Try using STPP, and Oxyclean. I'll bet they brighten right up.

Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ - STPP

How about using disposable make-up removing toweletts to get off most of the make-up first? There may even be "recipes" for them similar to homemade baby wipes.

I don't use make-up very often, but I DO keep a stack of inexpensive white facecloths I got at the Dollar General Store I use on my face only. That leaves the more expensive ones for regular use. The inexpensive cloths are rough enough to exfoliate and if I do get "gunk" on them, I give them a spritz of Charlie's Soap All-Purpose Cleaner and wash as usual.

Our daughter worked as a clerk at a hotel when she was going through college. She told us the gal in charge of the laundry used an old-fashioned washboard and liquid Dawn dish soap to scrub make-up off the facecloths left by the hotel guests.

-Grainlady

I use Huggies to remove makeup from my face. They are disposable and save my washcloths.

wow Huggies - who'da thunk? I buy them already for when TP doesn't seem to do the trick :)

What about mascara stains tho?

grainlady - now I feel so bad for ever leaving makeup on the facecloths at a hotel :(

I will try oxyclean, altho I think I have already tried it before on them. and also will look for STPP. can you get that at Walmart or Kroger?

I think I will buy cheap ones at Walmart or the DG store. Or stick to using dark colored ones I guess.

Thanks for your replies!

Nothing I tried will get that makeup off the nice white washcloths.

So I now use the disposal makeup remover cloths from Walmart to wipe off the make up; after I get most of the makeup off I rinse it with warm water, add my facial cleaner, scrub my face with it then toss. It saves my really nice white and almond colored washcloths.

On your old washcloths, you will never get them white. Once you run them through the dryer it pretty much sets the stains. Your new washer will help, but with my experience they just won't go back to snowy white.

I bought the pack of white washcloths from Costco. I think it was 2 dozen cloths for $20. Nice washcloths. With the new washer, using the sanitize and oxiclean, they are staying as white as the unused cloths. Seems like the oxiclean is working better than the bleach. Or maybe it's the Sears stain fighter powder?

But I also use the facial cleansing cloths from Costco. I was using the disposable cloths with the old washer and still was having the problem with the dingy wash cloths. I really think my old washer just wasn't washing very well.

wow itgeek - thanks for all the info! I use Clinique mascara, so not sure about the ingredients, but I'll try your suggestions. I don't use Charlie's soap, but I'll try powdered detergent with oxyclean, with regular bleach also. And on the sanitary cycle - which I have been using on my whites since I got my new washer. Didn't have that setting before on my old. I understand my previously stained cloths are hopeless.

Mountaineergirl, DON'T use the oxyclean and bleach together.

I believe you have the 218. I put my machine on sanitize, heavy load, extra wash, and extra rinse. I would also use the delay start since this is going to take over two hours. I use probably 2 ounces of HE detergent plus another 2-3 ounces of the oxyclean. And this is for very soft water. My new cloths have been staying white.

I found better results with the oxyclean than the bleach. I actually use probably a little more oxyclean than I do detergent.

Our daughter worked as a clerk at a hotel when she was going through college. She told us the gal in charge of the laundry used an old-fashioned washboard and liquid Dawn dish soap to scrub make-up off the facecloths left by the hotel guests.

Grainlady, I'm in shock -- I had no idea washboards were even around anymore, thought they went out with the pioneers.

I don't wear much make-up at all, so I'm no authority on this subject. When I do wear it, I use a soapy washcloth (usually Dove soap) to remove it. Is that why my washcloths don't get stained?

housefairy - I have the 328's but they have the cycles that you mentioned (sanitize, extra wash, extra rinse etc) The last time I washed the whites, I used the sanitize and extra rinse, Tide HE and bleach. Stains were still there, but then again they had been set in from before. Really, I think the simplest answer for me anyway, is to use dark colored facecloths, not white ones.

Housefairy, you can use chlorine bleach in the rinse cycle because most of the oxygen bleach has been removed or reacted before the chlorine is added.

