WHY IS THERE MOLD IN YOUR WASHING MACHINE
Mold appears only in front loader washing machines. This is because of how the water pools in the door seal or gasket of the unit after every wash. Common door seals for front loader units have multiple folds in the design which makes it much easier for water to seep in and stay there after every wash.
The water left behind in the seal is the perfect breeding place for common molds. Although manufacturers have begun creating new designs that prevent mold growth older units may still encounter this problem frequently.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH HAZARDS TO MOULD
Certain molds have different levels of risk and it may mean that your mold isn’t entirely hazardous to your health. At Camtec though we definitely recommend that if you do come across mold in your unit you should clean it out immediately.
When there is mold in your washing machine it will also transfer onto your clothes, so although it may be visually clean it does not mean your clothes are safe. Viruses that we commonly associate with food such as salmonella can be left behind because of the mold and increase the risk of contracting the illness.
Mold if left alone can cause health issues such as skin irritations and infections, pneumonia and attract bugs such as dust mites or norovirus (the vomiting bug). Now you may be worried about this and it is a possibility but it’s not as common as you would think, many people never contract these illnesses but our technicians at Camtec say it’s better safe than sorry!
HOW TO PREVENT OR GET RID IN MOLD IN YOUR WASHING MACHINE
Mould prevention:
- Leave your door open after washing- this will allow more water to escape and evaporate from your unit
- Dehumidify or condition the laundry- letting the hot air escape from your laundry room through open doors, windows or air conditioners will allow all the hot air and steam that helps breed the mold to escape
- Sanitize the door seals and glass regularly
- Run a hot water wash with no clothes and use bleach or vinegar instead of detergent
- Remove washed clothes immediately after they are cleaned
- Use high-efficiency detergent
- Ask a manufacturer recommended fan kit to your unit (if available) to help your washing machine to dry faster
- Run the clean cycle as many times as the manufacturer and your units manual suggests
How to clean mold:
- Clean the door seal/gasket- Use a rag or towel to clean the rubber and use vinegar or hot soapy water.
- Clean your unit dispensers
- Run cleaning cycles
- Professional help- if your seals are too far gone and you need a replacement or just a good old scrub hiring a professional to supply or clean the gasket can be a lot easier and time-consuming than doing it yourself
