S/O oil stains through the wash - other issue

[Night_Nurse]

I have an oil stain issue with our clothing and I'm hoping someone can help.
Long story short, we get these little dime-sized oily stains that show up on all our clothes, the dark clothes being the most noticeable. It's not every load, but often enough that it's problematic and has ruined some nice clothing.

I used to think some oil was leaking from the washer or dryer but in the past few years we've replaced both, and still get the spots. The spots are there regardless of what laundry detergent we use, we no longer use fabric softener so that can't be the culprit. I stopped washing towels with clothes thinking that could be it, maybe cooking oil from a dish towel transferring, but it didn't help.
I don't use perfume, I really don't think it's any personal products we're using since we don't use much. We've recently moved and our water here is very soft but it used to be hard water. The water doesn't seem to matter as we've had the issue at both homes. I've even started washing loads of kids only clothes, my own load, dh's clothing load, etc. Nothing seems to help we always get these spots!
My question is, does anybody have any idea whatsoever what is the cause of these oily spots? I've read the other thread about dish soap taking the spots out after the wash but does anybody know what will work once they've been set by the dryer? I never can tell what is "spotted" when it's wet and my HOA will not allow us to dry clothes outdoors. So I'm frustrated that I don't know what is causing it and I don't know how to remove them once they are there. This has been going on for a good 5 - 6 years.

Please advise if possible!

[jeliphish]

We get these too and it REALLY ticks me off.... I have no clue how to correct the problem but just wanted to know that I feel your pain!!:

[AngelBee]

: This is happening to us as well.

[CarrieMF]

Even after you dry them, put the dishsoap on them & rewash, it'll take them out.

Sometimes it's residue on other clothes, not enough or too much soap, or residue from the washer itself.

[ABmom]

I came on here hoping to find the answer.

Carrie, I heard the same thing and did it but the spots are still there. I have used Oxyclean, Sunlight and just plain soap bar (Ivory) but nothing works. What dish detergent do you use?

[Mrsboyko]

Dawn should do the trick if it is oil/ grease that is on htere. We get it too, but i am fairly certian it is from all the oilve oil we use to cok with. DD is not a clean eater.

[CarrieMF]

I use Palmolive. I cover the spot in it. I will use hot water instead of cold water too if I remember to turn it to hot.

[jocelyndale]

I have read that it's a reaction between some detergents and some textile dyes. I notice that it always happens to certain brands and that it's worse if I pour liquid detergent right on top of a load. I start the water, add the detergent, and then try to avoid dumping shirts right on top of that spot. It has helped.

[Night_Nurse]

Thanks guys!

[Night_Nurse]

I just wanted to come back to this thread and let you all know I've been using the dish soap on the spots as suggested. And it's working!!!
I just used it on one of my daughter's new (and expensive) dresses. It wound up with two oily type spots on the front after the first washing and drying. I put some dish soap on it and it took it out, no problem!
I've also used it previously on some black and blue cotton clothing and it either faded or removed the spot too.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Hazelnut]

I just moved, got a new washer, and this problem has followed me! I hear about it more and more and am really perplexed that there is no answer floating around out there. I use charlie's and nothing else, with hard water.
I am so tired of it. :

[lovemysunshine]

Originally Posted by Night_Nurse

I just wanted to come back to this thread and let you all know I've been using the dish soap on the spots as suggested. And it's working!!!
I just used it on one of my daughter's new (and expensive) dresses. It wound up with two oily type spots on the front after the first washing and drying. I put some dish soap on it and it took it out, no problem!
I've also used it previously on some black and blue cotton clothing and it either faded or removed the spot too.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Mama~ Which dish soap are you using? We normally use Citrasolv, but I'm not sure that will do the trick on our grease-stained clothing. Thoughts?

[cristeen]

Just so you know, there are also what are generally referred to as "time release" stains from certain foods. Where it doesn't show up right away, but down the line it's hard to figure out where it came from.

I've been using Dr. Bronners on any oil-like stain. Even after it's been through the washer and dryer a half dozen times, if it's an oil stain, it will never fully bond to the fabric, unlike a colorant, so it can still be removed by breaking down the oil. I just drizzle a little Dr. Bronners on it, rub it in with my fingers and it disappears.

Are you guys that have this problem washing in FL or TL? Using liquid or powder detergent? Fabric softeners?

[A&A]

It will happen to your cottons when you wash those cottons with polyesters. Wash and dry cotton and poly separately and you won't get those mysterious stains any more.

[dogretro]

A&A ~ Where did you get that info from?

Cristeen ~ We get the same stains all the time & here are our data points: TL, Charlies Soap, used to be powder, now liquid, no fabric softeners, sometimes Oxiclean versatile.

Wow, ladies, great info! I just stumbled upon this thread, too, not looking for this in particular! I will have to try the Dr Bronners as we have that around already

[A&A]

Originally Posted by dogretro

A&A ~ Where did you get that info from?

Another MDC mama. I tried it-- it's worked for me.

[dogretro]

Okay, thanks, just wondered!

[Froggie]

Are the stains located primarily on the front of clothing or distributed all over, including the back?

I was having mystery oil stains that appeared after the dryer brought them out and it ended up being food stains on the kids clothes, cooking stains on my clothes, and polishing compound (fatty based) on Dh's clothing from work. We each had our own source but they looked very similar... my only clue was that they were all on the front side, so it made sense that there was a source outside the laundry machines.

A few of my husband's laundry oil spots only respond to being washed by themselves, in HOT water, and being pre-spotted with Dawn and scrubbed with an old toothbrush.

Like I have time for that - sheesh ;-)