Why does color fade from my bath towels?

Question

Every so often when I wash and dry a load of towels, one of them will come out with big blotches or at least half of the towel with the color looking like it was bleached away. I never use bleach except with my solid white towels. Sometimes this happens with brand new towels. What happens? Also hoping someone can give me some tips on how to soften towels, thanks.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

You are using to much soap.This has happened to me many of times.I switched and put the detergent into the section for soap and then put in the towels. Don't ask me why but since then I have not had a problem. I have brand new machines. Go figure.

Judy H. · Answer

My machine doesn't have a soap section, I just pour it around the bottom of the washer as it is filling and then then throw the towels in. Do you think perhaps the one towel that gets 'bleached out' does so because it may have landed directly on some of the soap I poured in?

William · Answer

Do you have any teenagers in the house?! 
Acne medicine, acne face wash, some types of specialty cleansers for the skin-- these things can cause fading, either from the handprints or from being wiped off, or on T-shirts, from sweating. Also some 'whitening' toothpastes and denture cleansers can also cause fading.

Judy H. · Answer

No, no teenagers or whitening toothpastes or denture cleansers.

MN Mom · Answer

Try using your detergent in pod form although I can't see that using too much liquid laundry soap would bleach clothes, at least the pod is pre measured. Another option is to try a different soap like an all natural Seventh Generation

Terrie Neudorf · Answer

You can stop it from happening , by pre washing them in vinegar and salt . It sets the color and makes it harder to discolour or stain after that. Do you always by the brand towels . They might have a color issue . I never use a fabric softer , liquid or sheets they aren't good for towels . Just vinegar in the rinse . I hope this helps .

Con3711289 · Answer

If you're using powdered detergent, it's likely that it's not all dissolving in the water before coming in contact with the clothes/towels. Best solution is to fill the washer with detergent and water and agitate for a minute before adding the clothes. A nuisance, but not as big a nuisance as ruined clothes. If you're washing in warm or cold water rather than hot, getting the powdered detergent to dissolve thoroughly is even harder. It can happen with liquid detergent, too, but not like it does with the powdered. I 'd switch to the liquid if it worked as well in my water, but, of course, it doesn't.

William · Answer

No teenagers....! The towels are this happens to are being used to wipe some kind of product that acts as a bleaching agent. Face creams, hand sanitizers, tanning products, etc.

Francesca · Answer

Weird. I get the same thing and it's random. Wonder why..

Katie · Answer

Does you washer have a bleach dispenser? I learned the hard way that they sometimes hold on to some of the bleach. I was a teenager doing my own laundry and it ruined a brand new pair of jeans I'd been saving for. Never used the dispenser again.

Julie Craig · Answer

Yup...TEENS! Any of those acne/zit creams/medicines/facial scrubs will RUIN your towels!

Terrie Neudorf · Answer

Hi , warm temp water . 50/50 vinegar and water . It depends on the size of the load . Pre soak I do in a pail . I guess the amount of salt . Average is 1/2 cup to a pail .  I add vinegar to freshen my towels when washed too . I just put it where the bleach should go. I love it. Clean and soft.

Jennie Lee · Answer

Actually, it's specifically the acne products with benzoil peroxide that bleach collars of clothes, etc. . Products like Clean and Clear with salicylic acid are great and won't ruin your laundry.

Why does color fade from my bath towels?

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Why does color fade from my bath towels?

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