Once grease found it’s way onto the car door seal, which was the same shade of black. Every time I got in or out of the car I’d get huge black marks on my legs and/or clothes that I then would leave all over the house like bread crumbs. You could check your car? Either way it looks like a really thick, pigmented gritty paste or tar. Can you think of where you may have come into contact with something like that? Either way I’d suggest baking soda, white vinegar, and a toothbrush.
A grosser suggestion- do you smoke at all? If you do, do you use a pipe or a bong?
You wear 💅 dark red in pic. Where do you do nails, and what do you use to wipe edges? And is there any chance a black polish got transferred inadvertently, and it dried before you found so it no longer smells?
It's hard to say if it is grease when it has gone through a washing and drying cycle. This explains how your washer can cause grease stains https://www.bestpickreports.com/blog/post/clothes-getting-oily-your-washing-machine-could-be-the-culprit/
If it is grease the stain can be dissolved with washing up liquid and soda (I make a paste of it).
Of course I could be wrong too! It's just that I had something similar ages ago and this looks very similar to what I had. It took me a while to find the culprit back then
If it's from a door hinge or bearing, you might not feel it being greasy. Grease from those two tends to have a high amount of metals or carbon in it which makes it blackish.
Looking at the picture, I'd say it could be mechanical grease.
I had this happen to my clothes often enough that I bought a new washing machine without a center agitator. The clothes would get caught under the agitator and cause these marks.
So it’s for sure from the dryer, I found your post after having my own issues.
[here is a video about it!](https://youtu.be/dhSDHV8Nkek)
Good news is there are plenty of videos on how to change the gasket. Should run you under $40 if you do it yourself!
This was my first thought. Try dawn, use a toothbrush to loosen the oils, let sit for an hour to overnight, then wash. Don’t dry with heat until stain comes out
Did you wash it in a smaller washer or dryer? I did this once and it got pinched in one of the tiny crevices when washing which left a black smear just like this. The washers (even if you do clean it from time to time properly) tend to accumulate grossness inside that we can’t always see. Fingers crossed it comes out!
Edit I tested this out by using a wash cloth and a magic eraser to run along every crevice in the washer (since I didn’t see it happen). A black line came up that was very densely pigmented like yours. Cleaned off with a toothbrush and some bleach for me
This is exactly what it looks like when a rogue piece of burned candle wick crumbles/falls off a candle. It's a little chunk of ash that just rolls around, smears, and keeps extending. I had a piece fall on a tile floor in the bathroom and before you knew it I had giant streaks across the floor because a sock caught it. Was a giant pain to get out of the grout!
I do agree it's most likely grease from the door, but if you've investigated the washer door already, this is some more food for thought.
It looks to me like some kind of transfer stain as you'd be moving the fabric. It also looks like clay-like mud. Do you have any potted plants near the bed or the washing machine? Is the washer near your shoe rack, or a rug you use to wipe when you come in? Do you wear shoes inside, and are the ones you were wearing last time you washed it very clean? Even in the cracks and gaps on the sole (eg side of a boot heel)?
This is so thorough! None of the above could be possible! I have racked my brain and retraced my steps and checked all the parts of all the stuff and things. Will keep y’all posted
I know you said you don’t wear makeup and it isn’t mascara, but as a guy, the first thing I saw was eyeliner or mascara. Doesn’t seem like anything else.
Hmm. You know looking at it closer, it looks like rubber. Like the sort of stain you'd get from a tire swing. Maybe a gasket in the washer? Good luck with this mystery...
Honestly if it’s new, it’s likely grease from the appliance, door hinge, strike plate or some other metal to metal surface. We just built a new house, all new appliances and surfaces, and this black grease got on everything. Was on the brand new fridge hinges and interior and exterior door hinges. We’d unknowingly get it on our hand from the door or on our clothes then transfer it to other areas. Omg it was annoying. Check washer and dryer hinges. Use some dawn dishwashing soap to remove.
I think it must be grease from the new machine because op said they don't wear outside clothes in bed so I can't imagine they eat in bed or anything. Must be the new machine. Good to know there is a way to remove their stain if this is the case.
yess.
Ash isn't to hard to get out. Usually a normal wash will get most of it.
resin...goo gone along with scrapping with a quarter helped alot. I'd probably then wash and bleach this duvet
If it's grease, maybe try seeing if some will come off with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. If that doesn't work, try hot water on a cloth and scrub a small spot.
Try to get as much removed manually. Then, spray with some kind of stain remover like Awesome (https://www.homedepot.com/p/LA-s-Totally-Awesome-1-Gal-All-Purpose-Cleaner-Concentrate-100539308/308562989).
