You wash your towels, dry them, fold them, and expect them to stay clean. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, strange orange, peach, or rusty-looking stains begin appearing.
Even worse, they often refuse to disappear in the washing machine.
If this keeps happening to your towels, you are probably not dealing with ordinary dirt. There are several surprisingly common reasons towels develop orange stains, and some of them have nothing to do with how well you wash your laundry.
One of the biggest culprits is a common skincare ingredient called benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide is found in many acne treatments, facial cleansers, gels, and creams. It can react with dyes in colored fabrics and cause permanent-looking orange, yellow, or bleached patches.
This is particularly noticeable on dark towels, where a product may leave an orange or reddish discoloration after only a few uses.
The frustrating part is that this type of damage isn’t really a conventional stain. The product can chemically alter the fabric dye, which means throwing the towel into the washing machine again and again may not restore the original color.
If you use an acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide, try keeping a separate white towel for your face and avoid allowing freshly treated skin to come into contact with colored towels, pillowcases, or clothing.
Another possible cause is rust.
Water containing iron can leave yellow-orange or reddish-brown marks on fabric. This can happen when your home’s water supply contains elevated iron levels or when rusty pipes, plumbing fixtures, washing-machine components, or metal surfaces come into contact with wet towels.
Rust stains often have a distinctive orange or brown appearance and can become more noticeable after repeated washing.
If several towels are developing similar stains, especially in different areas of the fabric, your water supply may be worth investigating.
Hair products can also contribute to mysterious discoloration.
Certain hair oils, dyes, sprays, conditioners, self-tanning products, and styling products contain ingredients that can transfer onto towels. When combined with body heat, moisture, and repeated washing, these residues can create stubborn discoloration.
Self-tanning products are another frequent suspect. Products containing tanning ingredients can leave orange-brown marks on towels, especially when the skin is still developing or the product has not completely dried.
Makeup and skincare products can have a similar effect. Foundation, bronzer, tinted sunscreen, body makeup, and other cosmetics can transfer onto towels and become difficult to remove once they have been dried.
This is why the location of the stain can provide a useful clue.
If the orange marks appear around the face area, skincare or makeup may be responsible. If they repeatedly appear around the body, self-tanner, body lotions, or hair products may be more likely. If stains appear randomly throughout several towels, water or washing-machine issues deserve more attention.
Laundry products themselves can sometimes contribute to discoloration.
Using too much detergent or fabric softener can leave residue behind. Over time, this residue can trap oils, skincare products, and dirt inside the fibers.
Fabric softener can also coat towel fibers and reduce their ability to absorb water. For towels, using the correct amount of detergent and avoiding excessive fabric softener can help keep them fresher.
So what can you do when an orange stain has already appeared?
First, identify the likely cause before treating the towel.
If you suspect rust, avoid immediately treating it with chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach can make certain rust stains more difficult to remove or cause additional discoloration.
A laundry product specifically designed for rust or iron stains is generally a better option. Follow the product instructions carefully and check the care label on the towel first.
If you suspect skincare or cosmetic products, pre-treat the affected area before washing. Use a suitable laundry stain remover and wash according to the fabric’s care instructions.
Do not put the towel into a hot dryer until you are satisfied with the result. Heat can make some stains much harder to remove.
For towels that have been affected by benzoyl peroxide, however, there may be no true “stain removal” solution because the color change can result from damage to the fabric dye itself.
In that situation, prevention is much more effective than trying to restore the original color.
One simple habit can save your towels: keep a dedicated white towel for your face if you use acne medication containing benzoyl peroxide.
White towels may show the product residue, but you are less likely to notice a colored dye change because there is no dark dye for the ingredient to alter.
You can also wash your face and hands thoroughly after applying skincare products and allow treatments to dry completely before using towels or wearing clothing that you want to protect.
If your towels suddenly begin developing orange stains even though you have not changed your skincare, haircare, or laundry routine, take a closer look at your water.
Try washing a new white towel and see whether discoloration develops. You can also check sinks, bathtubs, toilet tanks, and other areas for orange or reddish deposits.
If you repeatedly notice rusty-colored water or stains throughout your laundry, contacting your water supplier or having the water tested may help identify an iron-related problem.
The good news is that your washing machine may not be ruining your towels at all.
Those mysterious orange marks are often the result of a chemical reaction, mineral deposits, personal-care products, or residue that becomes trapped in the fabric.
Once you know the cause, prevention becomes much easier.
So before throwing away another perfectly good towel, check your acne products, hair products, self-tanner, cosmetics, water supply, and laundry routine.
And remember: if the stain is actually a change in the fabric’s dye, washing it harder may not fix it. Sometimes the secret to saving your towels is figuring out what caused the orange color in the first place.
Say something if you’ve ever had this happen to your towels, and keep following for more useful home and laundry tips!
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