User Notcontent wrote: “In my last washing machine, I developed black mould in the rubber seal around the door frame – in that bit where the water collects. I tried cleaning it a few times, but not very successfully.
“I now have a new washing machine and I am determined to keep this under control. Any tips? I have heard that doing hot washes every so often helps. Anything else? Thank you.”
Running your washing machine at 60 degrees regularly will help to remove bacteria and kill off mould spores, but there is one “critical” task that needs doing too.
User sandrab46 commented: “I’ve been a cleaner for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I recommend to all my clients, it’s to always wipe down the rubber seal and drawer and keep the door open for at least five minutes after each wash. It’s critical if you never want to have to deal with mould in the washer again.”
Other Mumsnet users suggested the same thing. Cynderella wrote: “Definitely leave the door open and wipe it down with a dry cloth.”
User Minipie said: “I leave the door open and do a 60 wash once a week. That seems to have been enough to avoid mould for years.”
There is also another way to prevent washing machine mould. Households should transfer wet clothes to the dryer as soon as the cycle ends to keep moisture from lingering.
For those looking to remove mould buildup, experts at Beko recommend white vinegar for the job. They explained: “White vinegar is an excellent natural cleaner that can help remove odours and clean your washing machine’s drum.”
Simply add a cup of white vinegar to an empty cycle and run your machine on the hottest setting. This will help to kill any bacteria that may have accumulated in the appliance.