Have you ever pulled out a towel only to find a weird fluorescent orange spot that won’t come out no matter how hard you scrub? I did, and it took me a while to discover what was causing it. It turns out, one of the biggest causes is a chemical called benzoyl peroxide, widely used in acne treatments.
Benzoyl peroxide doesn’t just stain clothes—it literally bleaches the dye from towel fibers, leaving those orange or yellowish blotches. On dark towels, these marks are very noticeable and permanent after enough use and contact.
But not all orange stains are from chemicals. In homes with iron-rich or well water, rust particles can bind with fabric, leaving small orange spots. I experienced this when visiting friends with well water, and the fix was using a water additive that prevents iron from sticking to your laundry.
Hair products and self-tanners also provide hidden pigments that stain towels as you dry your hair or skin. Sometimes even household cleaning sprays that contain bleach chemicals can make orange or pink spots when you wipe your hands on towels afterward.
After discovering these causes, I adjusted my habits—separating towels for certain uses, waiting for products to dry fully, and treating my laundry with rust-removal products. It’s not always possible to fix damage already done, but preventing it is much easier once you know what to look for.
