What Can You Do When Your Washing Machine Leaves Stains?

Problem: It could be that the washing machine drum has collected greasy residue from previous loads.

Solution: Try cleaning the drum by running an empty cycle with a cupful of white vinegar or bleach instead of detergent, or look for products specially designed for this purpose. Then, wipe out the drum and around the door seal with a clean, dry cloth, and use a cotton swab to clean around the drainage holes.

Problem: Is your clothing coming out with black streaks on it? This could indicate a problem with the gasket on your washer, especially if your machine is a front-load washer. Mold often grows when water doesn't dry around a faulty seal and it will leave a stain when clothing touches it.

Solution: Try cleaning it with white vinegar, but if that doesn't fix the problem, you may need to replace the entire gasket.

Problem: Another issue might be a damaged drive belt, though not all washers have drive belts. If yours has one, it is what rotates the drum during washing to distribute detergent, bleach and fabric softener. If you have a damaged drive belt, the drum won't rotate properly, causing detergent and other washing agents to drop in one spot and cause staining.

Solution: You will need to have the drive belt replaced. If you decide to take it on yourself, start by disconnecting your machine from the power source and turn off the water supply. Remove the access panel, which is typically on the back for front-loading machines and at the bottom for top-loading ones.

Locate the wide, black rubber belt, carefully removing it from the pulleys. Install the new belt through the pulleys and cover the access panel once again.

Problem: The drum in your washer rotates freely and easily because of the bearings and if they are old and beginning to wear down, you could see black marks or rust appearing on clothing. If you begin to hear a metallic screeching sound accompanying these marks, it is probably your bearings.

Solution: You will need to call someone to replace them.

Problem: If the stains are reddish, it might be rust that has formed due to chipped enamel on the drum or in the dispenser.

Solution: Many washer manufacturers offer drum replacement options. If you like fixing things yourself, try sanding and then painting the chipped spots with a rust-resistant paint.

Problem: Another source of mysterious stains could be fabric softener clinging to greasy spots.

Solution: To solve this problem, reduce the amount of fabric softener that you use or try not to pack too many clothes in each load. The fabric softener needs to disburse evenly over clothing to work properly, so experiment to find the correct load size and amount of additive that result in the desired amount of softness without any spots.

If you've tried all of these solutions and your laundry is still coming out of the wash with inexplicable spots, your dryer could be the culprit. In that case, try the same model troubleshooting tips you performed for your washer, clean out the inside drum and door seal, then call an appliance repairman.