Dryer question

[ChristiRenee]

:wave Hi gals!

I think I ruined my dryer! I hand washed a red shirt last week but I needed it dried fast so I stuck it in the dryer....only to find out when I took it out that it painted the entire inside drum red! :doh I knew it would bleed so that is why I washed and dried it seperately! But now I am so afraid to dry any of my whites. I have washed and dried about 4 loads of colored clothes since it happened hoping that it would go away, but it hasn't faded!

Anyone know what I can do to get the red stain out? :idunno

[ZAGS]

Simple Green. Mix it about one cup of Simple Green to one gallon of water. That might do the trick. Or of that doesn't work use it straight.

[Kathe]

Oxy clean might work if the SG doesn't. Kathe

[NewWorldOrder]

bleach?

I did something like that once, except it was ink from a pen that got left in a pants pocket. :ohno I never did get it off but it was never a problem.

[wife]

you could try to stick an old towel in there.

[LupusMommyto5]

Have you tried washing in warm water mixed with Vinegar?



Nannette (a.k.a. LupusMommyto5)

[Solo Fide]

Soft scrub with bleach might work. If none of these suggestions gets the red out (no, don't use visine :aha ) then I think your dryer drum is just stained. It shouldn't effect your whites, but like someone else suggested- try throwing in an old white towel first just to be safe.

[ChristiRenee]

Thanks!! I will try these suggestions and let you know!! :)

[Pleye]

OK, been a while since I studied laundry so I may be a bit rusty.

If the red is a dye, then I believe either bleach or vinegar may help set it into the drum permanently. In all likelihood, so would the heat from the drum.

When I wash I always use a vinegar rinse to lower the pH of the water and help rinse out the soap (soap is very high pH, vinegar very low). A family member told me that washing a new item of clothes with vinegar helps set the color.

On the back of my bottle of Mrs. Stewarts bluing it says if you get the bluing (a form of iron dye) on something, that bleach will cause it to set in making it unable to be removed. I'd stay away from the bleach.

I assume the drum is probably a type of cermic material with enamel coating. These are hard to clean.

I think so far the Simple Green is your best choice. Rinse very, very, very well when done because if the coating was porous enough to absorb the dye it may well absorb and hold the Simple Green.

If you really want to get it off and nothing has worked so far, some form of abrasive polish would work but I wouldn't suggest it if you have never done it before. Some have additives that shouldn't be used near heat or clothing. Most consumer stuff is terrible and contains residue that sticks around forever. Many don't really have much abrasive polish, but have oils that soak in to hide scratches. It is very hard to find a light and pure abrasive cleaner for painted surfaces.

Lastly, if that didn't work you may wish to talk to an appliance repair main who may see these things all the time. They may even have a bottle of something that will help.

[ChristiRenee]

Thanks!!!

Well I did laundry last night and dried a pair of white socks ... they were still white when I pulled them out. I am thinking at this point that it's okay? :idunno

The bad part is that I live at an apartment community so when I move out someone new is going to have a pink dryer on the inside! :lol2

But in all seriousness, I knew that I didn't want to bleach it because then I would be afraid to dry my colored clothes! Haha. At this point I think it's safe. It's just weird that it stained it. They must be cheap dryers!

Still going to look into the Simple Green stuff too.