Why Your Towels Get Orange Stains That Won’t Wash Out

The most common reason for these marks is a chemical called benzoyl peroxide. This is a very popular ingredient used to treat acne. You can find it in many store-bought products like PanOxyl, Clearasil, and Neutrogena, as well as in many prescription creams.

While it is great for clearing up skin, it is also a powerful oxidizing agent. This means it acts almost exactly like liquid bleach. When it touches fabric, it doesn’t leave a “stain” in the traditional sense; instead, it chemically removes the dye from the cloth.

Why the Spots Look Orange

On dark fabrics—like navy blue, charcoal grey, or black—the bleaching process often turns the fabric a bright orange, yellow, or pinkish color. This is because those are the base colors of the dye that are left behind after the darker pigments are destroyed.

A key way to identify this is to look at the color of the mark. If the spot is lighter than the rest of the towel, it is a bleach mark. If the spot is darker, it is a regular stain.

Why These Marks Won’t Wash Out

It is important to understand that “you can’t ‘clean’ a bleach spot—the dye is gone forever.” Since the color has been physically removed from the fibers, no amount of scrubbing or special soap will bring the original color back.

In fact, putting these towels in the wash with other items can sometimes spread small amounts of the chemical residue to other fabrics, leading to even more damage.

Other Potential Causes

While benzoyl peroxide is the culprit “95% likely” of the time, there are two other possibilities:

1. Rust in the Water: If you have old pipes or iron-rich well water, you might see reddish-brown streaks. These usually appear on all your laundry, not just the towels you use for your face.

2. Serratia Marcescens: This is a type of bacteria that grows in damp bathrooms. It looks like a slimy pink or orange film. Unlike bleach spots, this can usually be cleaned off with a little bit of disinfectant or bleach.

How to Prevent Damage

You don’t have to give up your skincare routine to save your towels. Here are some simple ways to keep your linens looking new:

• Use Specific Towels: Designate 2/3 white towels specifically for your face. Since white towels are already white, the benzoyl peroxide won’t have any dye to remove.

• Rinse for Longer: Spend at least 30 seconds rinsing your face and hands with water after using acne treatments. This helps ensure no invisible residue is left behind to rub off on the fabric.

• Check Your Ingredients: If you want to avoid the risk entirely, look for products containing salicylic acid. These treat acne effectively but do not have the same bleaching effect on fabrics.

• White Linens Only: Many people who use acne treatments switch their entire bathroom collection to white towels. This creates a “spa” look and prevents the heartbreak of ruined colored sets.

What to Do With Ruined Towels

Since you cannot reverse the bleaching, the best move is to repurpose the damaged items. You can turn them into cleaning rags, use them for car detailing, or keep them as “gym towels” where the appearance isn’t as important.

By making a few small changes to how you dry your face, you can “solve the mystery of those glowing orange ghosts in your linen closet” and keep your bathroom decor looking perfect.