How to tell what mysterious stains or spots on clothes actually are
Mysterious spots or discoloration on clothing can be difficult to identify, leaving people unsure if marks are mold, dye stains, or residue. Without clear identification, it is hard to know whether the garment can be saved or how to properly clean it.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Smelling the garment for a moldy odor
- 2Using a color remover product
- 3Wiping out the inside of the washing machine and running a tub wash
- 4giving the dog a bath to check if debris washes off
- 5monitoring the skin area over time for changes such as hair loss or inflammation
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
r/CleaningTips1 person · September 2026
“It doesn’t smell like mold, i’m going to post better pictures because these aren’t clear enough i think”source ↗
No-Lemon-8803 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes
r/dogs1 person · September 2026
Where this came up
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