Mold in my washing machine / the "inner-outer" part of wash drum is black; how to clean this smelly gunk out?

Question

I've always tried to keep the washing machine lid open for several hours or overnight after a day of laundry to air the equipment out and prevent this type of problem. But black residue is starting to inch it's way into the wash drum through the drum's upper 6 inches of drainage holes all around the drum and I don't want this gunk in my clothes or smelling up fresh laundry. Will spraying straight or 50/50 bleach through these openings & letting it drip down inside the outside of the drum (You know what I mean) --- will that do it, or do I need to call a repair person? What should I expect the pro to charge to clean it out for me?

Answer 1

Try this first, before you call a professional

Washer

1. Fill with hot water.

2. Add a quart of chlorine bleach.

3. Run on the longest wash cycle.

4. After the bleach cycle, add a quart of white vinegar and run it through the same cycle again (vinegar cuts through the soap scum and mineral deposits from spin baskets and hoses).

You really need to do this if you have hard water. If you aren’t sure how hard the water is, your utility company should be able to tell you. But you should be able to tell if your whites look gray, your clothes are stiff rather than soft, your detergent doesn’t lather well and there's white residue around the drain.

Fabric-Softener Dispenser

Heat up a cup of white vinegar and pour it in as you would fabric softener. Do this at the same time you clean the machine.

Bleach Dispenser

Clean with hot water and dishwashing liquid.

Not all washers are created equal. For example, front-loaders tumble the laundry and thus are easier on fabrics than top-loaders, but they can only handle a smaller capacity and are less effective at getting gout heavy stains..

Answer 2

We live in the south so this is something we also deal with. So, set your washer to soak..using the hottest water you have..do the 50/50 bleach thing...and let it sit overnight. Next day just turn it on to the wash cyle (using the heavy duty setting if you have it) and add a little laundry detergent or sanitzer. Probably wouldn't hurt if you do this once a month or so, just to keep the mold away. Also, don't forget to take out the bleach dipenser cup and clean around there. That's where we found both mold and RUST! Like you, I now always leave the lid open afterwards.

Answer 3

Run an empty short cycle with hot water, a little bleach and a little pine sol or similar cleanser, it will help kill the smell, I do it all the time. I also spray a mildew remover like Tilex or something in the tub once a month or so, let it set a bit, then wash a small load of old towels or rags before washing good stuff. My washer has a filter assembly down at the bottom too, hubby removes the cover and we wash the filter real good - it can start smelling too. Good luck!

Answer 4

Black mold can be removed with rubbing alcohol and a sponge or scrubbie. Some people use bleach, but mold spores are quite resistant to most cleansers except alcohol.

Answer 5

i would do what you suggested with 50/50 bleach, leave it over night and do it again, then put on an empty wash on the highest temp with some more bleach!!

good luck!!

Answer 6

do not use bleach clean machine with vinegar,and also run a bottle of vinegar thru it on a med cycle nopowder or clothes of course