Strange yellowy/gold/orange marks on white cotton shirts

[bellac11]

I wasnt sure where to put this query. Its a bit strange. Over many many years Ive noticed that white cotton shirts sometimes develop yellowy orangey blobby marks on them just by being in the wardrobe.

They seem fine when they go in there, either from the wash or perhaps Ive worn it just the once and then hung it up again.

They dont correspond with any food stains or anything that could have been spilt and I didnt notice or anything.

It also never happens to my white linen tops, only the cotton ones. And the thinner they are, the worse it seems to affect them.

Is it something that has happened in the wash perhaps? Or do my shirts host aliens in some way!

Sun cream. The yellow colouring develops over time.

I've had this so I'm curious!

I dont wear sun cream while wearing them (or at all really to be honest)

Are the marks on the sand part of the top each time?

spider poo

I also think it’s poop of an insect. Spider or moth for instance. I get it from those cellar spiders when they get in my wardrobe and poop on my clothes.

Rust from an old airer or clothes line?

Pollen?

No, they seem to mysteriously be in random places. I need to take a picture really. The last shirt it did it on, I put it in the conservatory so the sun bleached it and the marks came out. The marks on that one were sort of along the thick bit where the buttons and button holes are, not sure what thats called, plus blobs on the hip area.

A shirt I now want to take away with me next week has got it on the front should blade area,, big blobs. Its been in the wardrobe a long time as hasnt fitted me for years

Could there be some rust in your washing machine or dryer, maybe it's making deposits

Wooden wardrobe (not MDF)?

Google suggested this OP

www.laundryclub.sg/post/got-yellow-stains-on-white-clothes-in-storage

You beat me too it

Mould?

I always hang up my clothes in plastic dress covers - you can get them on a roll like they have in dry cleaners or buy more substantial ones. Protects from dust, moths and anything else nasty.

Well I forgot to take the picture which is a nuisance because I washed it with cold water and hand soap to see what happened, nothing happened the stains were still there, they are big blobs not little spots like spider poo type marks (I think we've got these on a white sofa in the conservatory)

So I hung it in the conservatory to get the last bit of sun last night to see if the sun would bleach it, it seemed to work on a previous shirt I had this problem with. This morning it does look better, still not completely solved, most people might not be able to see the blobs but I can just make them out, so a whole day in there today may well solve this.

Its not tiny spots, its not rust from the machine, its not mould or anything from insects. Its really bizarre.

I know exactly what you mean because I have had them. I've never found an answer. They just appear randomly seemingly overnight. The are no particular shape but definitely a big blob.

Ghosts leaving ectoplasm in the night

I’ve noticed this, even after washing with a brand new machine. I tried the HG stain away for rust and it did help on some items, so I assumed it must (somehow?!) be rust.

Deodorant, body lotion or perfume can do this.

Soak in lemon juice, and hang in the sun, if that doesn't work try vinegar. It might need a few goes and long time in the sun. It also might not come out depending on what it is.

Blob update - so its been hanging in bright intense sunlight in the conservatory all day. There was a blob on the back around the middle of the shoulders and I really cant see this at all now even though the shirt was hanging with its front facing the sun, not the back, so that is bizarre

The two on the front around the front shoulder area appear slightly better but I can still see them, they havent gone completely. They may not be noticeable to other people.