Lately many items are coming out of the laundry (Whirlpool top-loader,
6-8 y.o.) with brown marks--not wide, sometimes straight, other times crescent. Do I need to do a major cleaning of the washer--and if so, how? Thanks for any help.
A common problem- usually caused by a small nick on something metal inside, and a growing rust spot. One of many reasons recent washers usually have non-metallic tubs. Use a mirror and a flashlight to inspect inside of washer closely. Spot may not be obvious, and only show when tub is off center, like when spinning out of balance. Pattern comes from the fabric being pressed against that spot during spin cycle. Nicks can come from a zipper or bluejean snap or similar, so zipping and buttoning before laundering is a good idea. If it isn't rust stains, other likely culprit is grease, either from something in the washer, or some contaminated clothing having a clump on it. Has washer been worked on recently?
If you find a rust spot, sand down and apply touch-up paint from the appliance dealer. Some people say a coat of auto wax over the spot works for awhile.
Having been burned by this before, when using shared commercial machines, I always inspect my office clothes before putting them in the dryer. Once baked in, the stains are there forever, but if you catch them when wet, they sometimes wash out. On towels and such, I don't really care. When I bought this house, a month later the included washer caught on fire, and luckily the el cheapo Sams Club replacement has a plastic tub.
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