Rust coloured spots on laundry

Cause 1: Metal Objects Left in Pockets

Nails, paper clips, coins, and other small metal items left in pockets can pass through the drum holes during washing and become lodged in the space between the stainless steel drum and the outer tub. Once there they cannot easily circulate and are constantly exposed to water. They rust, and this rust deposits onto laundry during subsequent washes.

1. Check the pump filter first.

   Small metal objects sometimes make it as far as the pump filter. Remove and inspect it – instructions for finding and accessing the filter are in our guide on washing machine pump filters.

2. Look through the drum holes with a torch.

   Rotate the drum by hand and shine a torch through the holes as they pass. Metal objects in the tub space are sometimes visible. If visible and close to a hole, they can sometimes be hooked out with a stiff piece of wire. If not accessible, disassembly is required.

3. Retrieve the object if found.

   If the object cannot be reached through the drum holes, the machine will need partial disassembly to access the tub space. See our guide on removing objects stuck in the washing machine drum.

Cause 2: Iron or Rust in the Water Supply

Rust-coloured staining can come from the water supply itself rather than from inside the machine. This is more common in properties with older pipework, in rural areas with bore-hole water supplies, or when water has been standing in pipes.

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  Test the tap water. Hold a white piece of cloth under the cold water tap and let water run through it for several minutes. If a brown or rust-coloured stain appears on the cloth, iron or sediment in the water supply is the cause.
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  Flush the pipework before running a wash. Run the cold tap for a minute or two before starting the washing machine. This clears water that has been standing in the pipes – which is where most sediment settles – and replaces it with fresher supply water.
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  Check and clean the inlet valve filter. The inlet valve on the back of the washing machine has a small mesh filter inside the fitting where the fill hose connects. Turn off the water tap, unscrew the fill hose, and inspect the filter for sediment or rust deposits. Clean or replace if blocked.
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  Contact the water authority if the problem persists. Consistent rust or iron in the water supply may indicate a problem with the mains supply or the property’s pipework that requires a plumber or the water supplier to investigate.

Cause 3: Failing Drum Bearings

A less common cause is rust from the drum bearing assembly itself. The drum shaft runs through sealed bearings. When the bearing seal fails, water reaches the bearings and they begin to rust. Over time this rust can deposit onto laundry.

Failed drum bearings produce a distinctive noise

If drum bearing failure is the cause of rust spots, the machine will almost certainly be making a loud rumbling or roaring noise on spin as well. This is the most reliable indicator that bearings are involved. See our guide on what noisy drum bearings sound like. Bearing replacement is a major repair and on many modern machines the cost approaches or exceeds the machine’s value.

Treating Rust Stains on Laundry

Related Guides

Remove Something Stuck in the Drum
How to retrieve metal objects from the tub space when they cannot be reached through the drum holes.


What Do Noisy Drum Bearings Sound Like?
How to identify bearing noise and distinguish it from other washing machine spin noises.


Washing Machine Pump Filter
Where to find the pump filter and how to check it for trapped objects – the first place to look.


Grease Marks on Clothes After Washing
A similar problem with different causes – marks appearing on laundry after the wash cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions