Washing machines tend to get pretty nasty if households fail to keep an eye on them.
This means someone needs to take responsibility for cleaning a washing machine’s rubber seal as part of the household chores. 11pin-14pin
So, what causes the gunk to take up residence on the door seal? Well, that seal is like a grime magnet.
Soap scum, water deposits, bits of fluff, lint, and other muck are likely to get sucked up by the seal, neatly hidden away. Over time, that can turn to mould.
That’s why it’s so important to clean it. If not, this can result in stinky clothes. But cleaning a washing machine door seal isn’t difficult, as Oliver Byrne, managing director of SMC Premier Group has shared the “most effective” method.
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He claimed: “Mould in a washing machine can smell bad, and even the clean clothes can retain the odour and become stained.
“It’s important to stay on top of cleaning the seal of a washing machine to prevent build-up of mould and bacteria.”
To tackle the task, Oliver had suggested using a product most would typically steer away from - bleach.
He noted that households should “regularly” clean the seal with bleach. Oliver said: “I find bleach spray is most effective to reach within the rim at the top, and then squirt neat bleach into the bottom so it soaks down the drain hole at the bottom too.
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“Make sure you wear gloves, then wipe around and wash thoroughly, especially if the next load will be black material.”
The expert suggested that households can “periodically do a deeper clean” by following the “bleach method” above.
However, rather than washing it away by hand, put a cup of bleach in the detergent drawer along with a scoop of bicarbonate of soda.
Run a hot cycle with an empty machine. Once the cycle has finished take a soft cloth and clean around the seal and door, to remove any lingering debris.
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Bleach is an inexpensive cleaning item that can be picked up from local supermarkets like Asda for 65p or at Sainsbury’s for 70p.
To be “more cost efficient” and eco-friendly many people now run their machines on cold or 30 degrees centigrade, however, every now and again the machine “needs a hot wash” to help clean the machine and pipes to “prevent a buildup of suds and mould”.
Oliver added: “Don’t forget to leave the door ajar and open the detergent draw after every cycle to allow the machine to air. This will help prevent mould from returning.”
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