'I'm a washing machine expert - you should swap item causing mould for 35p alternative'
No matter the age of your washing machine, it demands regular upkeep to run effectively and keep your clothes clean. Experts in washing machine care stress the significance of a service wash to clean the interior of the appliance; neglecting this can result in a grimy machine, fostering mould growth and causing your garments to smell.
But another part that needs watching is the detergent drawer. This area may show signs of mould, and one professional has explained his theory behind this phenomenon.
An appliance service repair specialist from Melbourne, Australia, known on TikTok as @ezywashingmachinerepair, pointed out that fabric softener use could contribute to mould in the drawer. While attending to a customer, he noticed mould only on the section designated for fabric softener and questioned her usage.
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"Sometimes, not very often," she answered. On TikTok, he cautioned: "No matter what you buy, softeners are not good even the sensitive [ones]."
He illustrated that the mould was confined to the softener bay, and evident even when the drawer was taken out.
As an alternative, the expert recommends white vinegar as a safer option, which costs around 35p in supermarkets like Aldi and Tesco. Cleaning the drawer with white vinegar should be the first step to remove any traces of fabric softener.
"[I'd] recommend instead of your softener, filling it up with white vinegar, natural essential oils, any smell you like, lavender, rose, whatever," he said. The expert suggests swapping out fabric softener for a concoction of white vinegar and "two drops of essential oil" to achieve both softness in clothes and a fresh scent.
He cautioned against the use of fabric softeners, describing them as "full of chemicals, causes mould in the machine and irritation on the skin". Amidst concerns about "vinegar acidity" potentially damaging the washing machine's rubber or metal parts, the expert further explained in another video that while "scientifically" vinegar can cause corrosion, it's not a concern when used in the detergent compartment because "When you put it in the washing machine it [goes] through the plastics, through the rubbers and it gets washed out by the end of the cycle. It's not going to sit in the machine,".
However, he noted that if vinegar touches the 'body' of the machine, it could corrode over time. Vileda, a washing brand, has backed the use of white vinegar in laundry, stating on their website that it is "entirely safe for use in most laundry situations" due to its mild acidity which makes it gentle on fabrics and an effective cleaner.
They advise, however, to always dilute vinegar and avoid using it undiluted, especially on delicate materials.
However, cleaning guru Carol Harding from HomeAdviceGuide cautions that white vinegar can harm rubber seals, so care is needed.