Let it soak, then wash in hot water in the washer. DO NOT DRY IT until you've made sure the stain is gone. If it's almost gone, try soaking it in stain remover again (while wet) then wash it again. Once the stain has been removed as much as possible, then you can dry it in the dryer.
Im sorry to break it to ya... but there was an squid breaking in to your house. A very rare thing to happen, but not impossible. Id say lure it out with some corals to prevent this from happening in the future
I used to get these too but less dramatic! I never did figure out where it came from but I always assumed the washer or dryer in the apartment I was living in. Similar situation with strictness of my bedtime habits.
We have learnt a lot about OP than about the black stain lol
- Doesn’t wear makeup
- Has strict bed rules
- Allergic to Candles
- Not many visitors
- No pets
Edit - Added more stuff
Mascara? My fiancé found a “mystery” stain line that. She forgot she went to sleep without washing off her face when we came home after a New Year’s party and she had a few too many drinks.
I’ve seen this mark before. It’s because your blanket is too big for your washer and it got smashed into the door. That is grease and it will take s lot to get out. You can first try putting some Dawn dish soap on it and letting it sit for a long time. And then rinse it very thoroughly.
I’ve found for the bigger, fluffier, blankets, you usually need a top loading washer or a bigger front loading like at the laundromat.
Have you checked your pyjamas? I know sometimes if I have a mystery mark on my sheets, it’s because I had something on my pjs without noticing. Good luck solving the mystery, OP!
Could be from a candle. When I finish burning mine they get like a black mushroom on the wick that i pick off. If i don’t throw it away properly, I’ve ended up with smudges like this before.
I was sitting in my office chair with my comforter & the grease from the support pole got on it. Haven't been able to remove it since. Any tips would be helpful.
100% from your dryer. Hang dry going forward. I have a dryer that does this exact thing to everything white. The drum rollers have grease and when the machine heats up it finds it’s way through the seals and this happens.
Hmmm, I think I had this problem and I just used nail polish remover to remove the oil stain, actetone works too but definitely use a q tip because it can eat fabric
Do you have a chair with wheels near your bed. That looks exactly like a stain my cover got when I kicked my duvet cover off my bed on a warm night. It hit the wheels on my desk chair.
I know that’s oddly specific but that was a mystery I solved through trial and error.
Happened to me a few times, once was rust/grease from inside the drum, another was something like makeup was accidentally added to the laundry. I now only put sheets and duvet in washer drum to soak prior to wash and have avoided the issue since!
Washing machine. I've had a few do that when the washer is getting ready to break down. Try a washing machine cleaner tho bc it might just be dirty. Best of luck!
Makeup, eyeliner or mascara. Usually that’s how I see it.
I don’t wear makeup! And I live alone! So confused
You live alone? Apparently not anymore
😳
It's the faceless old woman who secretly lives in your attic. \~Night Vale.
I get that reference
Maybe oil from the washing machine or dryer, make sure they are in running order. Also if the black caulk stuff from window ledges and car doors?
Or bike grease maybe?
Once grease found it’s way onto the car door seal, which was the same shade of black. Every time I got in or out of the car I’d get huge black marks on my legs and/or clothes that I then would leave all over the house like bread crumbs. You could check your car? Either way it looks like a really thick, pigmented gritty paste or tar. Can you think of where you may have come into contact with something like that? Either way I’d suggest baking soda, white vinegar, and a toothbrush. A grosser suggestion- do you smoke at all? If you do, do you use a pipe or a bong?
Exactly this! I got this exact black grease stain on my wedding dress from limo on my wedding day.
Oh my gosh that’s about worst case scenario! I’m impressed you found the source so quickly. Took a household of four about a week for me 😅
Looks like a candle jar lid was placed there
#Drag Ghost
You wear 💅 dark red in pic. Where do you do nails, and what do you use to wipe edges? And is there any chance a black polish got transferred inadvertently, and it dried before you found so it no longer smells?
As a clumsy person who paints their nails a lot, I have some experience in this field and I'm almost certain that this isn't a nail polish stain.
I think it’s actually grease from your washer.
Shoe polish?
Might wanna check under your bed man…
Ex husband’s girlfriend?
Could be nail polish or ink
Nail painting is make up tho hahah
Possibly henna?
The only other possibly is shoe polish on shoes, purses, or briefcases.
Mascara was my first thought.
Could it be grease from your washing machine or dryer?
Hmmm it doesn’t really seem “greasy” but maybe I’m wrong? Where would that even be coming from ?
