There’s nothing worse than washing and drying your clothes only to find they’re still dirty and have a brown flakes on clothes. Washing and drying takes time, and it’s not fun, so you want to make sure it works first time. You might assume the problem was a one-off, only to rewash your clothes and have exactly the same thing happen again.

A common problem is the washing machine leaving brown flakes or dark spots on clothes after washing and drying. These brown flakes are due to a build-up of soap in your machine. Keep reading, to find out how to get rid of the flakes for good.

Why is my washing machine leaving debris on my clothes?

If you’re wondering, ‘Why is my washing machine leaving brown bits on my clothes?’, you probably have a build-up of ‘scrud’ in your machine. If your clothes aren’t coming out clean, something is going wrong with your machine or washing process.

Many people face the problem of unsightly black or brown flakes on clothes after washing. There’s a lot of speculation about what causes them.

Some theories about what causes a washing machine to leave brown residue on clothes are:

Lint
A build-up of dirt in the washing machine drum
Dust
Hard water
Mildew
Build-up of fabric softener
Too much soap
Never washing with warm or hot water
The type of washing machine.

What are the brown flakes in my washing machine?

Brown flakes in the washing machine are usually related to ‘scrud’, and you’ll be pleased to hear they’re easy to eliminate, to prevent future incidents. You can stop your washer from leaving brown flakes on your clothes by learning more about how it happens and taking steps to avoid it.

What is scrud or sludge build-up?

You might not be familiar with the term ‘scrud’. You can add it to your insult bank because it’s an excellent term. Scrud is a waxy build-up, left when fabric softener meets laundry detergent, and it’s a common laundry complaint. It usually shows up as little spots on clothes after washing. The flakes are black or brown and have a waxy appearance.

Why is there a sludge build-up in washing machines?

When there are brown spots on laundry after washing, there are some common factors. The two main ones are:

The use of fabric softener
Having a top-loading machine.

Most people find it happens because of a scrud or sludge build-up in the machine. The sludge is a waxy build-up that occurs when fabric softener comes in contact with washing detergent.

How to get scrud off clothing

If you’ve just removed laundry from your machine and found it’s covered in flakes or brown stains, you’ll need to rewash it. Before you do that, try the following stain-removal method:

Cover the stain with dish soap (washing up liquid in Australia and the UK)
Add baking soda (bicarbonate of soda if you’re in Australia or the UK) to soak up the stain as it works out of the fabric
Leave for 15 minutes, then rinse off
Continue with a regular wash cycle.

How do I get rid of scrud in my washing machine?

If you want to know how to remove brown flakes from a washing machine, you’ll need to know how to remove the scrud from your machine. Washers easily fall victim to this waxy residue, but you’ll be pleased to hear you can eliminate it and make sure your clothes are properly washed in the future.

To remove the scrud from your washer, you should:

Run an empty load with hot water and vinegar. Vinegar is a common household item that many people swear by for cleaning. Scientists have discovered that the acetic acid in vinegar kills bacteria and viruses, including the influenza virus. Vinegar is cheap and effective, but you need to be careful not to overuse it on appliances that have rubber seals
Use a washing machine cleaner. There are specialist products designed to clean your machine. Run a cleaning cycle with a washing machine cleaner to freshen up your machine. Be sure to run a rinse cycle afterwards, to eliminate any leftover product.

How can I prevent scrud in the washing machine?

The following tips might help to prevent future scrud build-up:

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how much detergent to use. Using too much can lead to scrud
Set wash temperature between 40 and 60 degrees, where possible; you also need to follow label instructions to ensure garments are correctly cared for
Run a hot wash at least once a month; this can help clean the machine thoroughly (towels or bedding are good options for a hot wash)
If you wash modern cloth nappies in the machine, don’t use fabric softener, which can damage the nappies and cause a buildup of scrud.
For more information about modern cloth nappies, check out BellyBelly’s article Modern Cloth Nappies | What Are The Benefits?

What is the brown sludge in my top-loading washing machine?

If you’ve noticed brown sludge in your top-loading washing machine, you’re probably a frequent user of fabric softener. This seems to be a common problem for people who use fabric softener in their top-loading washing machines. You can use alternatives to fabric softener, such as:

Vinegar
Wool balls
Baking soda.

If the brown flakes are caused by the fabric softener you use, trying one of these alternatives might solve the problem. If the problem disappears when you stop using fabric softener, continue with whatever new method you’ve chosen.

Why is there black stuff on my clothes after washing?

If you must use a top-loading machine, you might have to clean inside the machine more often. Many people find it helpful to do regular empty washes with:

Hot water
Vinegar
Baking soda
Lemon juice.

Why is there lint all over my clothes after washing?

Like brown flakes, lint can also be the result of overuse of fabric softener. Instead of adding wool balls to your wash, try using vinegar to help you determine whether the fabric softener is the problem. See what works for you.

What works for you will depend on the severity of your lint problem and what is causing it.

Suspicious brown flakes on clothes after washing

If you’ve taken steps to prevent scrud, and there’s still brown stuff on your clothes, what can you do next? Unfortunately, if the above tips haven’t helped rid your washer of scrud, you might have a more serious problem. There are two instances where you should take brown or black flakes more seriously. These are when the flakes are:

Rust
Mold.

How to remove rust from a washing machine

If your machine is older, the brown flakes could be rust from the machine. In this case, follow directions carefully on how to fix rust in a machine. It might be worth getting a washing machine engineer to assess your washer and advise you on possible solutions.

How to remove mold from a washing machine

Mold (or mould, if you’re in Australia or the UK) is also much more severe than fabric softener build-up and must be treated appropriately. Mold is often associated with a bad odor, which leaves your freshly laundered clothes smelling yucky.

A simple solution is to use vinegar to clean the mould stuck in your machine. Run a vinegar-soaked cloth or sponge around the drum, the door and the seal, to remove mold. Remove the detergent tray and clean the mould from there as well. Removing the mould from your machine will also eliminate the unpleasant odor associated with mold.

How to take care of your washing machine

The following tips can help to prevent brown flakes in the washing machine:

Don’t overload the machine
Opt for a liquid detergent instead of a powder
If you have a top load washer, you might want to look for an alternative to fabric softener. Wool balls and vinegar are potential alternatives. It might help to use fabric softener less frequently, as this could reduce the build-up
Keep your washer door open between cycles to allow air to circulate
Run an empty hot wash, with added vinegar, once a week, to clean your machine
Make sure you use the right amount of detergent each time you run a clean cycle
Aim for a wash temperature between 40 and 60 degrees in general. Using only cold wash cycles can increase the risk of scrud
Stop using, or reduce the number of times you use, fabric softener. Instead, opt for wool balls or vinegar, for the same effect
Keep your washing machine clean. Wipe away any dirt inside your machine. Pay particular attention to the seal, the door and the fabric softener tray.

Summary

Dark flakes after washing are usually a sign of scrud build-up. A possible solution to this problem is to stop using fabric softener and switch to liquid detergent. Keeping your washing machine clean can also help to prevent a build-up of scrud.