Why Your Towels Get Orange Stains That Won’t Wash Out

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Avoid resting your face on towels while brushing teeth or applying serums.

Rinse Thoroughly

Wash hands and face with cool water for 30+ seconds after acne treatment to remove all residue.

Choose Non-Bleaching Alternatives

Consider acne treatments with salicylic acid or sulfur—they don’t bleach fabrics.

Or use benzoyl peroxide washes (rinse-off) instead of leave-on gels.

What to Do If You Already Have Bleach Spots

Unfortunately, you can’t reverse the damage—but you can repurpose:

Dye dark towels (Rit Dye) to a new color (though spots may still show)

Cut into rags for cleaning or car detailing

Use as gym or beach towels where appearance doesn’t matter

Don’t: Keep washing with good towels—residue can transfer!

Pro Tip: The “Towel Test”

If you’re unsure, do this:

Take a white cotton cloth.

Apply a pea-sized amount of your acne product.

Wait 5 minutes.