By Thom Wellington
While inspecting a home for MOLD for a prospective buyer, I noticed the front-end loading washing machine. “Is the washing machine part of the sale,” I asked the buyer. “YES, the washer and dryer are part of the sale!”
Upon opening the door to the washing machine MOLD was immediately visible.
Mold was located on multiple parts of the door, the gasket, the plastic parts and the sheet metal body of the washer. How can this happen and what does this do to clothes when washed?
Some people notice an odor on their clothes and are unsure of the cause.
What Should I do to keep the washer free from MOLD & Odors?
- Clean the washing machine gaskets and front-end parts
- Keep the door open after use so that the washing machine dries properly.
- Clean the soap and all other liquid dispensers – most can be removed for easy cleaning
- To remove odors, set the washer to HOT and add bleach directly to the drum. Start the machine and allow it to fill. The agitator will mix the water and bleach. After a complete cycle, run the rinse cycle to remove all traces of the bleach. You can repeat the process if needed.
