Washing machines are dark, damp, and warm, making them the perfect environment for mold to grow. While regular cleaning can help maintain the overall cleanliness of your washer's interior, mold can start to grow in key areas, like the washer seals.
But instead of using bleach, some people have shared their favourite products for cleaning mould, which you might already have in your kitchen cupboards.
Hoping to help others, the user shared the tip on Reddit, explaining that the item they use most often is white vinegar.
White vinegar can be bought for under £1, and Tesco is currently selling the kitchen cupboard staple for just 35p. “Buy a big bottle of white vinegar,” a user wrote on Reddit forum r/CleaningTips.
“Some places have it in the cleaning section as 'cleaning vinegar.' Pick the cheapest one. Then grab a spray bottle and a rag. Putting the vinegar in a spray bottle makes it easy to use.”
“Spray white vinegar on all visible surfaces that aren't connected to anything that could explode if wet and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then go through and wipe down the entire area.”
She adds that if your soap intake is removable, you can remove it and soak it in vinegar. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away any soap scum buildup.
“Vinegar kills mold, while bleach just bleaches it,” they added.
“The vinegar smell dissipates quickly so don't worry if you smell like a fish and chip shop for a while.
“Once everything's clean, dump any vinegar left in the washing machine barrel and run it on the hottest wash cycle for as long as possible. This should kill anything in the barrel and pipes.”
White vinegar is more environmentally friendly than using bleach, but vinegar works wonders at removing odors as well as bacteria.
However, if you are considering using bleach, never mix it with white vinegar, as mixing the two products can be extremely dangerous, so make sure you only use one or the other.
