# White dusty stains on black clothes when washed & dried

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-dusty-stains-on-black-clothes-when-washed-dried/613736>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 23, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-dusty-stains-on-black-clothes-when-washed-dried/613736 "2012-02-23T15:58:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-dusty-stains-on-black-clothes-when-washed-dried/613736/1 "2012-02-23T15:58:02Z")

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Anybody know what these are or how to get rid of them? I cleaned my washer with the two cups of vinegar, but I still get these stains once in a while. They look just like dust or lint stains, but when you brush at them or use a lint brush it’s clear they’re not. I do clean my lint screen out regularly (every time I do a load), and I clean the external dryer vent (less frequently).

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**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-dusty-stains-on-black-clothes-when-washed-dried/613736/2 "2012-02-23T17:08:36Z")

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Do you use powder laundry detergent? If you don’t dissolve the soap prior to loading the washer you can end up with white on your clean clothes, almost like powdered sugar.

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**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-dusty-stains-on-black-clothes-when-washed-dried/613736/3 "2012-02-23T18:02:40Z")

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Do you use fabric softener? If so, try switching to dryer sheets.

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**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-dusty-stains-on-black-clothes-when-washed-dried/613736/4 "2012-02-23T19:17:37Z")

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No and no - I use All, liquid, and no fabric softener.

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**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-dusty-stains-on-black-clothes-when-washed-dried/613736/5 "2012-02-23T19:25:13Z")

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What temperature do you wash in? If you do anything but cold you get these.

I also find if I pack my washer too full, this happens in the folds.

A rinse (without detergent) should get rid of any detergent stains. If it is just wearing without detergent, you could be screwed.

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**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-dusty-stains-on-black-clothes-when-washed-dried/613736/6 "2012-02-23T19:35:26Z")

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Ok, I will try to put less and wash them in cold water…thanks.