Did you know that your washing machines can get dirty quickly? It might even be full of unseen molds (moulds) that you are not aware of. But how can you tell? It’s a sign if you smell a wet sock or rotten egg in your laundry room or clothes.
Molds typically form on the rubber gasket or silicon seal of your washers. It often forms from forgetting to clean it frequently or inappropriate usage. To maintain the cleanliness and freshness of your clothes and washing machines and avoid molds, here are easy but reliable suggestions:
Open the Lid if not in Use
Mold usually develops in dark, wet places. After unloading your clothes, the inside of your washing machines can be a perfect place for molds to grow and thrive if left uncleaned. It helps if you leave the door open to let ventilation inside the washer.
Get Rid Of Wet Clothes Right Away
Avoid loading your clothes in your washer if you intend to go outside for a while or sleep and can not attend to it when the timer goes off. This does not only prevent molds from growing but also helps maintain your garments from mildewing.
Ensure to Clean Your Washer Every After Use
Every time you’re finished using your washing machine, ensure to wipe it down from top to bottom until the last part that’s damp. Take note of the drum, lid, rubber gaskets, and detergent dispenser (if your machine has this feature). Clean the gaskets or seal around the door regularly and maintain them dry.
The gasket seals moisture that allows mold to grow and functions to ensure water doesn’t leak out around the door. In addition, you need to get rid of crumpled papers, animal hair, or any kind of dirt in your washing machine instantly.
In Case of Mold Appearance, Follow These Steps to Eliminate Them
- For safe removal of molds, start by putting on gloves and find an old towel you don’t use.
- Make a solution from ingredients found in your house. For example, you can mix bleach and warm water or vinegar and warm water. Never try to blend vinegar and bleach because this can produce a chlorine gas that may pose a hazard.
- Get the towel and dip it in the solution and use it to scrub away any kind of noticeable mold. Concentrate on the gaskets and detergent dispenser. Dry them.
- With the hottest setting of your washer, run a wash cycle with a cup of vinegar or bleach, but not both. For vinegar, put it in the detergent slot and in the compartment designated for bleach if you’re using bleach. You might also use your machine’s self-clean cycle if it has this feature.
- Using another old, dry towel, wipe away all moisture in any part of your washing machine.
- Leave the door open to let air circulation dry parts you may have missed. This should stop mold development, especially if you do this every month. For professional mold removal, you may visit this website to know what kind of services you need.
Clean Your Shower Room and Other Parts of the House
Molds may be coming from the other parts of your property, like your washroom, kitchen, and so on. Like many fungi, they reproduce and move from one location to another by releasing spores spreading through water, air, and pets. Be sure to clean up the other parts of your house, specifically after water or fire damage.
If it takes a wide area in your house, contact professionals right away, like PuroClean of Ottawa East.