Brown Stains On Clothes After Washing (Causes + Solutions)

Brown stains on clothes after washing are a common issue faced by people. Brown stains are also known as tea or coffee stains.  The brown stains can be very difficult to remove from the fabric and can make the clothes look old and dirty. This article is about how to remove these brown stains from your clothes successfully, without ruining them in the process.

Brown stains on clothes after washing can be from different things. Dirt, oil, and food are all common causes of this problem. 

Brown stains come about when clothes, towels, and other fabric items come into contact with substances such as cooking oils or animal fats. The oil will be absorbed by the fibers of the cloth, making it difficult to remove the stain. 

The only way to get rid of this type of stain is to launder the item again with laundry soap and hot water. Fortunately, hot water is one element that can go a long way in removing this type of stain from any fabric item.

What Causes Brown Stains On Clothes After Washing?

There will be different possible causes that may cause brown stains on clothes after washing. Liquids such as cooking oils, and oils from skin, blood, and urine are some of the common substances that are responsible for stains. Some other causes are;

Animals can also be one of the main reasons for brown stains on clothes after washing. The fur of the animal will be washed along with the garments. The fur and the dirt will get stained on the clothes and give a brownish color.

There are some of the causes of brown stains on clothes after washing.

1. Waxy buildup in the washing machine
2. Detergent does not dissolve properly
3. The washing machine is overloaded
4. Something left in the pocket
5. Someone else’s clothes got mixed with your clothes
6. Laundry detergent build-up
7. Use of bleach
8. Machine residue
9. Color bleeding from fabrics
10. Blood stains on clothes after washing

Waxy Buildup In The Washing Machine

Will stick to the clothes and cause brown stains on clothes after washing. When you open the washing machine, you will notice that there will be a thick layer that is around the clothes and it is like cement. This has to be removed by wiping off all the remaining soap so that it can remove the stain.

Detergent Does Not Dissolve Properly

Detergent that does not dissolve properly will cause brown stains on clothes after washing if there are some leftovers in the fabric items. Because of the soap, the detergent will not strip the stain and it will be made to stick to the clothes.

The Washing Machine Is Overloaded

The washing machine is overloaded and will cause brown stains on clothes after washing because there would be a significant amount of soap in it that can not dissolve when washed. The excess soap will bounce around and break down into foam, which later become hard like paste on the clothes.

Something Left In The Pocket

When you have something in your pocket, there will be a change in the fabric of your pocket. When you come out there will be fine dirt on your clothes, which will look very dirty and  It will leave an odor which gets mixed with the clothes and turns into brown stains on clothes after washing. 

The best thing to do is to make sure that whatever you have left in your pocket is not wet. It will remove the stain easily. Also you should wipe the beads off with a dry cloth or paper towel which are used to clean off dirt and dust from the pockets.

Someone Else’s Clothes Got Mixed With Your Clothes

This is a very common factor that causes brown stains on clothes after washing. A friend or someone else has taken your clothes to wash and the detergent will be left in their clothes. The detergent will be mixed with the detergent of that person, hence a combination of different types of soap in one cloth. This will cause brown stains on clothes after washing and create a build-up that can take several washes to get rid of.

Laundry Detergent Build Up

Detergent buildup in the washing machine will cause brown stains on clothes after washing, as there will be a significant amount of soap, which is stuck to the fabric and insoluble. The detergent can break down into foam, and shift to the drain and downstream causing brown stains on clothes.

Use of Bleach

Bleach can cause brown stains on clothes after washing. When you are using bleach, put the cloth in direct sunlight or sunlight for some time. The bleached residue will be left on the item, which will cause brown stains on clothes after washing

Machine Residue

Machine residue is caused by soap residues and detergent residues within the machine which can cause brown stains on clothes after washing. It is very necessary to wipe this out from your clothes and make sure that you are using the right amount of detergent to the clothes. The residue can cause brown stains on clothes after washing as it will be left on your clothes and will also help get rid of any bacteria.

