Washing machine is marking son’s white football shirts

[mooki3]

Hi, we recently bought a John Lewis washer dryer, and every time I wash one of my sons football shirts (wash only, I air dry then) they come out with more marks than before: imgur.com/a/OnMvoVw

It looks almost like an oily/greasy stain... it doesn’t do it to anything but this football shirt type fabric. I’ve tried lots of different stain removers (Aeriel, Astonish, Tesco) but it just comes out worse than before. Any ideas what could be causing this please, and how I fix it?

Do you use washing gel? I had one machine that did this with gel and I swapped to powder and it slowly stopped doing it! Mine were greasy grey matches that smudged when you touched them x

I'm watching this because DH's cotton t-shirt has just developed a post wash weird grease stain type mark that looks just like these. I've only just solved the problem of the mysterious black streaks (faulty/old rubber seal in dryer) and now I have this to figure out too.

Greasy oily streaks normally mean one thing - the bearings for the drum are shot (as oil used on the bearings is leaking, which of course should never happen).

Also is is usually a death sentence for the machine, on most machines made in last 10-15years they can't be replaced as the drum assembly is manufactured as one and can't be opened up, only option is to buy a whole new drum assembly (inner and outer) which is very expensive (makes more sense to buy another machine). If older and can be replaced, still relatively costly and a fair size job.

Only other cause, is if have been using liquid/gel based detergents on fabric softeners and especially on cool washes then the machine will get a heavy build up if slimy black grease between inner and outer drum, liquid detergents (any) don't contain bleach like poweders and whilst cool washes are brill for environment and electric bill, they're a disaster for keeping your machine clean or sanitising. So a switch to powder and some very hot washes can help.

Is the machine new OP as you say recently bought, if new, none of the things above should be happening yet unless faulty.

Thank you all for the responses. We use powder rather than gel. Whatever the marks are, they're super stubborn as even doing a trial was at 90 degrees (I know this probably wasn’t a good idea) didn’t budge them.

Sounds like the machine is faulty then... it wasn’t balanced properly at first and banged around like crazy (fitted by a JL professional too!) which I wonder if it’s messed up the drum. I’ll contact John Lewis ASAP and hope to get it fixed or replaced.

Is there anything I can do or try to get these stains out by the way? Or are the shirts ruined? Thanks

Bump (sorry )

Hi @mooki3 - if it is indeed oil from there bearings, then it is going to be hard if not impossible to remove without ruining the shirt due it being oil lubricant - it's essentially the same as getting bike chain or motor oil on it.

To remove stain - only thing I can suggest is a rubbing something that will degrease in to the stain - such as neat washing up liquid or laundry liquid and let soak for a while, if using WUL, of course make sure well rinsed before putting back in washer as you'll end up with free foam party.

Sure DM has had success with long soak in hot water with a dishwasher tablet as again it's a degreaser, but it could jeopardise the fabric.

Brilliant, thank you! I will give it a go :) Not too worried about ruining the fabric since I think it’s pretty much ruined anyway unfortunately

Apologies for posting in an old thread, but have exactly the same issue so wonder if you got to the bottom of this or find a way to improve.

We have a reasonably new (3-4 year old Bosch machine) - no black on door seals or anything. I run a washing machine cleaner through it once or twice a year and also do occasional hot washes.

In general, seems to washing most clothese absolutely fine, but football shirts or anything similar with polyester in comes out with grease stains exactly like image in opening post. Everythign else in the same wash comes out spotless, smells well etc.

Got new kit for school year and scared to wash it as it will likely come out dirtier than it goes in.

Any ideas on whats causing it or if its possible to remove the stains once they are there would be much appreciated. Just about to try presoaking with some washing up liquid after seeing that in another couple of posts.

Did anyone actually work out a way to get the marks off at all please? Thanks

Did this work please?