All of our clothes are getting wrecked! What do I do?

[hugsandpugs]

DS had an art lesson in school the other day and some yellow stuff leaked onto his clothes. DH put the stuff straight in the washing machine when he got home but now even after two lots of washing machine cleaner the washing machine is staining everything bright yellow 😭😭 (see photo) so many of our clothes are now wrecked because of this - school polo tops, my fave white nirvana jumper, loads of towels etc.

Is there anything I can do or am I gonna have to get a new washing machine 😔 this one is only 6 months old

Thank you. He was definitely in school all day. The art teacher who called me said she seen him in the afternoon and asked him how his top and skin were stained etc as she said it wasn’t there when he left the art lesson. I’ve asked him whether anyone would have tipped something in or on his bag or clothes and he said no so I’m still puzzled

I'd also be wiping right inside the door seal - it can get disgustingly mouldy without you being able to see if, some dye/paint could easily be lurking in there. It's not too hard to change the door seal if the dye isn't going away.

I did wipe out the seal but no dye on the disposable kitchen towel I used

I’m not sure it is iodine. I use it regularly in calving & lambing. I have never had this problem with my washing machine after an iodine spill. It is difficult to shift from clothes (but can be done).
I don’t understand how it is affecting different loads of washing.
When I have an iodine stain on clothes I would put the item of clothing in the washing machine with a few other work bits. I would make sure the machine was no more than half full. I would then run it on a full cycle (no eco wash) at 40 degrees with some vanish stain remover. It won’t take the stain out first time but will significantly faded. Hang out in sunshine, fades a bit more. Do this a few times and it disappears after a while.
Never had a problem with an iodine stained item staining other things in the load 🤔

Any chance it’s yellow printer ink? I did an art project once using printer ink on canvas, and it stained absolutely everything. It was difficult to get rid of, and took ages to dry.

The good thing is if it is iodine, everything will be clinically clean as it's still used in operating theatres!
Maybe google removing iodine stains and see what comes up

Maybe try some of these suggestions

check his texts emails etc on his phone or laptop to see if there’s a conversation going on about anything related to this potential incident.

He may have been in school all day but Perhaos his friends weren’t and they nicked something and hid it in his bag fur safekeeping.

I think the teacher is onto something, with the someone put something in his bag suggestion. It’s probably a prank that’s gone wrong.
Your DS probably does know what’s happened either he doesn’t want to get a mate in trouble or he thinks he might be in trouble himself. Is it possible that he’s been bullied and he’s scared to tell you what happened?
I’d try bleach and a very long hot cycle, followed by a short cycle to get rid of the bleach, then a few loads of darks maybe see where you’re at after that.

You are thinking of Universal Indicator. In KS3 or KS4 lessons iodine would most likely be used to stain onion cells or to test for starch in leaves.

Did he have food tech? Could it be turmeric?

To remove iodine stains you need powdered vitamin c, add water to make a thick paste and put on the stain as a test.

Oh yes I think you're right cathod - I remembered that there was something that would go green or red rather than the iodine blue/yellow reaction. But I thought iodine was used as well but perhaps to look for starch as you say.