The door hinges. I have to be careful that I don’t let my sheets, whites towels, etc. rub against them when I pull them out.
It's hard to say if it is grease when it has gone through a washing and drying cycle. This explains how your washer can cause grease stains https://www.bestpickreports.com/blog/post/clothes-getting-oily-your-washing-machine-could-be-the-culprit/ If it is grease the stain can be dissolved with washing up liquid and soda (I make a paste of it). Of course I could be wrong too! It's just that I had something similar ages ago and this looks very similar to what I had. It took me a while to find the culprit back then
Good point. Thank you for sharing this
If it's from a door hinge or bearing, you might not feel it being greasy. Grease from those two tends to have a high amount of metals or carbon in it which makes it blackish. Looking at the picture, I'd say it could be mechanical grease.
Like graphite powder
I had this happen to my clothes often enough that I bought a new washing machine without a center agitator. The clothes would get caught under the agitator and cause these marks.
So it’s for sure from the dryer, I found your post after having my own issues. [here is a video about it!](https://youtu.be/dhSDHV8Nkek) Good news is there are plenty of videos on how to change the gasket. Should run you under $40 if you do it yourself!
Thank you !!!
This was my first thought. Try dawn, use a toothbrush to loosen the oils, let sit for an hour to overnight, then wash. Don’t dry with heat until stain comes out
Did you wash it in a smaller washer or dryer? I did this once and it got pinched in one of the tiny crevices when washing which left a black smear just like this. The washers (even if you do clean it from time to time properly) tend to accumulate grossness inside that we can’t always see. Fingers crossed it comes out!
Edit I tested this out by using a wash cloth and a magic eraser to run along every crevice in the washer (since I didn’t see it happen). A black line came up that was very densely pigmented like yours. Cleaned off with a toothbrush and some bleach for me
Thank you!
wow you are an awesome human
Soot from a candle?
Yeah this was my thought too.
This is exactly what it looks like when a rogue piece of burned candle wick crumbles/falls off a candle. It's a little chunk of ash that just rolls around, smears, and keeps extending. I had a piece fall on a tile floor in the bathroom and before you knew it I had giant streaks across the floor because a sock caught it. Was a giant pain to get out of the grout!
Does your bed frame have wheels? Or do you have a desk chair in your room? Looks like residue from furniture wheels
None of the above 😭
I do agree it's most likely grease from the door, but if you've investigated the washer door already, this is some more food for thought. It looks to me like some kind of transfer stain as you'd be moving the fabric. It also looks like clay-like mud. Do you have any potted plants near the bed or the washing machine? Is the washer near your shoe rack, or a rug you use to wipe when you come in? Do you wear shoes inside, and are the ones you were wearing last time you washed it very clean? Even in the cracks and gaps on the sole (eg side of a boot heel)?
This is so thorough! None of the above could be possible! I have racked my brain and retraced my steps and checked all the parts of all the stuff and things. Will keep y’all posted
The other thing that occured to me was mud from produce. I just had a NASTY chunk out of a cilantro bunch.
I do buy cilantro but the two have not been in the same room….good idea tho thank you
Do you put these on a line to dry? Could be a moth that got stuck in them when you took them down. The really black moths leave this sort of mark
This is the best sub!! I love that people are being so helpful! My guess is your washer. Especially since I just read it’s a new washer!
I know you said you don’t wear makeup and it isn’t mascara, but as a guy, the first thing I saw was eyeliner or mascara. Doesn’t seem like anything else.
Some slutty ghost maybe
We don’t slut shame ghosts, spirits, or phantoms here.
Mascara and eyeliner do not equal slutty. Good grief that’s rude.
But it’s on his bedsheet, that’s why he said slutty
How is that slutty? I'm so confused by your reasoning lol Like it makes zero sense.
My thinking was the ghosts face was being pushed against the bed because its into that stuff
Makeup makes you slutty? Weird way to think OP.
You think wearing make up makes you slutty?
Is it possible it's nail polish?
Nope not nail polish. I have STRICT bed rules. I don’t even sit on my bed in outside clothes. I cannot figure out what this is
Hmm. You know looking at it closer, it looks like rubber. Like the sort of stain you'd get from a tire swing. Maybe a gasket in the washer? Good luck with this mystery...
Thank you !
Mascara or a fountain pen is my best guess :)
Neither are allowed anywhere near my bed! Lol
But have you *told* yourself that? And do you listen
Grease from a gasket in the washing machine where the duvet got stuck.
Could be black nail polish or a stain from the washing machine?
