http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/CommentingController/rss/SiteTree/12165 CommentingController/rss/SiteTree/12165 http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/dr-laundry/grease-stain-washing/#comment-832 I have had this problem too! Recently got brand new LG washer and Dryer...sooooo...HOW do I get these stains OUT? : ) Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:42 -0700 Frank Castellano http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/dr-laundry/grease-stain-washing/#comment-832 http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/dr-laundry/grease-stain-washing/#comment-833 I have had the same problem for years and it's driving me crazy. It only happens on dark clothes, usually tshirts, after they come out of the dryer, so maybe it has something to do with cotton. If it is gunk build up in the machine wouldn't it show up on light colored clothing too? I have tried different detergents, I don't use liquid fabric softeners but use dryer sheets and even bought a new HD washer. It didn't happen for a while when the washer was new, but now they show up every so often. I am going to try not using the dryer sheets to see if that helps but I was wondering what the best way to do a clean out cycle? Any advice is appreciated! Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:42 -0700 Melinda Micciola http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/dr-laundry/grease-stain-washing/#comment-833 http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/dr-laundry/grease-stain-washing/#comment-834 Hi Melinda and Frank, If the clothes washer is brand new, then there could be residual lubricants or other oils left over from the production of the washer that are transferring onto the clothes. However, it should be consistent across all loads, that is, you should see it on both light and dark loads. That the stains show up only on the dark loads looks like it is incomplete oily soil removal. These stains are hidden on darker items that are still damp following washing, so you won’t necessarily notice them when transferring laundry from the washer to the dryer; they only become visible after the item has dried. The source of the stains can be any number of things: make-up, salad dressing, lotion, even spaghetti sauce if it’s made with a lot of oil, to name a few. Pre-treating stains, especially on items being washed in high efficiency washers, is critical for getting good results. Clorox2® Stain Fighter and Color Booster can be used to pre-treat these stains: apply a little liquid directly to the stain and rub in, wait 3-5 minutes and then wash the item in the hottest water recommended on the garment care label using detergent and more Clorox2®. For more heavy oily stains, you may need to pre-treat with a small amount of liquid dishwashing detergent before washing with Clorox2®. Finally, air drying is important so you can evaluate items for incomplete stain removal before they are exposed to dryer heat, which can permanently set stains. What you describe reflects the need for consumers using low-volume high efficiency washers to adapt their laundry habits. I have an HE washer and overall I love it, but the mechanical energy and thermal energy components of cleaning are definitely different versus a deep-fill traditional washer, and I rely more heavily on pre-treating and pre-soaking to continue getting good results. It’s worth it for the energy and water savings, though! Hope that helps! - Dr. Laundry Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:42 -0700 Dr. Laundry http://www.europeanopticalsociety.org/dr-laundry/grease-stain-washing/#comment-834