Picture this: you’re folding laundry when you notice it again – those bizarre orange stains that never seem to wash out. No matter how much you scrub or what detergent you use, your towels keep coming out looking like they’ve been through a Halloween party.
After ruining half my towel collection, I finally cracked the case. The main offender was hiding in my medicine cabinet all along – benzoyl peroxide acne treatments. This common skincare ingredient doesn’t stain fabric; it actually bleaches it, removing the dye and leaving orange or yellow patches behind. The marks typically appear where the product touches the towel most – usually where you dry your face.
But skincare products aren’t the only villains. Well water with high iron content can deposit rust-like orange spots. Hair products, especially those with warm pigments, can transfer color when you dry your hair. Even household cleaners containing bleach can cause similar damage if you wipe your hands on a towel afterward.
My new towel-saving routine includes using white towels for skincare, letting products fully absorb before toweling off, and treating rust stains immediately with specialized products. While some damage is irreversible, understanding these causes can help keep your towels looking fresh longer.