Color Bleeding from Fabrics

This is one of the common reasons for brown stains on clothes after washing. When there is a blood stain on the fabric, it will take many washes to get rid of it and it will look like it rained heavily on the cloth and caused brown stains on clothes after washing. When washing the garments make sure that you have hand-washed them with a bar of mild soap to remove any remnant of blood from your garments and it will not cause brown stains on clothes after wash.

Blood Stains On Clothes After Washing

Blood stains can cause brown stains on clothes after washing because they are very difficult to get rid of. Like other blood stains, it will take a long time and many washes to get rid of the stain.

How Can I Get Rid Of Brown Stains On Clothes After Washing?

There are many products that can help you get rid of this brown stain problem easily and effectively. Here are some of the best products available in the market which will help you deal with this issue in a very good way.

While it may seem impossible to remove spots from clothes, in some cases, it is possible to get rid of them. Well, there are numerous home remedies and methods by which you can remove the stains easily.

1. Hydrogen Peroxide Bleach
2. Oxiclean Stain Remover
3. Citrus Oil
4. Salt and Lemon Juice
5. Vinegar and Salt
6. Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
7. Bleach
8. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
9. Fresh Lemon Juice
10. White Vinegar
11. Salt and Baking Soda
12. Soda and baking soda
13. Vinegar, Salt, and Hydrogen Peroxide
14. Ammonia and White Vinegar
15. Milk and Water

Hydrogen Peroxide Bleach

This type of product can be used to remove any type of stain related to blood, blood serum, or any other type of blood-related stains from clothes and it can be easily found anywhere. Hydrogen peroxide is a very strong oxidizing agent which can remove the blood stains from clothes either by soaking the fabric or washing it with some hydrogen peroxide mixed with water.

Oxiclean Stain Remover

This is another very useful product which helps in removing all types of stains from your cloth items and whether these are caused due to makeup, food, ink or any other stain then you can use this product to wash all your clothes and get rid of those brown stains.

Citrus Oil

This is a very effective method that works very well in removing brown stains from clothes. It is said that lemon juice will help in removing all types of stains from your clothes and it will provide a very good result for you. Lemon oil is another useful product that helps in removing any type of stain from clothes and it can be used by everyone to remove brown stains from clothes easily.

Salt and Lemon Juice

This is the best method that will help you get rid of all types of stains on your clothes and if you want to use this method then you can make a solution of salt and lemon juice, apply it to the stained area and leave it for some time. After that wash your clothes using cold water to remove all types of stains.

Vinegar and Salt

This is a very effective method that will help you get rid of all types of stains from your clothes, this method is also very useful for removing the brown stains from all types of clothes. The best thing about this method is that it does not require any chemicals to remove the stains from clothes and you can use it in any type of cloth, even on leather shoes. Just mix some salt with vinegar in a bowl, apply this solution on a stained area and wait for about 30 minutes. After that, wash it using cold water.

Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

This is another very useful method which will help you get rid of all types of stains from your clothes easily. It is very simple to use and you can use it in any type of cloth, even on leather shoes. Just mix baking soda with lemon juice in a bowl. Now apply this solution to the stained area and wait for about 30 minutes. After that, wash it using cold water to remove all the stains.

Bleach

Bleach is a very useful product that helps in removing any type of stain from clothes, it is a very effective method that works very well. You will never regret using bleach to remove the brown stains from your clothes. Just add some bleach to your washing machine along with clothes and wash them.

Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

This is one of the best methods to remove brown stains from clothes that have been stained in urine, vomit, sweat, or any other liquid which has some color in it. You can easily use this method to remove brown stains from clothes. Just mix some baking soda and hydrogen peroxide in a bowl and apply it to the stained area, wait for a few minutes, and after that wash it using cold water.

Fresh Lemon Juice

This is another very useful method which helps in removing any type of stain from clothes, it is very simple to use and everyone can use it easily. Just rub some fresh lemon juice on the stained area and wash it using cold water.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is a very useful product which helps in removing any type of stain from clothes easily, it is very simple to use and you can use it in any type of cloth, even on leather shoes. You just need to soak the fabrics or cloths in white vinegar and leave it for some time, wash it with cold water after that and you will see great results.

