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Cleaning mold from an appliance

GaddezGaddez Registered User regular
in Help / Advice Forum
So for a little while now I've had a sort of dark brown/black mold on the inside of my washing machine's rubber catch ring (the place where all the loose change winds up after the wash cycle), and thought it would be a decent thing to see about getting rid o it for my folks.

Problem is, I'm not sure how to do so without either damaging the rubber or having an appreciable effect.

Anyone have a decent Idea of how to do so?

Posts

  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    If it were anything else I'd nuke from orbit because fuck that.

    For a larger appliance there are things you can try, but is there any way you can just replace the part? I wouldn't personally bother trying to clean it just because mold has a way of getting places and can be so bad for you.

    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    Yeah replacement is the best route, usually gaskets and rings are easy enough to replace on most appliances.

    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • JebusUDJebusUD Adventure! Candy IslandRegistered User regular
    You could try bleach. Wash machines are made to have bleach in them already, so I can't imagine it damaging the rubber.

    and I wonder about my neighbors even though I don't have them
    but they're listening to every word I say
  • DaenrisDaenris Registered User regular
    JebusUD wrote: »
    You could try bleach. Wash machines are made to have bleach in them already, so I can't imagine it damaging the rubber.

    Yeah, get some cleaner with bleach, or dilute some bleach based on the bottle, get some gloves and a rag and wipe out the rubber gasket with bleach. I do this from time to time on our front load washer. I doubt I'll be buying another front load for exactly that reason. The rubber gasket takes so long to dry out that you get that stuff building up in there.

  • mittensmittens he/himRegistered User regular
    A front loading machine? I had one of those I bought second-hand from a friend moving to an apartment with a W/D already in it. That damn gasket always grew critters on it despite me bleaching it once every 2-3 weeks and leaving the door open between washings. I think the gasket was in a bad state when I got it and I was unable to bring it back to its original condition. I was so happy I was able to re-sell it to an acquaintance for what I paid for it.

    I'd recommend getting a new gasket. They aren't super difficult to replace (just requires some standard hand tools). You may want to watch a youtube video of someone doing the swap to get a better idea. Make sure you leave the door open between washings to let everything air dry.

    Best solution is to get a top-loading high efficiency washer, it's the best of both worlds, low water/energy usage and no nasty rubber gaskets to deal with :biggrin:

  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    Replacing it is easier than washing, but the replacement will get moldy soon enough, too. Welcome to front load washers, the worst idea ever!

    XBL : Figment3 · SteamID : Figment
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Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum