Korean Job Discussion Forums

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Argh!!!! I've been in my apartment for almost 5 months here in the sticks, but lately I've been having laundry issues. I do laundry weekly, maybe 2-3 loads and have had no problems up until now. I separate colors, dont overuse the soap, always take my laundry out after it's done etc.... I even run the water in the pipes so I don't get any of the rust colored water, which I don't see anymore.
Well for the last month a random peice of clothing will come out with yellow-red stains on it like it's been bleached... and it's ticking me off!!! Evil or Very Mad

This morning I had the lovely task of finding a very nice button down stained like santa claus. WTF coudl it be? It's not food stains as I'm not a messy person, the water does not appear to be rusty, and there are no new clothes so there should be no color transfer etc....

Any thoughts? Other ruined things include a new hoodie, a pair of jeans, some boxers and even socks.

sobriquet · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Location: Nakatomi Plaza

Is your drying rack rusty?

Chet Wautlands · Joined: 11 Oct 2008

Is it possible that it could be animal urine? This happened to me once years ago.. I found out that there were rats in the laundry room. I hope this isn't your problem. Confused

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Drying rack is only 5 months old and not rusty to my knowledge, however I'll check when I get home. But I don't normally hang my button down shirts on the rack. I use hangers.

I also live on the 5th floor (top) of my apartment building so I doubt it's animal urine. Haven't had any rats to date.

Sad

the ireland · Joined: 11 May 2008 Location: korea

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

There is no elevator where I live.. All stairs for 16 months (Busan and Hupo)... Needless to say my legs are awesome! Very Happy

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

You'll get a lot more stained clothes because you are using eating utensils that you are unfamiliar with. You are having to eat sitting on the floor. I noticed a lot of Dok-Kalbi restaurants are offering aprons to their guests I just wish other places would offer this.

What I do. When I got out I take off my perfect white dress shirt before dining. I know my hosts don't like it. So what. I wear a white t-shirt under my shirt not a wife beater.

refikaM · Joined: 06 May 2006 Location: Gangwondo

It may be your detergent...? Get some "delicates" detergent and see if that helps... Do you use bleach for your white clothes? Sometimes the bleach isn't rinsed out of the machine completely and can spot bleach your next load of clothes.. but then that wouldn't explain the reddish color in your spots... Anyway, try changing detergent to something less caustic.. I'd stroke if my clothes were getting ruined like that.. Hope you get it sorted...

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Thanks for the thoughts. I hardly ever eat in a restaurant where I eat on the floor. And I am very good with chopsticks. Also I do not get food stains on my clothes.

Laundry detergent? I've used the same stuff for 16 months and has been fine up until a month ago. Perhaps you're right. Sad thing is I just bought 4 kilos of the crap last week.

vdowd · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Location: Iksan

Could your washing machine be in need of an overhaul. MY friend kept getting random dark stains on her clothes. Traced the cause to grease from the machine - needed a repair person to sort it out.

VV

Illysook · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

Hard water will cause rust stains on clothing. Take your nice things to a laundry or use some kind of softening agent with your detergent.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Also make sure you clean out your laundry drum every few months. There is a chemical you buy in a box from the corner store to do this. If you don't do that, they won't get very clean.

There was once a thread where I posted photos of the stuff.

I think it was called Say-Tak-Cho or something like that. Most teachers come here and have no idea that you need to do this. It's not exactly something your school tells you about.

Oh, here it is:

http://apapa.co.kr/front/php/product.php?product_no=1522&main_cate_no=80&display_group=1&ghost_mall_id=auction&cafe_mkt=auction_os&ref=auction_open&mkt_in=Y&clickid=2785152222114923611131509499894373360500&ref=auction_open

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Thanks for the tips! I'll try to buy that cleaning agent for my washer drum. Also what is a name of a softener I can buy? Forgive my lack of knowledge. I live in a small town so it would have to be a name brand.

Taking my clothes to a cleaner is an option. I did this my first month when I lived *gasp* in a love motel for 3 weeks and it is expensive!!! But for my suit and button downs than yes I will.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Was editing and you posted:

This is it (see the one with the drum cleaner photo).

http://apapa.co.kr/front/php/product.php?product_no=1522&main_cate_no=80&display_group=1&ghost_mall_id=auction&cafe_mkt=auction_os&ref=auction_open&mkt_in=Y&clickid=2785152222114923611131509499894373360500&ref=auction_open

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

A good named-brand fabric softener is called PIDGEON (like the bird... it's written in Korean, though). I think it's spelled 피전

I've tried cheaper, and they weren't good for my skin.

Oh, and when you clean out the drum, you need to fill it with hot water (if possible) and let the cleaner soak in a machine full of water for 3 to 4 hours. Then finish the wash cycle so it rinses out. Don't smell the stuff. Some brands are akin to strong acid.