Gray spots on clothes from Whirlpool top load washer.

[maryb12]

A load of white clothes finished it's wash cycle and I noticed gray stains on the clothes where it was up against the sides of the tub. I pulled the clothes out and the spots matched the drain holes inside the tub. I ran my finger over one of the holes and it left a smear of "gunk" on my finger and the hole. I got a soft brush and brushed around the hole, once it was clean, the hole was actually smaller than it originally looked.

I used the brush around all the holes, which took time to do then I ran a cycle with just hot water and bleached (no clothes)...what was this stuff?

I have not run a load of clothes again, I am not sure if I should clean it with something else before I add clothes. And is there a way I can get the stains off the white clothes?

Can you advise?

[niobrara]

soap or fabric softener ?

[maryb12]

I don't use fabric softener in the washer if that's what your asking me with your question.

[niobrara]

good , then the gray is probably soap built up.What is your model number please ?

[maryb12]

I should have included the model number the first time, sorry.
I had it wrote down here in front of me and meant to post it.
Whirlpool Top Load Washer Model Number WTW5200SQ0

[dab147315]

maryb12 On washer made today and even older washers .You should use a cleaner like 1 gallon of vinegar and let soak in hot water over night.They do sell cleaners for washers but vinegar is cheaper.And use a liquid soap in washer.I like H.E. detergent even in a regular non H.E washer.As these washers get older they start to build a film of dirt,old soap scum, bacteria which can cause odors.All washers made today have a plastic outer tub that you do not see and this has a tendency to stick stuff to outer tub.And this stuff is probably building ,growing on under tub were you put your clothes.Use some type of cleaner on the market or just plain vinegar once a month for any washer made today.Some of the new washer have a dispenser that you put in a tablet like affresh once a month and put washer on clean cycle just to clean washer itself.

[bigbuck]

Washermagic also will help clean buildup.

Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2

[JWWebster]

What brand of soap and type of soap do you use?

[tgoods]

Whenever I see this, I remove the inner wash basket and do a good cleaning.  You will need a spanner wrench.  They're easy enough to disassemble, not like a frontloader.
TB123

[dab147315]

Customer education if you start out knowing that your machine needs to be clean with a cleaner once a month you never have to use a spanner wrench to take tub out.Prevent the problem.

[tgoods]

I agree that prevention is best but if I'm there on a service call, I'll disassemble and clean it.  Then I let the customer know about the products available to prevent it from happening again.  I've only seen one get so bad that it caused the little spots, usually I see odor problems before it gets that bad.  When I removed the basket, I found a very heavy scum buildup.  I doubt any cleaner or vinegar would've gotten rid of the buildup, it needed to be physically cleaned. 
Of course, this only applies to topload washers.  A frontload washer is too labor intensive to disassemble and your only option is to use a cleaner.

[dab147315]

It would-ed get that bad if you started out with a new washer and the customer new to use a cleaner once a month.Just like i would do with a new dishwasher .Problems is the customers does not no.If you are on a job that is the way you post you have to pull the tub to clean it.Then i would tell them to use a gallon of vinegar which is about 2 dollars or a washer cleaner.Myopinion.

[JWWebster]

I had one recently that had enough detergent in the agitator to wash the house and the cars. I rinsed the thang out for about half an hour. It clearly says liquid fab softener only over the hole and looks like they been adding soap powder in it for years.

Under the agitator is a filter. You might need to remove the tub and give it a cleaning.