The culprit may actually be your washing machine – front loaders to be exact. Apparently, the front loaders trap the moister while the top loaders let the moisture out. And these moist and humid conditions create a perfect environment for mold to grow. You can’t always see the mold but it can smell and stain your laundry black.
Many appliance companies such as Whirlpool, Sears, Kenmore, LG and Bosch have or will be making changes to their front loaders. Read this NBC news report at www.nbcnews.com for more information.
What about well water problems? Manganese can also cause black staining in your washing machine, but you would probably see black staining in your dishwasher and toilet bowl too. Have your water tested by your local water treatment company. Just bring in a cold water sample (use a water bottle not your pickle jar!) and we can test it right away.
In the meantime, experts recommend you:
- Wipe dry the inside tub and door
- Empty the soap dispense tray (mine just pulls out so that’s easy to do)
- Keep the door open and the dispenser tray pulled out (Caution: may be dangerous with small kids!)
- Don’t use your washing machine (just kidding!)