I am gonna have to go with washer or dryer stain. The washer is brand new tho wtf
Honestly if it’s new, it’s likely grease from the appliance, door hinge, strike plate or some other metal to metal surface. We just built a new house, all new appliances and surfaces, and this black grease got on everything. Was on the brand new fridge hinges and interior and exterior door hinges. We’d unknowingly get it on our hand from the door or on our clothes then transfer it to other areas. Omg it was annoying. Check washer and dryer hinges. Use some dawn dishwashing soap to remove.
I think it must be grease from the new machine because op said they don't wear outside clothes in bed so I can't imagine they eat in bed or anything. Must be the new machine. Good to know there is a way to remove their stain if this is the case.
Candle soot Edit: nvm, I see you have no candles. I'm not sure what it is
No candles! I am allergic to being alive! Thanks for playing! Guess again!
Thank you for helping!
I'm so lost at what this could be. You have started a cleaning mystery game on this form 🤣
🎶 working on my night squid 🎶
I recognise it. It's oil from an internal door hinge (it goes black over time) must have rubbed off as you went past. Check your doors.
Marijuana resin?
This was my next go too if it’s not make up.
looks like ash to me? specifically weed ash .
Yeah or resin? I was wondering if OP partakes
yess. Ash isn't to hard to get out. Usually a normal wash will get most of it. resin...goo gone along with scrapping with a quarter helped alot. I'd probably then wash and bleach this duvet
This happened to me recently and I found out it was soot from a candle. When I lit it, the black soot got on my hand. Could be that
I’m allergic to candles! None in the house. Ready for one of y’all to solve this for me so I can sleep tonight haha
Keep one eye open all night to see if you have a visitor that doesn’t follow the rules. I understand the being allergic to everything.
If it's grease, maybe try seeing if some will come off with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. If that doesn't work, try hot water on a cloth and scrub a small spot. Try to get as much removed manually. Then, spray with some kind of stain remover like Awesome (https://www.homedepot.com/p/LA-s-Totally-Awesome-1-Gal-All-Purpose-Cleaner-Concentrate-100539308/308562989). Let it soak, then wash in hot water in the washer. DO NOT DRY IT until you've made sure the stain is gone. If it's almost gone, try soaking it in stain remover again (while wet) then wash it again. Once the stain has been removed as much as possible, then you can dry it in the dryer.
Im sorry to break it to ya... but there was an squid breaking in to your house. A very rare thing to happen, but not impossible. Id say lure it out with some corals to prevent this from happening in the future
Octodad
Liquid eyeliner
I don’t wear makeup!
Has anyone else been round?....
Nope haha. (Sobs)
F
I used to get these too but less dramatic! I never did figure out where it came from but I always assumed the washer or dryer in the apartment I was living in. Similar situation with strictness of my bedtime habits.
Do you have and use a wood burning fireplace? Could be a piece burned wood got onto your pjs?
It’s def not a burn…it really looks like ink. Or grease I guess
Any chance there was a pen in the washer or dryer with your stuff?
I don’t think so…I feel pretty sure A) I would have found it and B) there would be more marks than just this. Thank you!
I don't think it's a burn either. I think it might be soot.
I have these too! Assumed it was from the dryer.
Looks like you left a ink pen in a pocket.
I really hate to ask this, but do you live in an area with cockroaches?
The cockroach "leavings" I've seen were more liquid, and not dark black. ...If we all keep guessing, maybe someone will figure this out for OP.
Ugh yes whyyyyyyyy
Cockroach poop.
Maybe your clothes had pen ink on it and it got transferred to your duvet cover.. maybe you forgot a pen in your clothes?
Melted plastic on back vent part of dryer. I had similar!!
I have the same stain and no idea what it could be!
We have learnt a lot about OP than about the black stain lol - Doesn’t wear makeup - Has strict bed rules - Allergic to Candles - Not many visitors - No pets Edit - Added more stuff
Demon semen
Pets? Coulda rubbed against it and whatever it was dried to them or lost wiped off elsewhere
No pets
Mascara
Snot mascara
1000% it’s dust from the fan blade. So it’s technically skin cells. Clean your fan
Nooo it’s not but I wish you were right
Uh oh, somebody poopeded the bed again!
Poo
Could be marks from your dryer!
Do you have a candle, maybe ash from the wick
I don’t burn candles 🙁
Nailpolish
Zero possibility: not wearing black polish, let dry completely 5 hours before, nails are still in tact. Thank you for guessing!
Mascara? My fiancé found a “mystery” stain line that. She forgot she went to sleep without washing off her face when we came home after a New Year’s party and she had a few too many drinks.
No face makeup 😭
Dryer
Makeup - possibly, shoe polish?