Salt and Baking Soda

This is one of the best methods which are used to remove brown stains from clothes easily, this method will also help you deal with yellow stains on clothes as well. Just mix baking soda and salt in a bowl, apply it to a stained area and leave it for some time. After that, wash it using cold water to get rid of the stains completely.

Soda and Baking Soda

This is also one of the best methods which will help you get rid of all types of stains from your clothes easily. Just mix baking soda and soda in a bowl, apply this solution to a stained area and leave it for some time. After that, wash it using cold water to remove all types of stains.

Vinegar, Salt, and Hydrogen Peroxide

This is another effective method that will help you get rid of any type of stain from any items such as clothes, leather shoes or even W.C. After that add some hydrogen peroxide to the salt mix and apply it to the stained area, and wait for about 30 minutes. Wash it using cold water to remove all types of stains from clothes.

Ammonia and White Vinegar

Ammonia and white vinegar are very useful products that will help you get rid of all types of stains from your clothes easily, it is very simple to use. Just mix the two ingredients in a bowl and apply this solution to a stained area, wait for about 30 minutes. After that, wash it using cold water to remove all types of stains.

Milk and Water

This is also one of the best methods which will help you get rid of all types of stains from clothes easily. It is very simple to use and you can use this method in your clothes or any item which does not require chemical treatment. Just mix milk with water in a bowl and apply it on a stained area, wait for about 30 minutes. After that, wash it using cold water to remove all types of stains.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

To prevent brown stains on clothes after washing, you can go for the following:

1. Natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar are very effective in absorbing oils from the surface of cloths. It is a good idea to add some of these natural ingredients to your wash along with detergent during every wash cycle so that it will protect your clothes from all possible stains and keep them clean for a longer period of time.
2. You can even use the fabric softener in your washing machine to soften the stains which will help in removing the brown stains and you can use it with detergent to get a better result.
3. Another way of preventing brown stains on clothes after washing is by always ironing your dark-colored clothes as soon as you come back from work. Using iron on low heat will prevent the brown stains from getting on your light-colored clothes too.
4. While ironing, apply a little cold water on the ironing board to prevent the liquid from running onto your clothes, and finally, make sure that you do not use too much powder on the board for faster results.
5. Use cold water when washing light-colored clothes as it will prevent the brown stains from getting on dark-colored clothes too.
6. Another way of preventing and removing the brown stains is by storing your clothes in a dry place and not exposing them to direct sunlight.
7. While storing the clothes make sure to keep them away from any chemicals like insecticides, moisturizing creams, perfumes, and deodorants.
8. You can also use a dryer sheet while storing the clothes which will help in absorbing moisture and thus prevent brown stains on clothes after washing.
9. If you have to soak your clothes in water then make sure that you use cold water and do not leave them soaked for a long time.
10. While soaking the clothes, make sure to clean the container once in a while, so that it will prevent the stains from getting on your clothes.
11. While washing dark clothes ensure that they are washed separately as it will help them in getting dried out faster and keep them away from those brown stains on clothes after washing.
12. Always make sure that you dry your clothes in shade, away from direct sunlight, and again keep them stored in an airy place to avoid any of those brown stains on clothes after washing.
13. If you are washing woolen clothes, then you can use lukewarm water instead of hot water which will cause brown stains on clothes after washing.
14. Also, make sure that you do not overload your washer as this will cause brown stains on clothes after washing.
15. Finally, always make sure that you are using the right amount of detergent to achieve a good result from your washer.

FAQ about Brown Stains On Clothes After Washing

Final Thoughts 

These are some of the most common stains which you can get on your clothes after washing, so before you start thinking that it is impossible to remove these stains then you can come across some of the methods given above and see with your own eyes how effective they are.

Hope this article will help everyone to get rid of those annoying brown stains on their clothes.

SOURCE:

1. Organizing.tv – Brown Flakes on Clothes and in Washing Machine (And how to fix it)
2. Fixya – My clothes come out of the washer with black or brown stains on them
3. Reddit – Clothing coming out of the washer with weird brown spots on them…
4. Reddit – Why does my laundry have dark spots after washing? My white clothes also have yellow spots around the collar.