You are correct that you don't want to mix them in the wash cycle. The chlorine bleach would inactivate the oxygen bleach and form chemical compounds you probably don't want around. (And that would eat holes in the fabric with prolonged exposure.)

Mara, the main reason your washcloths don't get stained is actually simple... it's not "firm" holding makeup (compared to some of these cake foundations or waterproof mascaras). Since soap will remove them without any makeup remover or similar solvent (like oil), that tells me they're comparatively lightweight.

Also, that "moisturizing creme" in Dove is slightly coating the fibers of your washcloth with fat, dimethicone/silicone, etc. That in turn makes them slightly stain resistant.

Now Mara if you grab one of those crazy "it ain't coming off until the apocalypse" mascaras some day, you'll quickly find that Dove won't even budge it. (MAC makes some insanely hard to remove products along those lines.)

- IT Geek

There was a TV interview with Tammy Faye Baker where the topic of laundry came up. She discussed her laundering procedures that dealt with washcloths & makeup. For what its worth; she said she always washed her makeup stained items in hot water & good measure of Tide.

Her recipe works!

C

After reading the composition of make-up, I would think Cascade d/w detergent (especially the powdered formula w/Dawn) and a hot water wash (maybe with a soak) would get it out of facecloths.

I use Viva paper towels and whitch hazel on my face. No stains on face clothes.

My secret for removing make-up from my washcloths was a pure accident. I started using Noxzema to remove make-up and have found that it washes out of the my washcloths better than anything else I've ever used on my face. It also removes the make-up and mascara better than anything I've used in years.

Hotels must have the same problem removing makeup from facecloths. On my last trip most of the places where I stayed provided disposable cloths for makeup removal.

I use waterproof mascara which it will remain on my eyes and everything else until the apocalypse. With that said, I have discovered that by using just plain old bar soap on my washcloths right after removing makeup the stains lift right out. I use olive oil to remove my mascara and dissolve it, rub that off with a wet washcloth and then work some bar soap into the cloth. I discovered this works when taking a shower one day and after using my washcloth to remove my makeup, I lathered up with the same washcloth to wash my body. When I was done, the makeup was completely removed from my white washcloth. Now If I can't remove my makeup while I am in the shower, I will just suds up the washcloth with soap and then hang it on the edge of the laundry bin to dry with the soap still remaining in the washcloth. I found the brand of bar soap doesn't matter. Then they just go into the laundry.

I wash my laundry in warm water and I use a small amount of bleach with my whites. I use whatever laundry detergent/soap happens to be on sale. All of my washcloths are white as the day I purchased them and with no stains.

Give this method a try and see how it works for you. It works perfectly in my household ;)

I have the Kenmore front loaders & to get the makeup out, I use vinegar in my wash. I use whatever clothes washer detergent I have in normal measure (I found powdered detergents work best for stains-I've got 2 boys, 3 if you count my DH, and they love the outdoors!) Try the whites setting first. Once the washer starts and all the powdered detergent is out of the dispenser, add about 1/2 - 1 cup white vinegar to the wash. For especially dirty items, I use the prewash cycle too and add the vinegar when the main wash cycle kicks in.

If that doesn't work, then it goes back in on sanitize with the same procedure. If sanitize doesn't do it, it's not coming clean.

For the items you've already dried, you may want to try some ZOUT pretreater before washing as stated above. Very often it will get out 'set in' stains that have been thru the dryer.

**Tip: Ever forget about your laundry in the washer and it sours? With the low water usage in these front loaders it can be very difficult to get the sour smell out. Solution: Use the pretreat cycle with detergent in addition to the vinegar & detergent in the wash cycle as stated above and the sour smell is gone 100%**

Good luck!

I know it has been awhile, but in case anyone is still looking for the answer, I have it: Just 4 Lashes! It is a black, mascara removal cloth that works like magic to remove mascara with only warm water. It is machine washable so it is a green product, that can be used over and over. It promotes wrinkle-free skin and works great with eyelash extensions! Go to www.just4lashes.com to buy yours! Great stocking stuffer and Secret Santa Gift!

Here is a link that might be useful: Just 4 Lashes