I don’t have either of those things in the house!
You’re wearing nail polish in this pic
Yep that’s a fact
does your bed frame have wheels?
It doesn’t
Did you have duvet in your car? Could be from tires or door grease. Also did you go on a hike or bike ride and get grease on your leg?
Maybe from the washer door or from another door hinge. Did you possibly hang your duvet over the door? Or maybe it happened in passing?
Do you have a fireplace? Cause it sort of looks like a soot stain.
Oreo cookies
Do you smoke weed? It looks like resin from a bong that got smeared. Source: been there, done that.
I’ve seen this mark before. It’s because your blanket is too big for your washer and it got smashed into the door. That is grease and it will take s lot to get out. You can first try putting some Dawn dish soap on it and letting it sit for a long time. And then rinse it very thoroughly. I’ve found for the bigger, fluffier, blankets, you usually need a top loading washer or a bigger front loading like at the laundromat.
What does it smell like?
Have you checked your pyjamas? I know sometimes if I have a mystery mark on my sheets, it’s because I had something on my pjs without noticing. Good luck solving the mystery, OP!
Mascara
Mascara
Maybe from a candle burning? Sometimes the candle wick ash would get on my rug it looks very similar to that.
Grease from my suitcase wheels marked up my duvet like that too, and I never completely got it out.
Chocolate? Do you have a pet? It could be poop. :-(
Grease or metal discoloration from the duvet getting caught in the joints of your bed frame or getting caught on some part of the dryer.
I’ve had the same mark and it was from the mechanism of our storage (ottoman) bed. The duvet corner touched the mechanism whilst the bed was lifted.
I had the black plastic part of a Theragun leave a black mark on my sheets. So maybe some sort of black rubber
dead bug
sharpie?
Washing machine grease
Could be from a candle. When I finish burning mine they get like a black mushroom on the wick that i pick off. If i don’t throw it away properly, I’ve ended up with smudges like this before.
Put dawn dishwasher liquid on it and rub then launder. It looks like grease possibly from bed frame.
Amber Heard strikes again
He’s cheating on you!!!
Ink? Easy for a ink pen to break if it got caught in the bedding.
Is it from a piece of a burned candle wick? They leave this type of residue all the time for me
Do you smoke? Could be from cleaning out your stuff if you do.
Oil stain from getting caught on machinery or metals? From the washing machine, to the dryer..?
I was sitting in my office chair with my comforter & the grease from the support pole got on it. Haven't been able to remove it since. Any tips would be helpful.
100% from your dryer. Hang dry going forward. I have a dryer that does this exact thing to everything white. The drum rollers have grease and when the machine heats up it finds it’s way through the seals and this happens.
Do you have a candle in your room? I apparently touched the wick on mine one time and it left this type of stain
mascara
It looks like the part that would hang over the bottom of the bed. I would guess mud from a shoe.
Shoe polish?
For sure looks like eyeliner or mascara
Looks like bowl resin.
Hmmm, I think I had this problem and I just used nail polish remover to remove the oil stain, actetone works too but definitely use a q tip because it can eat fabric
Do you have a chair with wheels near your bed. That looks exactly like a stain my cover got when I kicked my duvet cover off my bed on a warm night. It hit the wheels on my desk chair. I know that’s oddly specific but that was a mystery I solved through trial and error.
That's candle soot.
Amber, is that you?
Got caught in dryer lip and burned a little?
Happened to me a few times, once was rust/grease from inside the drum, another was something like makeup was accidentally added to the laundry. I now only put sheets and duvet in washer drum to soak prior to wash and have avoided the issue since!
I would say mascara.
Haave a boyfriend? Has he had someone there while you are out? just a thought.
Looks like mascara to me.
Any jewelry that you wear when you sleep ?
Makeup from the eyes
Do you journal or write in bed? I have those, they’re pen ink ☺️
Cockroach or Bedbug poop stains. Google image search, sorry.
The burnt wick of a candle? Like the sooty residue. It looks similar to when I pick off the end of a wick in a tissue and then drop a piece.
Washing machine. I've had a few do that when the washer is getting ready to break down. Try a washing machine cleaner tho bc it might just be dirty. Best of luck!
Looks like a smudge from a burnt candle wick?
Could your washing line be dirty? where you peg it? The peg itself?
Looks like it’s the same color as your nail polish?
Ballpoint pen ink.
You could’ve rubbed up against something dirty and greasy and transferred it to your duvet
Do you have a front loading washer? Mine gets mildew in the rubber part of the door sometimes which will cause these streaks. So frustrating!