Hard to believe, but true: countless bacteria live in the washing machine. These are particularly noticeable in the compartments or in the rubber seals. With timemold forms there. Then acting quickly is important. In today's article we will explain to you how you can remove mold from the washing machine rubber.
Removing mold from the washing machine rubber: It's best to act quickly!
An unpleasant smell, black spots and smelly laundry are sure signs that mold has settled in the drum or seals. A danger to the health of small children, allergy sufferers and people with weak immune systems. Luckily, the mold is fairly easy to remove. But you should act quickly. Even if you only notice mold in one spot, you should still check the whole thingClean washing machine.
How dangerous is mold in washing machine rubber really?
Mold in the washing machine is dangerous. Small children and pets in particular should never breathe in the mold spores. The germs can also already existAsthma or allergy symptomssignificantly strengthen. The molds can also be transmitted through clothing and cause skin irritation.
Remove mold from washing machine rubber with chlorine cleaner
We offer you several ideas on how to remove mold from rubber. The quickest and easiest way to remove this is with a chlorine cleaner. You should always wear rubber gloves when handling the cleaning agent. You also need the following materials:
- 2 cleaning cloths made of microfine fiber
- a large plastic bucket
- a small soft brush
- Disposable latex gloves
Proceed as follows:
1. Remove the detergent compartment and rinse it well to remove any detergent residue.
2. Children and pets should not be in the room. Open a window; good ventilation is an absolute must when using chlorine cleaner.
3. Dilute 300 ml of chlorine with 300 ml of water.
3. Take the first cleaning cloth and dip it into the chlorine mixture. Then place the cloth directly on the seal and leave it there for about 20 minutes.
4. Take out the cloth and start an empty cycle at 90 degrees Celsius.
5. Clean the detergent compartment with the chlorine cleaner solution. Remove particularly stubborn dirt with the brush.
6. Leave the washing machine door open and ventilate the room.
Mold in the washing machine: Clean the rubber seal with citric acid
Alternatively, you can try sealing the rubber with onenatural cleaning productsto remove. One such agent with strong antibacterial effects is citric acid. Proceed as follows:
1. Fill lukewarm water into a clean container. Add 1/2 teaspoon citric acid.
2. Place the detergent compartment in the citric acid solution and leave there for about 20 minutes. Then rinse the detergent compartment thoroughly.
3. Add 500 g of citric acid to the detergent compartment and start an empty wash cycle at 90 degrees Celsius. Most mold spores are killed at temperatures above 60° Celsius. The citric acid will thoroughly clean the caulk.
4. After the end of the wash cycle, leave the washing machine door open.
The citric acid can make the rubber seal brittle and attack metal parts in the drum. Therefore, you should really only use citric acid when necessary.
The washing machine seal is moldy: Can vinegar help?
Vinegar is a tried and tested home remedy and is known for its antibacterial properties. However, it has no place in the washing machine. Because it can severely damage the metal parts and make the rubber parts brittle.
Disinfect the washing machine with dishwasher tablets
If you want to remove the mold in the washing machine, thenDishwasher tablets are available. The best way is to heat 2 liters of water, pour it into a container and add a dishwashing tablet to the water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray the mold spots with it. Allow the home remedy to take effect for an hour. Then start an idle cycle at 90 degrees Celsius. At the end, wipe the rubber seal thoroughly with a damp cloth. Leave the door open.
This is what you can do to prevent mold in the washing machine rubber
They removed the mold. Now you should care for the washing machine and prevent mold from forming again. The following tricks can help:
- Thoroughly clean the detergent compartment once a month.
- Wipe the rubber seals with alcohol to kill germs.
- Wipe away any remaining water in the rubber seal with a clean rag after each wash.
- Air the washing machine after each wash cycle.
- Clean the lint filter every two weeks.
- Never leave laundry in the washing machine after the cycle is finished.
