For years, I believed my laundry routine was nearly flawless. I sorted colors carefully, used trusted detergents, cleaned my washer regularly, and followed all the advice I thought mattered. That’s why a tiny orange dot on one of my gray towels didn’t worry me at first. It looked harmless—something that a normal wash would remove.
But after several cycles, scrubbing, soaking, and switching detergents, the mark didn’t fade. Instead, it became brighter. Within weeks, more towels developed the same discoloration, and I knew something unusual was happening. I checked everything: the washer, the dryer, the pipes, even the bathroom counter. Nothing explained the spreading orange marks.