How to get mold out of a washing machine

How to remove mildew and mold from a washing machine

1. 1

   Ventilate and protect yourself

   Open a window or run a fan, and put on rubber gloves and eye protection. Make sure no other cleaners, especially vinegar or ammonia products, are in the machine or the dispensers.

   Why: The EPA advises gloves, goggles and a respirator for mold cleanup. Bleach mixed with acids or ammonia releases toxic gas.

2. 2

   Clear out the gasket folds

   On a front loader, pull back the rubber door gasket all the way around and wipe out lint, hair, coins and standing water. Check the bottom of the fold, where water collects.

   Why: Mold grows on the wet lint and residue trapped there. Removing it takes away the food and moisture.

3. 3

   Scrub the spots with detergent

   Mix a little detergent in warm water and scrub the black or gray spots on the gasket, door glass, lid and dispenser with a toothbrush. Wipe away the loosened grime with a damp cloth.

   Why: Iowa State Extension's mold cleanup order is to scrub with detergent first. Bleach works better on a clean surface than through a layer of soap scum and slime.

4. 4

   Wipe with a bleach solution

   Mix 1/4 cup of liquid chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water. Wipe it onto the cleaned spots, leave it a few minutes, then wipe with a cloth dampened in clean water.

   Why: Bleach kills surface growth and lightens the stain on nonporous parts like plastic, glass and metal.

5. 5

   Clean the dispenser drawer

   Remove the dispenser drawer if your model allows, wash it in warm soapy water with a brush, and wipe out the cavity behind it, where mold often hides.

   Why: Undissolved detergent and softener collect in the drawer and its housing and feed growth you can't see from the front.

6. 6

   Run a hot cleaning cycle

   With the drum empty, run the Clean Washer, Self Clean or Tub Clean cycle as your manual directs. One appliance maker suggests about 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach; top loaders without that cycle can use the hottest, largest cycle with 1 cup of bleach and no clothes.

   Why: Hot water and bleach reach the outer tub and hoses you can't scrub. Plain liquid bleach is specified because thickened or splash-less bleach can cause excess suds.

7. 7

   Dry it and leave it open

   Wipe the gasket and door dry after the cycle and leave the door and dispenser ajar so air can circulate. Do this after the last load of every wash day.

   Why: Mold needs moisture. A machine that dries out between loads doesn't give it a chance to grow back.

Why mold grows in a washing machine

A washer is dark, damp and full of food for fungi: lint, hair, body soil, and detergent and softener residue. Front-loader door gaskets are the worst spot, because their folds hold water and debris after each load. Using too much detergent, or regular detergent in a high-efficiency machine, leaves suds and residue that don't rinse out. Cold washes leave more undissolved detergent behind.

The black spots you see are biological growth living on that residue. That's why bleach alone often isn't enough: if the residue and moisture stay, the mold returns. The smell side of the problem is covered in mildew smell in a washing machine.

What each part can take

The drum, door glass and plastic dispenser are nonporous, so detergent and a bleach solution clean them well. The rubber gasket is the part that holds stains: if dark marks remain after scrubbing and bleaching, they may be staining in the rubber itself or growth behind the gasket that you can't reach. An appliance technician or the manufacturer can check and replace the gasket if needed.

One appliance maker suggests a vinegar-and-water solution for routine gasket wipes. That's fine for maintenance, but never use vinegar and bleach on the same day without rinsing well in between. Routine care is in how to clean a washing machine.

By situation

Black mold on a front-loader gasket

This is the most common case. Pull the fold back, clear the debris, scrub with detergent, then wipe with the bleach solution. Dry the gasket fully, and make wiping it dry after the last load a habit.

Mold in the detergent or softener dispenser

Remove the drawer, soak and scrub it in warm soapy water, and clean the housing it slides into with a brush and the bleach solution. Reinstall it once dry and leave it slightly open between loads if your manual allows.

Top-loading washer

Top loaders have no gasket, but mold collects under the rim, around the agitator and under the lid. Scrub those areas with detergent and the bleach solution, then run the hottest cycle with 1 cup of bleach and an empty drum.

Mold keeps coming back

Look at the cause. Check that you use HE detergent in an HE machine and the recommended amount, take wet laundry out promptly, and leave the door open. A drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe can siphon dirty water back in, and a clogged drain pump filter leaves water standing in the drum.

Mold spots on clothes from the washer

Clean the machine first, then rewash the clothes in the hottest water safe for them with a bleach safe for the fabric. See mildew on clothes for the fabric method.

What not to do

• Don't mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners. Bleach plus an acid releases chlorine gas, and bleach plus ammonia releases chloramine gas.
• Don't use thickened, splash-less or easy-pour bleach in the cleaning cycle. An appliance maker warns it can cause excess suds.
• Don't close the door right after a load. Trapped moisture lets mold and odor-causing residue build up.
• Don't add extra detergent to fight the smell or stains. Excess suds leave more residue for mold to feed on, and can cause leaks and poor rinsing in HE washers.

Other methods that work

Washer cleaner product

Many manufacturers allow, or specify, a dedicated washer-cleaner tablet or liquid for the cleaning cycle. Follow your manual if it names one, since some brands forbid certain additives.

Caution: Use one product per cycle. Don't add bleach to a cycle that already has another cleaner in it.

White vinegar wipe for the gasket

One appliance maker suggests a vinegar-and-water solution for routine gasket cleaning. It's a gentle maintenance option. For visible mold, extension mold guidance relies on detergent and bleach instead.

Caution: Never use it at the same time as bleach. Rinse well between them.

Stain still there?

Dark spots on the gasket won't come off

Repeat the detergent scrub and bleach solution once. If the marks stay, they're likely stained rubber or growth behind the seal. Contact the manufacturer or an appliance technician about replacing the gasket.

The washer still smells musty after cleaning

Run a second cleaning cycle, then clean the drain pump filter as your manual describes and check the drain hose. Persistent odor after repeated cleaning is a reason to call a technician.

Suds pour out during the cleaning cycle

Detergent residue or thickened bleach is foaming. Let the cycle finish, then run a rinse cycle with nothing added.

Safety

• Wear gloves and eye protection, and ventilate. The EPA recommends an N-95 respirator for mold cleanup.
• Never combine chlorine bleach with vinegar, ammonia or any other cleaner.
• Unplug the machine before reaching into the drain pump filter area.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

Mildew and mold on other surfaces

• Mildew and mold stains: the complete guide
• Mildew and mold on a car
• Mildew and mold on carpet
• Mildew and mold on clothes
• Mildew and mold on wood

Other stains on a washing machine

• How to clean a washing machine