If you clean your kitchen sink regularly, you’ll understand the importance of keeping equipment clean that cleans things you use, including your washer!
Just think: warm water, dirt, and grime from clothes combined with detergent residue act as reservoirs for bacteria, an environment that mold loves. So, your washer could be the perfect breeding ground for mold.
This article explains how to regularly clean your washer weekly or monthly, keeping it germ-free and your laundry smelling fresh.
How Do I Get Rid of Mold in My Washing Machine?
Essential Equipment for Tackling Mold
You’ll need some tools and equipment to clean your washer, but nothing unusual; you should already have most of these in your home.
You will need a plastic bucket or sink, a small brush with soft bristles, and protective gloves.
Choose chlorine bleach as your cleaning agent. Chlorine bleach is more potent than oxygen bleach and can destroy germs in your machine.
Oxygen bleach is a gentler option for washing delicate fabrics and is present in many stain-removing products. Don’t confuse the two!
Other Helpful Tools
A microfiber cloth is vital to cleaning your washer. Microfiber is a synthetic material that’s highly absorbent, making it easy to remove large amounts of microbes and germs that cause mold. It’ll also help you dry your machine.
Getting Rid of Mold in Your Washer: A Simple Guide
Empty the Machine
Start by checking that no clothes have accidentally been caught in the drum and that the washer is entirely empty.
Remove the dispensing drawer where you put fabric softener and liquid detergent. If you’re unsure how to do this, consult your washer's user manual.
Empty the Machine
Remove the drawer inserts and rinse them in hot water. If you find a buildup of sticky or greasy residue from detergent or fabric softener, you’ll need to soak the drawer and the inserts in hot water for 10-15 minutes.
While the drawer is soaking, clean the drawer housing inside your washer using chlorine bleach. Make a solution of ¼ cup chlorine bleach to 2 cups of water and use a soft-bristle brush to clean this area gently. Always wear protective gloves.
Once the mold and residue have gone, dry the area thoroughly with a microfiber cloth.
Return the dispensing drawer and its compartments to the machine, and then run a short wash cycle with no laundry or cleaning products in the drum; this will flush any remaining bleach and small debris particles from the machine.
Clean the Door and Gasket with the Bleach Solution
The door gasket on your washer is the rubber seal that prevents water from escaping the machine when it’s full.
If you gently peel this away, you’ll commonly find detergent residue and dirt that transfer into your washer during the cycle. Left to fester, this will grow mold.
Using the same bleach solution, gently brush this area with a soft-bristle brush. Once the mold has gone, dry the area with a microfiber cloth.
You can also use a microfiber cloth to clean mold away from the door and gasket, but you’ll need an additional clean one to dry these areas.
Find and Empty the Lint Filter
Most washers have a lint filter or trap at the bottom of the machine near the floor. If this becomes overfull or blocked, bacteria will grow, causing mold and unpleasant odors. It will also stop your washer from draining properly.
Remove the filter and remove any mold with a cloth soaked in the chlorine bleach solution. If the filter is very gunky, run it under hot water first.
Rinse well and then air dry before replacing it.
Run a Service Wash
Pick a wash cycle (not an economy wash that uses less water) with a warm or hot temperature setting.
Pour one cup of chlorine bleach directly into the washer drum. Alternatively, add ½ cup of bleach to the detergent section in the dispenser drawer.
Run the washer on your selected program. This is often called a service wash, and it will run the bleach through all the drainage pipes and areas you can’t access.
How Do I Stop Black Mold in My Washing Machine?
- Dry the door gasket on the machine every time it’s been used with a microfiber cloth to mop up excess water, which can pool in the rubber folds.
- Run a service wash with chlorine bleach weekly or monthly.
- Avoid fabric softener, which leaves a residue that coats the washer drum and drainage pipes, contributing to a buildup of odors and black mold. An alternative is distilled white vinegar, which softens garments and removes detergent residues.
- If you’re not using pre-dosed liquid detergents, then check you’re using the right amount. Too much detergent leaves a residue in the water that traps bacteria and dirt, which mold and mildew thrive on.
- When you’ve finished using the machine, leave the door and drawer open so they can dry out.
- Keep your laundry area well-ventilated, especially if you dry your clothes in there. A fan can help improve air circulation, or you can use a dehumidifier.
- Ensure the vent on your tumble dryer is secure and does not leak moist air into the laundry.
- Consider swapping to laundry sheets. Laundry detergent sheets dissolve in water in seconds, keeping your washer free of sticky residues, which are a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
Upgrade Your Laundry Routine
Change up your laundry routine with Freddie laundry detergent sheets. Designed to minimize environmental impact compared to traditional liquid detergents, Freddie prides itself on laundry sheets that offer cleaning free from ingredients like dyes, phosphates, parabens, and 1,4-dioxane.
Formulated with enzymes like protease to help break down common stains without damaging fabrics, and because there are no detergent residues, they may discourage mold from building up in your machine.
Even if you ditch those old detergents, running a service wash weekly or monthly is still the best practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Mold in the Washer Make You Sick?
Washing machines can be a breeding ground for mold in your home because they offer everything mold loves: sticky residues, dirt, and a warm, damp environment. Mold from your washer can contaminate your clothes and the atmosphere, and you may experience nausea, headaches, and worsening pre-existing respiratory conditions.
What Is the Best Mold Remover for Washing Machines?
The best mold remover is chlorine bleach, which is stronger than oxygen bleach. Distilled white vinegar isn’t powerful enough to shift mold, and you shouldn’t add it to oxygen bleach either, as the combination can lead to toxic vapors. Always wear gloves when handling chlorine bleach.
Final Thoughts
Mold in your washing machine is an occupational hazard, but if you have mold, you can easily remove it. A few simple steps can help you look after your machine and prevent mold from building up.
Laundry sheets can be a great alternative. They remove the sticky residues left by traditional liquid detergents, which attract the bacteria that mold thrives on. Plus, you’ll use less product overall, as these handy sheets are all pre-dosed.
Help your machine and the planet with Freddie laundry sheets. Space-saving and convenient, your machine may benefit from reduced residue compared to traditional liquid detergent use. Plus, it cleans in hot and cold water, and helps prevent residue build-up. Make residues and mold a thing of the past!
