Flannel Turns Blue

[cecil39]

Something strange has been happening in our bathroom, for the past three months my dear ones face flannel has been turning blue when its been left for a few hours on the side of the bath, mine doesn't, what's going on? has anyone got clue? they get a boil wash every week, he uses savlon on a rash, but I don't think that would cause it, I'm at a loss to think of an explanation.

[Mosaic]

It might be the bathroom angel telling you to get rid of flannels as they are the work of the devil. seriously, they creep me out. No flannels. We are a flannelless zone. So they don't turn blue.

[Maydup]

I've no idea why its blue but maybe its worth treating him to a new one. They're not expensive and you could see whether a new one does the same?

I couldn't function without a flannel, i've no idea how to wash otherwise Mosaic?

[Old_Geezer]

There are hands, which were around before flannels, or you can use those nylon puff thingys.

New one sounds better, I was going to suggest a swap :-) If it never used to occur it does tend to suggest something he's started using recently.

[Chinajan]

What colour was the flannel originally? Was it red?

I may have a solution.

[cecil39]

the flannel is yellow, and we have new ones every couple of months, the last one he had was pale green, and it did the same thing, mine is always pink or white and it never happens to mine, this started this summer when we had a really humid spell of weather, he's used savlon for years, could it be something in his sweat I wonder? when I put the flannel in clean warm water the water turns a lovely bright blue.

[Chinajan]

Someone more versed in chemistry than I am may be able to elucidate, but I believe it's the Savlon, which is alkaline. This would make more sense if a liquid version is being poured into the washing water, as you would with Dettol - I believe Savlon do a similar product.

What made me think of this, you may be amused to learn, was an Agatha Christie story called the Blue Geranium, in which a poisoner [spoiler alert!] was discovered because the alkaloid turned litmus red flowers on the wallpaper blue!

[DaisyNonna]

Hate those nylon puffy things. They scratch!

[cecil39]

thank you all, chinajan that makes me think my dear one must stop using savlon for a while to see if the blue stops, at least we will know, daisynonna, I agree, and you can't boil wash nylon net (can you?)