Woman shares gross washing machine warning after discovering ‘growth’ inside hers
Amelia Jones
Featured Image Credit: Cris Cantón/Getty Stock Images Ana Rocio Garcia Franco/Getty Stock Images
A woman has issued a PSA for people to check inside their washing machines regularly after finding something disturbing lurking inside her own laundry room.
A member of the Facebook group, Mums Who Clean, which is buzzing with cleaning hacks from its 370,000 members, has admitted to being taken aback to find mould growing in her almost-new washing machine.
She claims to have even been taking steps to prevent mould, too.
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Of course there's zero shame surrounding this issue, with stats showing that at least 17 percent of front-loading machines have mould inside.
The Aussie mum shared a photo of the inner seal of her machine covered in dark mould.
Her caption read: "Damn it. I have only just realised that my not so old washing machine has mould.
"I thought I was being careful by leaving the door open after every wash and cleaning with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda but must have been while we were away over Christmas."
While the clean-home-lover's group is filled with tips and tricks on how to resolve this and similar problems, she admitted she 'cannot remember' any and appealed to the group for help.
She pleaded: "Could I please have suggestions on how and if is possible to remove?"
She needn't have worried though, as other group members rushed to help, filling the comment section with useful hints and tips on how to tackle mould in a washing machine.
One said: "I spray mine with clove oil solution to kill the mould, then the next day soak sheets of paper towel in Mould Away from Aldi, line the rubber all around the seal and leave it overnight."
Another agreed that the Aldi bargain was as effective as more expensive solutions: "Get the Mould Away from Aldi and spray overnight!"
The commenter added what to do when you wake up in the morning: "Then wipe it and run the machine with the drum cycle and then one normal cycle and one empty cycle and that's it."
But, she was warned in no uncertain terms not to remove the seal as many, like this woman struggled to reattach it after taking it out to give it a thorough clean.
"Whatever you do don't take the rubber off, you'll never get it back on," she warned. "Even the repairer couldn't do it."
So, why does mould like hanging out in a space that's designed for cleaning?
According to Safeguard Europe, 'washing machines are black mould breeding grounds,' with 'the awkward shape and placement of your washing machine seal means it can be difficult to clean'.
Turns out mould likes that: "Mould hides in hidden corners and feeds on moisture. In near-constant contact with dirty clothes, your washing machine is a hotbed for bacteria. Fungal growths like black mould thrive in moist areas."
They warn that 'black mould can eat away at the rubber seal and deteriorate. Over time, this may cause your washing machine to leak'.
They recommend cleaning an empty and dry machine with protective gloves on, spraying a small amount of bleach-based mould cleaner onto a microfibre cloth and wiping the entire circumference of the seal - including the folds.
Rinse with warm water and leave the door open for an hour to dry before rinsing and repeating the drying process once more.
Then do the same thing with a biocidal cleaner once every six months.