How to get rid of mold in the washing machine? What means to choose?

Almost every home now has a washing machine. It is a very common piece of equipment that is often used in daily life. But with such regular use, many owners do not even know about the rules for caring for such household appliances. Meanwhile, the lack of timely maintenance of the washing machine can lead to the formation of fungus in it - black mold. Not only does it have a specific unpleasant smell, but it can also provoke health problems and disrupt the functionality of the equipment. But how do you get rid of mold in a washing machine? Let's try to figure it out in more detail.

What does fungus look like in a washing machine?

The fungus looks like black dots. At first, they are isolated from each other, but over time they gather into islands, which in turn grow, becoming thicker and thicker. They can be seen in different places. Most often, mold is localized on an elastic band, a sealing material that ensures an airtight closure of the door. It can also be found in the compartment where laundry detergent is poured.

The presence of visually noticeable traces of fungus may indicate that there is even more of it in other structures of the washing machine, only it is not so noticeable. Therefore, it is better not to hesitate and get rid of mold in the washing machine.

What are the dangers of fungus?

If fungus appears in the washing machine, its spores will remain on things and be released into the environment. Accordingly, they will easily get into the respiratory tract and on the skin of people.

Constant contact with mold spores is dangerous to health. They can lead to allergic reactions and asthma attacks, aggravate the course of respiratory diseases. The fungus can also cause chronic rheumatic pain and migraines. It is especially dangerous for young children, the elderly, and those with impaired immune systems.

How to get rid of fungus: the effectiveness of folk remedies

In search of how to get rid of fungus in the washing machine, users first of all come across a variety of folk recipes. The network recommends using:

• lemon juice or citric acid;
• baking soda;
• vinegar, etc.

However, specialists who are engaged in the repair and restoration of such household appliances strongly recommend avoiding such experiments. The thing is that improvised products can damage the components of the washing machine, including the cuff, internal seals, tubes, etc. The risk of damage increases significantly if you use highly concentrated products and/or run the machine empty at high temperatures.

Therefore, when choosing how to get rid of mold in a washing machine, it is better to give preference to professional detergents - specialized household chemicals.

What household chemicals will help to cope with mold?

When choosing household chemicals to fight fungus, you need to remember that ordinary detergents cannot cope with such a nuisance. They can only remove visible dirt, but at the same time they will not affect the mold spores in any way, so it will reappear very quickly.

It is necessary to choose detergents with disinfectant properties or combine ordinary household chemicals with specialized disinfectants. It is important that the selected products have antifungal (fungicidal) properties. An excellent choice can be:

• Detergent disinfectant Chistoline Bathroom or Chistoline Universal. It removes visible dirt and destroys fungus. It can be used to treat all visually visible parts of the washing machine and some hard-to-reach areas.
• Chlorine-containing agent Sanilit. Effectively and reliably destroys spores. To remove fungus, it can be used in a variety of ways. The solution of this chlorine agent is suitable for treating accessible areas of the washing machine - elastic band, powder compartment, etc. You can also add a tablet to the powder compartment and run the washing program at high temperatures (90 °C). In this way, Sanilit will clean even the most hard-to-reach areas and provide disinfection of pipes. But after applying it, it is important to carry out an additional rinsing cycle to finally remove chlorine from the structures of household appliances.
• Armat Tannin. It is a disinfectant with detergent properties that effectively removes dirt and fights mold. It is available in the form of a concentrate and can be used to hand wash contaminated areas.

All disinfectants must be used exclusively with gloves. Also, when going to remove mold in the washing machine, it is important to wear a respirator - it will protect the respiratory tract from spores that can rise into the air during treatment (in any case, you cannot do without a respirator if you use chlorine-containing products).

How to avoid mold?

Instead of thinking about how to get rid of mold in the washing machine, it is better to take measures in time to prevent its appearance. Experts recommend:

• after the end of washing, wipe the rubber seal of the door dry;
• dry the powder tray from time to time, removing it completely from the washing machine;
• exclude the presence of wet laundry in the washing machine (for a long time after the end of washing);
• wash clothes at maximum temperature at least once a month (or run the machine idle with chlorine-containing products);
• exclude the use of fabric softeners – they create a favorable environment for the reproduction of bacteria;
• systematically clean the filter of the washing machine - you can do this yourself or entrust such an activity to a master.

These measures extend the service life of the equipment and help prevent the appearance of mold in the washer.