Washing Clothes in Well Water

Marg
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February 7, 20112 found this helpful

You must have a lot of iron in your water. How about using Iron Out? This is only for whites though.

Jackie

February 8, 20111 found this helpful

We have well water. We do run a water softener. I wash everything in cold water to reduce the stain on the clothes. I never buy expensive clothes, because they never last or look new for long.

(Guest)
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 846 Posts

February 8, 20111 found this helpful

You definitely have a lot of iron in your water! If you use a cup of distilled vinegar in the final rinse cycle it will break down the iron (and other minerals at that) and soften your clothes too. :-)

Carol Spirak

February 9, 20111 found this helpful

My parents were on well water with the same problem. My mom found not using liquid bleach kept the whites whiter and there is a person in the Ottawa area that sells attachments to reduce iron in the water.

Joan

February 11, 20110 found this helpful

When employed at a laundromat one customer would come every few weeks to undo what her well water had done to her clothes. She'd dump in Liquid Plummer which got rid of the orange color. She'd apparently done this for years and swore by it.

jasmartinup

September 13, 20160 found this helpful

We have well water, with a higher than usual iron content. We have no water softener. My clothes are always soft and normal, but about once every 3 months, I run my whites with Iron-Out, be so careful if you do, as the fumes are toxic. Maybe you are using too much detergent, and do you use a dryer sheet, or a wadded up piece of tin foil in the dryer? Try a smaller load. Try a cup of white vinegar instead of fabric softener-I actually never ever use liquid fabric softener.

mom-from-missouri
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January 31, 20121 found this helpful

I would start with having your water tested. Your local county extension office could tell you who would test it. It must contain a mineral that is in a higher concentration than normal, such as iron or sulfur. Once you find what that is, then you would have a better idea of what you may need to add to your wash to counter act that.

Sherry Hampton

February 1, 20120 found this helpful

THere is a remedy to well water. I had the same problem. With my regular washing detergent I add "Oxiclean".

Lynda

March 30, 20100 found this helpful

Shirley,
I too have well water and the main problems with mine are iron and sulfur. I use a product called "Iron Out" and I get it from Wal-mart. It is found in the plumbing/paint area. I quit using bleach on my "whites" 20+ yrs ago when we moved here due to the well water! I only use cold water and my nursing uniforms are still bright and white using the Iron Out and my homemade laundry detergent.

Joan
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March 30, 20100 found this helpful

I lived in town when my oldest daughter was a baby, and couldn't use bleach in the laundry because the water would turn brown. The first time I did the laundry and used bleach on white clothes, my husband's underwear, daughter's diapers, etc. came out a rusty-pink color.

I used a product called "Miracle White" after that. The whites that had changed color gradually got quite a bit better, and I used that instead of bleach for whites as long as I lived in that town. I don't know if a person can still purchase the Miracle White or not.

Harlean
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April 1, 20100 found this helpful

I also have iron and sulphur in my well water. We have a filter on our well at the tank that filters out the sulphur odor, and improves the iron content, but I still get orange stain on my clothes and on my dishes. I use "Iron Out" for both, from time to time. In between times, I use the new Chorine Free Bleach that is on the market now for my laundry. It is actually peroxide, and it doesn't really make your clothes white again, once they are discolored from the iron, but it helps with socks and underwear if you start using it when they are still new and nice and white. I use about a cupful in a large load. I also use "Iron Out" to clean the tank and toilet bowl.
Harlean from Arkansas

Pghgirl40
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March 26, 20200 found this helpful

I hesitate to offer any guidance on this about what to use because everyone's well water is different in its chemicals and make up. Also I hesitate because baby's have ultra sensitive skin and I would hate to suggest something hat would give her a rash.

My two suggestions for you are to:

1. Talk to your baby's doctor and ask what they recommend for water in your area. There are a whole variety of things that can be used, but you need something specific to your water make up and something that will be safe for your baby's skin.

2. If you are in the US, there are home extension offices and they can give you suggestions specific to your town also. I would take their suggestions back to your doctor if your doctor can't give you anything first off.

Here is a locator if you in the US:

pickyourown.org/countyextensionagentoffices.htm

Other countries may have agriculture schools that offer the same (free) service.

You may need to try several things because baby's skin is so delicate that you will want to be sure she is not allergic to anything you use.

Prayers for easy solutions!

cybergrannie
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April 7, 20181 found this helpful

You say "Our iron is fine and we have no hard water" so how was that determined? Did you have your water tested?

• Almost all well water will have iron and usually some rust from pipes and it is usually "hard" to some degree.
• I believe you should have your well water tested so you will know exactly what you are dealing with. Your county extension agency will usually do this test. They may or may not charge for this service but they may also have some good suggestions for dealing with this problem.
• Here is a link to find your local agency:
• www.gardeningknowhow.com/.../what-is-extension-service.htm
• Until you find a way to eliminate your "problem" water here are some things to NOT do:
• Do not use any type of chlorine bleach (sets stains)
• Do not "soak" clothes
• Do not use hot water - use cold water only
• Do not use Rust-X - not recommended for clothes
• www.rust-x.com/
• Do not put clothes with stains in dryer
• Things to try: (try only one solution at a time)
• add detergent (maybe half of usual amount), add 1/3-1/2 cup each of white vinegar and baking soda - start washer to mix - add clothes and wash in cold water. Add some amount to second rinse.
• Add 1/2 cup of Whisk Iron-Out (Walmart type store) and wash with 1/2 detergent.
• Add 1/2 cup Oxyclean to wash water and wash with cold water.
• Add 1/2 cup Borax and wash as usual.
• Add 1/2 cup Liquid Plumber to wash water, mix well and wash as usual.
• Always add 1/2-1 cup vinegar and maybe 1/4 cup baking soda to final rinse.
• Any one of these solutions may help your stained clothes and keep away new stains (if clothes with old stains were not washed with bleach or dried in dryer).
• What your well water is doing to your hair and body is another matter.

You may have to buy a water softener but if you do, be sure it will take care of this problem as many types do not.

regor4

March 19, 20100 found this helpful

I installed a whole house filter for my well water, also don't forget to Drain & flush your Hot water tank as needed since your on well water without a filter system.