Mold can hide in your washing machine. How to remove coarse grime

Washing clothes is a pretty crazy task. Add clothes, detergent and press “Start” on your washing machine. Then after a while, voila – clean clothes. But your washing machine can harbor mold. Worse, your dirty clothes can contain more bacteria. Using the cold water setting can make your washer more susceptible to mold and bacteria growth.

If you leave the lid of your machine closed or if you don’t dry it, it may contain more germs than you think. The best way to spot mold is if your clothes or laundry smells like rotten eggs or sulfur. It’s a sign that something is growing. Maybe it’s time to thoroughly clean your washing machine and get rid of any mildew.

The good news is, you don’t have to live with that scent. There is a way to get rid of it and prevent it from happening again. Washing your clothes over and over again might not solve the odor problem, but there are a few simple solutions that will make your clothes and washing machine smell clean again. I’ll walk you through some steps to keep your washing machine from being a hotbed for bacteria and how to kill any mold that may already be there.

Leave the washer lid open

Mold thrives in dark, damp areas, which is what your washer does after unloading clothes. Leaving the door open helps ventilate the washer and prevent mold growth.

Take off your wet clothes immediately

When you plan to throw in a load of laundry, be sure to be home to remove the clothes when the timer goes off. This means that do not start the washer before going to work or to bed. Not only does this prevent mold from growing in your washer, it also keeps your clean clothes from molding.

Dry your washing machine

Once you are done using your washing machine for the day, be sure to wipe down any part of the washer that is wet. This includes the cover, drum, door, rubber gaskets and detergent dispenser (if your machine has this feature). Keep an old towel handy just for this purpose.

Clean washer seals frequently

While mold contamination can to occur in any washer, this is especially common in high efficiency front load washers (aka HE). That is why you should wash the gaskets and gaskets around the door regularly. The gaskets ensure that water does not escape around the door and also do a good job of sealing in moisture which can promote mold growth. Be sure to dry the seams with the rest of your washer to prevent moisture from remaining.

Use only HE detergent powder (but not too much)

Liquid detergents can leave a residue in your washing machine, giving molds a food source. So the first thing in mold control is to make sure you are using laundry detergent specifically designed for your HE washer which will produce less suds. (Look for the letters HE on the soap container.) The next step is to skip the liquid and switch to powder detergent or pods. And whatever you choose, make sure you only use the amount you need to wash your clothes. If you use too much, your clothes may have an odor and residue that may not really clean your clothes.

How to kill mold already in your washing machine

If you have mold, here’s how to get rid of it:

1. Put on gloves first and grab an old towel you don’t care about.

2. Mix a solution of bleach and hot water or vinegar and hot water. Never mix bleach and vinegar, as this creates chlorine gas which can be harmful to you.

3. Dip the towel into the mixture and start cleaning up any visible mold. Make sure you hit the detergent dispenser and around the seals.

4. If there is a gasket around the door (front load washers have one), clean and dry it thoroughly and thoroughly, including any creases.

5. Run a wash cycle on the hottest setting offered by your machine with a cup of bleach or vinegar. If you are using bleach, pour it into the bleach compartment. If you are using vinegar, pour it into the detergent slot. If your machine has a cleaning cycle, you can use this setting. This should kill any hidden mold you may have missed.

6. Then use another old towel and wipe off all the moisture from your washing machine. This includes the drum, distributors, seals, and any other areas you can reach.

7. Finally, leave your washer door open to allow air circulation to dry out any parts you missed. Doing this every month will help prevent mold growth.

Once you’ve cleaned your washer, it’s time to move on to the rest of your home. Start with the bathroom: here is how to clean your shower head, a simple one-hour science hack for degunking – and how to unclog a toilet without a piston.