what causes the rust stains on your clothes from the washing machine?

Question

what can i do to stop it?
what causes it?

Answer 1

Rust stains can come from a number of sources, but one that is very common is from "iron eating bugs." They are type of bacteria that react chemically with iron pipes. And even though most modern houses have PVC pipe, the supply lines coming from the city water are very often iron. The community in which I live has a particularly bad problem with them. It does seem to be seasonal, so I don't have the problem all the time

Two things you can do. First to remove the stain, you can use oxalic acid. It is a bit hard to find, but you might find it at a drugstore or hardware store. It is an organic acid that comes in a power form. Be sure not to eat it...it is toxic to eat, but won't hurt your skin. When it is dissolved in water, it will react with iron and tie it up so that it will remain in solution. I usually apply a small amount of the material in solution to the stained area and then rewash the garmet.

The second thing you can do is to filter your water. The bacteria tend to agglomerate together, and thus they are easily filtered out. It is essential where I live, to put a filter on the water supply to the ice maker in my refrigerator. Otherwise the lifetime of the icemaker is greatly reduced.

For a washing machine it will be a much larger filter. But if you have severe iron problems and expensive clothes, it might be worth it.

Answer 2

The tub in your washer is rusting. You can try to repair by sanding and painting the area(s) , but it'll be right back shortly.
Apparently the washer is getting up there in it's years.
Maybe it's time to think about a replacement... unless you can find a deal on a new replacement tub and know how to swap it out.

Answer 3

Most likely the garments with ZIPPERS and METAL BUTTONS you are washing are beginning to brake down. There may be some that have came off and are lodged inside the washer itself. Good Luck and Live Well.

Answer 4

um, rust?