Help - I dyed my washing machine red!
 

I washed several yards of bright red flannel (preshrinking) in my new Maytag top loader. The tub sides are stainless steel but the bottom of the tub is mostly plastic (I think - definitely not metal). It has no agitator. Anyway, the plastic parts are all dyed red and I can't seem to get the color off. I tried running it with just hot water and bleach, and I have tried cleaning it with the tablet I use once a month for that purpose but it is still red. I hate it. I doubt it will come off on any thing I wash but it annoys me just to look at it. Any suggestions for getting rid of the red? Thanks.

Try contacting the manufacturer?

Diannia

Since it's in the bottom of the tub, I would probably mix together some hot water, bleach and OxyClean and let it sit in there overnight -- or even 24 hours. If that doesn't work, I'd do the same with a box of dye remover.

No help here - but I also just washed and dried and washed and dried many yards of red flannel and it is now in the bottom of the outdoors cat bed - it never quit bleeding - after 6 different water changes, rinses, etc. Just not worth it to me to ruin whatever else I would have sewn with it - so DH said - just throw it out. Now the cat is really comfy. Don't know if it was mine or a friend of mine's - I inherited some of her stash after she passed away. Rescued it actually - after her DH told me that he had spent the past 2 days burning all of her fabric and sewing things. All I got is what plastic totes that she had in a big closet - he burned all of the bolts that she had in bookcases, etc. Oh yes, I got all of her books - guess that they were hiding from him.

I think this was a very good choice.

If it doesn't get on anything else, I would just live with it. It will remind you to only buy light colors.

Try a Mr Clean Magic Eraser if you can reach the stained parts - we were able to remove the color transfer of a mylar balloon we taped on the front of a golf cart one time - the heat made the color go onto the cart! Magic Eraser to the rescue!

this was my first thought, also. they know the composition of the bottom and have probably had other callers with the same/similar dilemma

DO NOT mix bleach and Oxyclean. It says so on the Oxyclean container. In fact, don't mix bleach with any other chemicals unless they are specifically made to be mixed. Regular bleach can release chlorine gas in some chemical reactions -- not good for living things.

Wonder why in the world he was doing that?????

I didn't have the same exact problem with dye staining my washer BUT, simple instructions were printed on the underside of the lid and it RAN AND FADED!! I can't imagine what made it do that as I've only used All Free and Clear, Downey Free and Clear and Shout around the machine. There was no fading/running in the tub itself. Very strange!! My machine is a GE Top Loader and is less than 3 moths old. Makes me irratated!

Rit makes a product that you put in to remove color that has bled in a load of laundry. Try running that through your empty machine. If you have a front loading machine, you may need to use the cycle that is "water plus" where it still fills the tub with water....good luck!

Just goes to show that DH sometimes stands for something other than 'Dear Hubby.'

OH my goodness burning material ? How .. oh my can't even find the words .. Someone would of taken them.. wow ..
Have you tried the Rit remover yet ?

Well, thanks for the suggestions. I will certainly try some of them. I did speak with the manufacturer (Maytag) and a very polite young woman told me that strong colors (such as dark, dark denims, etc) will do that and they have no suggestions for removing the discoloration. She said that over time washing loads with bleach will "probably" lighten the stain. So I suggested to her - politely - they 1) ought to warn purchasers, and 2) maybe they could use a material that doesn't absorb the dye. Anyway, unless Mr. Clean or Oxyclean or something works, I will just have to get over it. Thanks again.

Sounds as if he had some "anger issues".

I did speak with the manufacturer (Maytag) and a very polite young woman told me that strong colors (such as dark, dark denims, etc) will do that and they have no suggestions for removing the discoloration. She said that over time washing loads with bleach will "probably" lighten the stain. So I suggested to her - politely - they 1) ought to warn purchasers, and 2) maybe they could use a material that doesn't absorb the dye. Anyway, unless Mr. Clean or Oxyclean or something works, I will just have to get over it. Thanks again.[/QUOTE]

what a shame that dark or runny colors will dye certain parts of the "new" frontloaders.......and we pay more for that privilege.....I really never put fabric in the washing machine and "wash" it. If I decide to pretreat a fabric, and that is usually only for placemats and tablerunners, so they do not pucker afterwards, I will put it in a large tub in my kitchen sink and merely rinse it out and to be honest I do not "prewash" my fabric before making a quilt w/it. No one in my circle has any sort of allergies and I would rather use unwashed than have to size afterwards. If I buy fabric that I suspect might run, I will cut a snip of it and put it in a cup/glass of boiling water and see what happens...if it runs...does not go into a quilt...goes away.........

That is why retayne is suggested for possible runny color. However, this dye company has information on their website when to use retayne and synthrapol plus a warning about the new washing machines: http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/home.php?cat=323. Also, color catchers or carbona color catcher may help with fabrics that bleed. I always put several color catchers in with my laundry, especially with new items.

Sorry to hear about your washing machine stain.

Try cleaning it with dishwasher cleaner. It has ascorbic acid in it. I takes off all the hard water spots and weird stuff. I t does a great job on my slimmy grimmy plastic stuffs.

Hey Nanamons, The same thing happened to my GE Top Loader. Mine is about 3 or 4 years old so I guess they haven't fixed this problem yet. I could not imagine what made it do that. GE must have used a non-permanent "paint" to put that info. on the lid. I do spray Shout on stain spots and wondered if that could have made the lettering fade/run as the spray might have hit the lid as I sprayed? Maybe that is what happened to you too???

Sunquilts, Good luck with getting that stain out. I would imagine if the bottom part is plastic, it might fade over time but not disappear as it seems plastic takes on stains and keeps them. I guess you could keep the lid closed (which I usually don't do) or hopefully your washer is secluded from probing eyes .... except for your of course. Sorry that this happen to such a young machine!

such sacrilege!!! oy! :shock:
So glad you were able to rescue some of it! :thumbup: