How to Clean Mold Out of a Washing Machine

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Why is there mold in my washing machine? Mold and mildew growth is a common issue in washing machines. The warm, damp environment is ideal for mold spores to land, germinate, and spread. Left unchecked, mold can leave unsightly black spots and slimy residue behind the drum and other hidden parts of your washer.

More concerning is the musty odor that transfers to clothes and the potential health issues associated with mold exposure. Killing and removing a mold infestation in your laundry appliance restores function and freshness.

By understanding what causes it, how to clean it, and preventative care, you can keep mold out for good.

Why Is There Mold in My Washing Machine?

Mold spores exist everywhere around us, floating invisibly in the air. These tiny seed-like cells land on moist surfaces and multiply under the right conditions. Fungi and mold growth require warmth, food source, and moisture.

The environment inside your washing machine meets every factor. If you wonder why there is mold in your washing machine, you should also be mindful about these factors.

• Warmth

  The water temperature, especially on hot or sanitizing cycles, combined with heat generated from normal operation keeps the interior at ideal mold incubating temperatures.

• Food Source

  Mold feeds on organic matter. Laundry residue, lint, soap scum, fabric softener, and dirt particles supply plenty of nutrients. Bleach and other cleaning agents are the exceptions – they don’t feed fungi.

• Moisture

  Residual water sticks around inside gaskets, hoses, pipes, and the drum. Without drying properly, moist pockets develop, and vapor condenses. Wet clothing sits before or after washing. Water supports rapid mold reproduction.

Using too much detergent, overloading the basin, leaving wet clothes inside after a cycle, and skipping periodic cleaning all enable mold to thrive. Once established, spores multiply rapidly on food residues forming colonies that are tough to combat. Black mold especially poses potential respiratory risks to your family.

How To Get Rid of Mold in Washing Machine

Getting rid of an existing mold issue requires killing the organisms and removing the stained residues it leaves behind. Biological growth penetrates crevices reaching down hoses and gaskets deep into machine parts. Techniques for removing mold in washing machines range from thorough surface cleaning to complete mold treatment for maximum removal. Repeating washing machine mold removal ensures a deep clean for fresh laundry.

Borax and vinegar

This dynamic duo dissolves soap scum and attacks existing mold growth with natural ingredients likely already under your sink. Mix 1 cup borax laundry booster and 2 cups white vinegar in your machine's detergent dispenser. It is a proven solution to remove mold in the washing machine.

Run a HOT water cycle with no clothes or detergent. The acidity of vinegar dissolves mold and mildew buildup while borax scrubs the tub and kills mold spores. Rinsing washes away dead spores and stains down the drain. Allow the basin to dry fully with the door open until the next use to prevent immediate regrowth.

Chlorine bleach

For disinfecting and whitening a machine with severe mold issues, bleach is a strong solution. Fill the detergent dispenser with 1 quart plain bleach without additives or scents. Set your machine to the hottest water setting and run it empty for 30 minutes. It sanitizes and deodorizes the entire system, killing all mold and fungus.

However, it does not remove staining and buildup without additional scrubbing. Because of its harsh chemistry on components, limit bleach soaks to once every few months and thoroughly rinse the empty drum afterwards. Before washing clothes again, run an extra cold rinse cycle. Never mix vinegar and bleach – this combination creates toxic chlorine gas.

Vinegar and baking soda

This chemistry experiment cleans even hidden machine parts overnight using items found in your kitchen pantry. Spread 1 cup baking soda evenly across the bottom of the empty tub before adding 1 gallon white distilled vinegar to the detergent dispenser. Close the lid and allow the fizzy reaction to sit penetrating overnight.

The bubbles carbonate stains away while anti-fungal vinegar kills mold and mildew growth including down hoses and gaskets. After 12-24 hours, run a HOT rinse cycle to flush wash away residues. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling bleach products. Avoid direct skin and eye contact. You should rinse immediately if exposure occurs.

