Washing mold on the elastic of a washing machine is not as easy as it seems: conventional cleaning products can not cope with fungal deposits. But do not rush to the store to get expensive sprays and “special-purpose” liquids, because you can make them at home by spending 10, or even 20 times less money.
Why does mold appear on the hatch seal?
If after washing the laundry smells of damp and in some places dirty gray spots appear on it, it means that mold has settled in the machine. A similar problem arises due to high humidity and lack of air exchange, as well as non-compliance with hygiene rules. You run the risk of colliding with it if:
- Constantly start the wash in delicate or fast mode. Water heats up to 30–40 ° C, which is not enough for the death of bacteria and fungal spores - microorganisms settle on the inside of the drum and hatch.
- Each time use an air conditioner or other rinse aid. The emollients contained in these products are not washed off plastic, metal and rubber surfaces. They form a mucous coating, in which mold actively propagates.
- Leave wet laundry inside the washing machine for a long time. Dampness, cold and lack of fresh air are ideal conditions for the propagation of fungi, so things should be removed from the drum immediately, in extreme cases - 2-3 hours after the wash. If it is not possible to immediately hang the laundry, shift it into the basin.
- Close the hatch when water remains inside the drum. High humidity combined with low temperature contribute to the accelerated development of mold colonies. The hatch should be left ajar until the machine completely dries.
Before proceeding with the fight against mold, you need to understand what exactly led to its appearance. After all, if the root cause is not eliminated, the fungal plaque will appear again and again.
Means for combating fungus in washing machines
It will not work to wipe the mold with shampoo, gel for dishes, washing powder or universal detergent. The listed household chemicals do not contain substances that can “kill” mycelium and destroy spores. For this reason, you have to buy special sprays and solutions or prepare them at home from improvised ingredients.
Chlorine based
A significant portion of mold control products contain chlorine in the form of sodium hypochlorite or polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride. The concentration of the active substance 5% is the optimal value. Less concentrated (3%) drugs are found, but their effectiveness is lower. It is difficult to find more concentrated ones (7%) on the shelves, but you cannot do without them if there is a lot of mold, and it has been inside the washing machine for a very long time.
However, the cost of store antifungal sprays and liquids is quite high - the cheapest means will cost about 250 rubles. At home, you can make a similar drug by spending 30-50 rubles. The basis for home-made chemistry will be "White" - few people know, but this is a ready-made 5% solution of sodium hypochlorite. And to give this solution additional properties, you need to add a little piece of soap to it. It is best to use household 72% soap. But if it is not, any toilet will do.
The cooking process looks like this:
- Grate the soap at the rate of 1 tablespoon of soap shavings for every 200 ml of "White".
- In a separate container, mix the chips with a little hot water. Stir until completely dissolved.
- Pour the soap solution into the “White” and stir.
After that, the product is ready. Use it immediately after cooking. To make it easier to wipe off the mold, take an unnecessary kitchen sponge with an abrasive layer and, having washed it off, apply it to the sealing gum and other parts of the washing machine affected by the fungus. When there is no trace of fungal deposits, rinse everything with clean water.
Vinegar based
Acetic acid is another remedy that can remove mold. The higher its concentration in the solution, the more pronounced the effect will be. 70% of the essence works best, but if it is impossible to get it, 9% table vinegar is also suitable. 6% can be used only for prophylactic treatment, since its effectiveness against existing colonies is extremely small.
There are two ways to use acetic acid:
- You can pour it into a bottle with a spray nozzle and generously sprinkle all the places where the fungus has formed. Repeat the treatment 5-6 times more with an interval of 10-15 minutes, then wash the machine with hot water and a solution of bar soap (200 g of soap per 4 liters of water). This method is only suitable for highly concentrated solutions.
- Wet the kitchen sponge well with a solution of acetic acid, add a few drops of any detergent and wipe the rubber band and the tank. Repeat if necessary. Then treat the machine from the inside with hot water and soap (as described above). This method is recommended when using table vinegar.
Based on oxygen bleaches
Without oxygen, life on Earth would be impossible. However, in large quantities, oxygen is poison, both for humans and for many microorganisms. If you need to get rid of mold, it can also be used. And the simplest option is oxygen bleaches.
There are many such bleaches on store shelves, but they are not as cheap as we would like. If your goal is not only to remove the fungus, but also to save, pay attention to the box that says "Sodium percarbonate." On average, this substance contains 14% of active oxygen (the minimum value at which mold dies is 10%). The cost of sodium percarbonate varies depending on the place of purchase, but on average is 100 rubles per kilogram.
In comparison with vinegar and "White" sodium percarbonate has an undeniable advantage - the lack of smell. It is not toxic and does not pollute nature.
Sodium percarbonate should be diluted exclusively in hot water - from 50 ° C and above. Concentration - 150-200 g per 1-1.5 l of water, but if there is a lot of mold, you can increase the dosage to 250 g.
To keep the temperature less felt, and also to save hands, wear rubber gloves. As with other products, it’s best to use a kitchen sponge to clean the machine.
Please note that the rag or sponge used to wipe off the mildew should immediately be tied in a plastic bag and thrown into the trash. It can not be reused, because mold spores remain in the fibers of the tissue and pore sponges!
Is it dangerous to use chlorine to clean the washing machine, is it harmful to health?
Mold, which constantly settles on bedding, towels and clothes, is much more dangerous to health than chlorine, which has to be contacted once for 10-15 minutes. In addition, protective measures must be used: organize additional air access to the room (open a window, doors), enable forced exhaust, wear nitrile gloves. By the way, to avoid getting mold spores in the eyes and respiratory tract, it is also worth putting on a respirator and safety glasses.
If you mix "White" with vinegar, mold die faster?
When sodium hypochlorite and acetic acid are mixed, gaseous chlorine is instantly released. It causes irreparable harm to health (because of this, it is used as a chemical warfare agent). This gas does not affect mold, but a person has every chance of going to a hospital bed. Do not mix these substances under any circumstances, especially indoors! Also, do not experiment with a mixture of vinegar and sodium percarbonate - the result is peracetic acid, the fumes of which irritate the mucous membranes and skin, and after prolonged inhalation, they damage the lungs.
Mold fungi are the most insidious microorganisms. Therefore, do not postpone the fight against them until later, especially since removing plaque from the sealing gum and other parts of the washing machine is not so difficult.