Why Is My Washing Machine Leaving Grey Marks On My Clothes? (Explained)

Using the washing machine should be a simple process.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case and you can end up ruining your clothes by making the wrong decisions during the washing process.

If you are dealing with this situation, you might be wondering, why is my washing machine leaving grey marks on my clothes?

The washing machine is leaving grey marks on your clothes because dirt, grime, and mold is collecting in the drain pipe. To fix this issue, run an empty cycle using hot water, open the drain hose, flush it, and avoid using fabric softener.

Depending on how old the washing machine is, you are likely dealing with a severe build-up. This is something that needs to be addressed as the clogged drain hose is only going to worsen with time.

Your goal has to be to take a look at what is going on inside the drain hose. This includes flushing it.

Running a hot wash cycle is a good start and will help break up the dirt/grime inside.

This guide is going to explain how to prevent the washing machine from leaving grey marks on clothes the right way.

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How To Prevent Washing Machine Leaving Grey Marks On My Clothes

1. Run An Empty Cycle Using Hot Water

Before figuring out how to remove grey stains from clothes, you will need to figure out what is causing them.

In general, if you have been running cold wash cycles for too long, it’s possible dirt/grime has collected inside the drain pipe.

This creates an excellent environment for the grime to worsen and it is the last thing you want to do. This is why whenever you are looking to maintain a washing machine, you will want to run a hot water cycle.

In this case, you are going to have to do it now.

You are going to run an empty cycle using hot water.

The hot water is going to help flush out the dirt and grime that has collected inside the washing machine over the past few months or years.

2. Access The Drain Hose

You are now going to have to take a look at the drain hose.

The drain hose has to be accessed by turning off the water supply running to the washer. You are going to look behind the washing machine and assess the drain hole running from it.

This is where you are going to want to flush the drain pipe.

Depending on the situation at hand, you might need to use a drain snake to push the mess out of the way.

3. Flush The Drain Pipe

You have to be diligent when flushing the drain pipe.

In general, you will want to start from inside the washer by looking at the filter. This will let you get a better read on whether or not there is “gunk” that has collected inside the filter making it difficult for the washing machine to work properly.

You will want to take the time to flush the drain pipe when you are done.

The hot water wash cycle should have helped with this and you can check again to see if more needs to be done. This includes running another cycle.

4. Don’t Use Fabric Softener

This is a good tip for those who are dealing with stains on their clothes after a wash cycle.

The grey marks are going to still be there if you are using a strong fabric softener. It is not recommended to use this when you are dealing with a washing machine leaving marks.

You will only worsen the situation.

For now, put away the fabric softener and go through a routine wash cycle without it. This is going to let you get a better read on how the washer is doing and if you can make adjustments later.

Final Thoughts

Why is my washing machine leaving grey marks on my clothes?

The washing machine is leaving grey marks on your clothes due to dirt, grime, and mold inside the drain pipe. To repair this issue, run an empty load using hot water, access the drain pipe, and flush and unclog it using a drain snake. It’s also recommended to avoid using fabric softeners.

You will want to go through these steps to make sure the washer is in good shape.

These grey marks will go away as long as you are taking the time to flush the drain pipe and make sure it is unclogged.

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