Modern day appliances were made to help make life easier, but more importantly, to clean. It is a real nightmare when these appliances are infected by a disgusting enemy; mold. Did you know that more than 1,000 types of mold are found in our homes in the US? We could try not to think about this, but many of our most-used appliances require water, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and freezers. The problem of mold appears many times because of poor ventilation and a high moisture level in the appliance, and a high level of humidity in the kitchen, darkness, and supply of food. However, there are ways to combat this. Below are some helpful hints to help keep your appliances safe and mold-free.
Washing Machines
Front Load
What Is The Cause: Moisture that gets trapped inside when the door and drawers are closed causes mold to grow, hiding inside the seal of the door and the detergent drawer. E. coli and salmonella can also grow inside due to kitchen cloths or underwear.
How to Clean: Mix 2 cups of white vinegar, ¼ cup of baking soda, and ¼ cup of water. Wipe areas with mold.
How to Help Prevent: Be sure to take the laundry out as soon as the load is finished. I’ts best to leave the door and the detergent drawer open while you are not using it. Routinely clean the rubber door gasket with a rag and hot soapy water.
Top Load
What Is The Cause: Mold is caused by the mixture of water and humidity after a load. It is found between the drum and the interior walls.
How to Clean: If your washer has a Clean Washer Cycle, run it once a month. If your washer does not have one, run a hot water cycle with 3-4 cups of vinegar or bleach to ½ cup of baking soda. Baking soda will help remove the smell of the mold.
How to Help Prevent: Help reduce chances of mold by not using too much detergent and leave the lid open after each use of the washer.
Refrigerators
What Is The Cause: Warm air, moisture food, and lack of ventilation combine and will cause mold to appear between the door seals of your refrigerator. Overlooked food inside of your refrigerator can also grow mold.
How to Clean: When you are cleaning your refrigerator, start by unplugging the refrigerator and removing anything that is inside of it. Make sure there are no packages that are leaking or food that is past the expiration date. If so, throw it out immediately. Remove the shelves and drawers and wash them in the sink using dish detergent and water.
If any of the parts that are removable contain mold, soak them in the bathtub with warm water and 2 cups of white vinegar. Then rinse, dry and place them back into the refrigerator.
Wipe the entire inside of the refrigerator with a rag that has been soaked in vinegar. Use a toothbrush to reach small crevices. If you notice a moldy odor, wipe the fridge with ¼ cup of baking soda and 3 cups of warm water.
How to Prevent: To help keep your refrigerator sanitary, be sure to clean any spills immediately. Also, wipe down the refrigerator once a month with vinegar.
Dishwashers
What Is The Cause: Having leftover damp food particles in the dishwasher after a cycle can cause mold to saturate the filter, cutlery basket, interior panels and the door gasket. This type of mold can cause systemic disease in humans and colonize the lungs of people who have cystic fibrosis.
How to Clean: Before scrubbing the interior and gasket with diluted bleach, be sure to remove the debris from the drain of the dishwasher.
How to Prevent: To help prevent mold from forming in a dishwasher, you should run a cycle containing only a cup of white vinegar on the top rack at least once a month. Keep the gasket clean. Also, be sure to check and clean the cutlery basket and filter routinely. Sprinkling a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher every once in a while, is another way to help prevent the mold.
Contact Moldguys Restoration
Unfortunately, mold can grow in many places throughout the home, and not just appliances. If you do find that mold is growing in your home, it’s always best to call in the experts for remediation. Moldguys Restoration provides quality mold remediation services in Bridgewater MA and the South Shore. Give us a call at 781-910-5029 or fill out an online form to schedule a service.
