before Christmas to clean his bathroom and a whole set of pattered towels were completely trashed by bleach, not just spots but huge areas. He’s obviously using moisturiser with HP and not washing his hands after, just drying them on the towels. Just feel so frustrated, most of our coloured towels have some form of bleach stain.
DH has asked him to apologise, which he’s done and asked to replace a couple of sets from his own money, yet to happen.
DH want to buy a set of white towels and a basket just for his bathroom to stop him trashing anymore. I think he needs to learn to use the product correctly or it goes in the bin! Plus the white towels still get stained, it’s just a faint yellowing which still looks awful, and I’m reluctant to spend money on towels just for him to ruin. I’d prefer him to use the old stained ones, we normally keep for outside stuff. AIBU?

OP posts:
yikesanotherbooboo · 03/01/2024 11:41

The towels , and presumably bedding, are still perfectly clean. What a waste to consider replacement just for the appearance and how mean to 'blame' DSS when he is just doing some self care.

DirectionToPerfection · 03/01/2024 11:56

Surprise surprise the OP hasn't been back as she doesn't like what she's hearing.

I hope she'll be the type to take the comments on board and make amends with her poor DSS but somehow I doubt it.

How awful of her DH too, berating his son at the OP's demand, when he should be standing up for him.

Dymaxion · 03/01/2024 12:00

Can't he just keep the ones with bleach marks on ? They are still usable. Alternatively buy a load of cheap facecloths and get him to use those for drying his face, the plus side is they can be used for cleaning cloths at a later date Smile

user14699084787 · 03/01/2024 12:13

One of our teenagers had acne, which made bleached spots on towels.
Younger sibling boards at school occasionally and they always seek out the bleached towels as it makes them easy to identify and saved them sewing in a name label! 😃

XiCi · 03/01/2024 12:20

Hopefully you have the message by now OP! Sounds like you value your towels more than than your DS. Couldn't believe what I was reading tbh

honoldbrist · 03/01/2024 12:54

You are unkind. Its hygenic to have your own towels though so suggest you do that and at least he is only ruining his own.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 03/01/2024 12:57

Toothpaste marks?

nimski · 03/01/2024 12:58

SandyShores99 · 03/01/2024 10:32

I can't believe your DH made him apologise to you.

This! What's wrong with you, poor boy.
I use a cream that bleaches towels, you have to be extremely careful. It can also happen with whitening toothpaste and many other products you don't realise contain the bleaching agents.

steff13 · 03/01/2024 14:31

NewYearGnome · 03/01/2024 11:05

Is it Freederm he’s using? My DS used that as a spotty teen, and yes, it bleached the towels… they still worked as towels tho!! And towels don’t last forever… no doubt you’ll get new ones just as he’ll get past the acne.

Exactly, they still work, they just don't look as nice as they used to. If the bleach spots are that bothersome then buy white towels when you replace them. Goodness, poor kid.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 03/01/2024 14:38

My DS did this to his own ( black) towels
And was bewildered until I pointed it out
He's fastidious by nature, bought new towels and I have his old ones!
Your poor DS having to apologise!
It's only towels, and they are still usable!
If your bothered let him keep those and buy some new ones for yourselves

uncomfortablydumb53 · 03/01/2024 14:39

Oh.. missed the additional S DSS!!!
Get a grip

Nittersing · 03/01/2024 14:50

We have the same problem and one kid has bleached all of the 'kid' towels from her prescribed acne treatments. Those towels are hers and I got the others new towels. It has bleached her pjs and pillow cases as well.
I'd much rather her skin cleared up than worry about a few towels. I just replaced the bleached towels with large cheap bath sheets and hide the 'good' towels in a different drawer now so the kids don't grab them by accident.

AIstolemylunch · 03/01/2024 14:52

Alos, the marks seem to take Dylon machine dye quite well so once a year or so dye them all back o the original colour if the marked ones bother you.

wonder if OP will ever come back and take it on the chin that she was being unreasonable and say they've both apologised to the poor stepson? And I hope she's made his Dad do so too.

hellonewtimesahead · 03/01/2024 14:57

We had this too. I just packed away the good towels, bought a set of white ones, and when the culprit moved out I presented him with the bleach marked ones for his new place. Several years on, he's stopped needing the awful skincare, and has treated himself to new towels 😂

thismummydrinksgin · 03/01/2024 18:06

Gather the bleached towels and let him use them from
Now on, he won't care - they won't go to waste and try to keep nicer ones separate. My kids use this stuff and it really clears their skin so can understand why he uses it.

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