Physical removal

For spot treating localized mold in the washing machine, physical scrubbing boosts other liquid cleaners. Rub trouble spots inside the machine drum or along gaskets with an old toothbrush. Use a soft sponge dipped in equal parts water and distilled white vinegar. The acidic vinegar dissolves sticky soap deposits and loosens mold for scrubbing.

Dip the toothbrush in vinegar for extra cleaning muscle. An old terry cloth rag also targets textured surfaces like metal drum holes harboring growth. Reach crevices around the rubber gasket, detergent dispenser, and door frame that collect moisture. After scrubbing affected areas permit the basin and gaskets to fully air dry with the door ajar before using again.

How To Prevent Mold in a Washing Machine

While removing an existing infestation solves immediate issues, prevention keeps mold and mildew from quickly returning. Adjusting certain habits and regular monthly maintenance provides a line of defense against recurring outbreaks.

Leave the door and tray open

Ventilation is one key to hamper moisture where molds thrive. After each load, wipe excess water out of the rubber gasket using a dry rag before propping the door slightly ajar. This allows air circulation to dry out hidden crevices. Also remember to slide out the detergent dispenser tray immediately after washing to expose the wet underside and prevent pooling.

Dry the door seal gasket

Mold loves this damp rubber seal rimming the opening. After every cycle, thoroughly wipe down the gasket folds using an old towel to soak up standing water. Pay special attention to undersides. Next leave the door partly open until the seals fully dry out to discourage new mildew from taking hold. As part of routine cleaning, scrub the gasket with white vinegar weekly to inhibit regrowth.

Wipe down the door

Without rinsing properly, detergent and fabric softener liquids cling to the recessed plastic door interior providing food for mold. Make this spot part of your quick wiped own checklist along with the gasket and dispenser drawer right after washing. Use a microfiber cloth that absorbs moisture without streaking.

Run the self-clean cycle

Some newer model washing machines come equipped with specialized self-clean cycles specifically to blast away developing issues inside the drum and pipes. Using extra hot temperatures or bleach, they prevent grime that breeds mold if run monthly. Check your owner’s manual on how to use the setting properly for your appliance.

Use less stuff

Excess suds from too much laundry detergent or soap leaves a sticky film on machine parts. These residues cling and absorb ambient humidity. Measure carefully matching detergent amount to load size and soil level using your machine’s recommended capacity levels. Use high efficiency formulas if specified by the manufacturer.

Avoid filling lines above max since soaking wet clothes leads to overflow. Also allow extra rinse cycles to flush out all traces. Limit fabric softener and supplemental detergent tablets which leave behind residues. Promptly removing wet laundry minimizes trapped moisture.

How Often to Clean Mold Out of a Washing Machine?

Consistency both in washing machine mold removal and prevention makes the difference for a mold-free system. Designate one intensive deep clean at least every month matched to your laundry loads. Alternate the vinegar soak with bleach or baking soda scrub to maximize cleaning power.

In addition, quick wipe downs after each use avoids potential issues between major cleanings. Every 1-2 weeks, examine the gaskets, drum corners, door, and dispenser closely for early signs of spots. Remove small colonies immediately with vinegar and a brush before they multiply. Setting phone calendar reminders helps remember this important upkeep.

Why should you contact RightFix?

DIY mold removal has its place for minor growth just starting out. However, uncontrolled infestations embedded deep into washing machine gaskets, pumps, and internal pipes exceed what simple household cleaners tackle. If you discover extensive black mold or smelly residue, don’t hesitate to call for professional appliance repair. Mold spreads easily without containment and poses health risks if scrubbed careless which broadcasts spores.

RightFix specialists equipped with commercial grade remediation products and specialized tools correctly eliminate mold and block reinfestation. Our eco-friendly cleaning process is safe for families, pets, and homes targeting root causes for long term prevention. With training to dismantle machines, our technicians scour away old films to restore like-new performance.

Enjoy fresh, bacteria-free clothing with our expert mold cleaning and treatment services. Ask how we sanitize laundry areas for a complete mold-free solution. Contact RightFix Repair today for fast, professional large scale mold removal from washing machines and surrounding environments!