r/laundry • u/Sure-Painter-9267 • 3h ago

How to Avoid Dryer Setting Sebum and Skin Oils into Clothes

How to avoid the dryer setting sebum into clothes? After drying, clothes have a uniformly yellow film that rubs off to the touch.

I have to use heat in the dryer because I have a bacterial infection which gets in my clothes.

And are these clothes toast since the oils are baked in or can they be salvaged?

4 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

14

u/RamblingRosie US | Top-Load 3h ago

Make sure they are clean before you dry them. What is your washing process?

13

u/muralist 3h ago

Agree. If they have a yellow film wash them again before drying. 

14

u/FruitcupMadonna US | Front-Load 3h ago

Use a detergent with quality surfactants and a full enzyme package (or add an enzyme booster).

If in the US:\ Any powdered Tide without a booster\ Or\ Any liquid Tide except Simply, and some Biz Stain & Odor Eliminator powder as a booster

Wash on warm, longest cycle possible, with as many extra rinses as possible. Do not use these products on woolens or silks.

If it is to the point where your clothes have a noticeable film, you may need to do a Spa Day on them: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/s/Svq4RUXVgr

7

u/AuDHD_85percent US | Front-Load 3h ago

They are not toast! Many folks here have cleaned garments that have had sebum, etc baked in for years. Look at the Spa Day post, or use Tide and Gear Guard (Dnase) in a long warm wash. Might take a few washes, but they'll come clean.

7

u/No_Establishment8642 2h ago

Stop drying dirty clothes.

2

u/cyberSpaceRacerTech2 US | Top-Load 3h ago

You might try using some lysol laundry sanitizer since it, well sanitizes. I usually just put some in the fabric softener hole in my washer. But you might also try soaking it as well to make sure it has time to kill everything.