Tide pod stain

[tnmike]

Has anyone else had an issue with these staining laundry? I read online that blue/purple stains are common but this is a shade of orange. Bleach was put in the dispenser, so I am assuming it's a chemical reaction. I put the pod in the tub before the quilt per directions. Tide's suggestions to remove the stains with alcohol do not work. Ideas?

 

[ea56]

Is your washer a TL or FL? I have an LG FL and LG specifically recommends to not use pods. I believe this is due to most cycles adding very little water at the start of the wash. What I imagine is that with less water the pods don't dissolve completely at first and this is probably how you got these stains. Now to remove the stains I would try wetting the stained areas well and rubbing them with a Fels Naptha bar. Then wash it with either liquid or powder detergent and a scoop of Oxi Clean, using at least very warm or hot water, on the cycle that gives you the most water, which for my LG would be the Bulky cycle. Hope this helps.
Eddie

 

[helicaldrive]

Not necessarily the pod at fault

If chlorine bleach is added to the wash water too soon, before a certain body secretion has washed out, the bleach will cause a stubborn yellow/orange stain. I don't know why. Sometimes it comes out slowly with repeated washings, sometimes not.

For the future: Your front loader probably adds chlorine bleach to the wash water at the very start of the cycle. There is a work around. If your machine offers a pre wash, use it. Then you'll get some wash time allowing the detergent and enzymes to work first before the Clorox goes in. Some front loaders avoid this by adding the Clorox to the first rinse, but then the bleaching time can be too short. If you have a top loader, add bleach 5 or more minutes after washing begins.

 

[frigilux]

I used Tide pods for ages in a Frigidaire front-loader with only one pod-induced stain issue. (I folded a towel around it and stuck it in the center of the load; wanted to see what would happen.) The stain was purple/blue and I'd used liquid chlorine bleach. No idea why it would be orange.

I rewashed the load with bleach and the stains were removed.

Don't all modern front-loaders add bleach in the first rinse? I've never heard of one adding it during the wash. At first I thought it was odd not to have it in the wash portion of the cycle, but as Launderess has pointed out it's better to let the bleach work on its own so it doesn't negate the enzymes/oxygen bleach in the detergent.

 

[washman]

PODS

Just say NO!

Hi Frig!

 

[mamapinky]

Hope this photo shows up. Its a sheet I recently washed and took out of the dryer slightly damp and set it on a Foosball table against the metal bars. Rust stains. I did not use a pod to wash it but doesn't it look like Mikes stains. Cheryl

 

[mamapinky]

I have no way idea how it took your pic Mike instead of posting mine I'm sorry

 

[mamapinky]

Lol..I can't figure this out..I chose my pic but Mikes showed up..I don't even have Mikes pic in my files..

 

[frigilux]

LOL, Cheryl. I was going to say your stains looked exactly like Mike's.

Hi, Ben!

 

[tnmike]

Thank you

Thanks to everyone who responded. I do have a front loader but bleach is dispensed in the 1st rinse, so don't think that the pod and bleach were exposed to each other too quickly.

I tried a little CLR on one spot to see if it might be rust. No response at all. Bought the laundry bar (along with oxygen bleach)and it removed a few of the stains and the larger stains were lightened at least. Maybe a couple more washes will remove the remaining spots.

I have a friend who has a DD Kenmore. The pods are going to his house! They might have worked OK with regular laundry that has more room to move, but I think this large heavy quilt just enveloped the pod while the machine was filling. Lesson learned.

Thanks again everyone.

Mike