Molds in Front Loading Washing Machine

[Julian_M]

Who own a front loading washing machine here? Do you have problems with molds developing in the gasket and drum? I want to buy one but read molds can easily occur with a front load. I already have a top load washing machine but want to buy a front loader for its dryer ability and as extra because my top loader gearbox gets defective every 6 months and sometimes main board become defective needing to wait 1 month for replacement.

I don't want to bring my laundary to public laundry centers because I heard warts, bacteria from other people can easily get into my clothes. Anyway who here bring their clothes to public laundry? Are you not concerned about this?

 

[AlexB23]

Who own a front loading washing machine here? Do you have problems with molds developing in the gasket and drum? I want to buy one but read molds can easily occur with a front load. I already have a top load washing machine but want to buy a front loader for its dryer ability and as extra because my top loader gearbox gets defective every 6 months and sometimes main board become defective needing to wait 1 month for replacement.

I don't want to bring my laundary to public laundry centers because I heard warts, bacteria from other people can easily get into my clothes. Anyway who here bring their clothes to public laundry? Are you not concerned about this?

Well, I always leave the door open ajar. Finally, once a month, set the washer on hot without anything in the tub, and place bleach or washing machine cleaner in the tub. Make sure the cycle is on heavy duty. If the washer has a self clean cycle, use it. If the front-loader has a built in dryer, most of the interior is dry, but still leave the door ajar.

 

[OmCheeto]

...
I don't want to bring my laundary to public laundry centers because I heard warts, bacteria from other people can easily get into my clothes.
...

I've never heard of such a thing. But a tad bit of googling indicates you are correct! [ ref: NIH, 2022 ]

As I'm 65+ years old, I've noticed my immune system is slowly weakening.
Totally normal per the NIH, 2016

I had a nasty skin lesion on my back last year, so I got out my tube of Neosporin and noticed that it had expired almost 30 years ago. A couple of days dabbing it with a diluted bleach solution solved that problem.
That incident prompted me to instead of using my bath towels for 2 months between washings, I use them now only once. I also add bleach to all my laundry, including colored clothing. Not enough to discolor them, but enough to sterilize them.

Kind of glad I spent extra to buy top of the line washer and dryer 35+ years ago, as they are both trouble free.(with the exception of the agitator dogs I had to replace three years ago. No biggy: $12.02 and about an hour of head scratching.)

Thanks for the heads up on the warts thing. According to the 2022 NIH above reference, it's fairly new; "The role of towels and bathroom mats in HPV transmission deserves further investigation."

Other references are somewhat scary; "Chemical disinfectants used in the hospitals and other healthcare settings have absolutely no effect on killing human papillomavirus," Meyers said. "So unless bleach or autoclaving is used in the hospital setting, human papillomavirus is not being killed and there is a potential spread of HPV through hospital acquired or instrument or tool infection." [ ref: Penn State, 2014 ]

 

[Rive]

Who own a front loading washing machine here? Do you have problems with molds developing in the gasket and drum?

We have one. Requires regular cleaning against mold: but it's not the drum or the gasket, but the detergent-feeding compartment is what seems to be the most vulnerable spot.
Quite difficult to clean it properly.

 

[AlexB23]

We have one. Requires regular cleaning against mold: but it's not the drum or the gasket, but the detergent-feeding compartment is what seems to be the most vulnerable spot.
Quite difficult to clean it properly.

The best solution is to put the detergent in the drum on top of the clothes, and wash. With every front loader I have used, I put the detergent in the drum to avoid this very issue. So, the tray will never get used, which means no more mold. It is also a good idea to leave the tray slightly open at the end of the day to let it air out.

 

[Q163]

Isopropyl wipes are great for general preventative cleaning and I can't recommend them enough. Easy to grip on to the gasket and wipe in a circular motion. I find that molds, once they get established, are best eradicated with bleach foams like HG remover. So sodium hydroxide, perchlorate, peroxide etc. Anything alkaline enough. Molds tolerate acidic conditions. I've tried scorching the gasket with a kitchen blowtorch before, but it deformed it a bit, causing leakage.

 

[Rive]

... put the detergent in the drum ...

We do exactly that, but the softener is still an issue.

...leave the tray slightly open at the end of the day to let it air out...

Thanks, I'll try that.

 

[DaveC426913]

...it's not the drum or the gasket, but the detergent-feeding compartment is what seems to be the most vulnerable spot.
Quite difficult to clean it properly.

+1

 

[AlexB23]

We do exactly that, but the softener is still an issue.


Thanks, I'll try that.

Softener is actually not needed. If you dry in a dryer, wool dryer balls tend to soften the clothing. I use vinegar in the fabric softener compartment (1/4 cup), and it acts as a rinse aid to remove soap. Just do not add too much, or else it will cause damage.

 

[Nik_2213]

I had an extended battle with black mould both in and behind our front-loader's detergent / softener tray. Unfortunately, a family member kept banging knee on drum's ajar door, would slam it shut.. And, without that minimal air circulation, mould set in.....

There is usually a covert latch or catch to allow dispenser tray's removal.. Then rubber gloves on, scrub clean. Use pipe-cleaner etc as necessary to sanitise the syphon if possible.

Mild 'surface cleaner' bleach spray and a big 'bottle brush' can usually get far enough back into tray location to 'impair' mould growth

But, the cure is ventilation. I began removing the dispenser tray after each wash, parking it in 'half-sink' to drain after thorough rinse. I also began wedging front-loading door open enough to air, but not admit cats.

My current door solution is a budget 'door hold-open', effectively a flexible drawing curve with a magnet at one end. It clamps to machine's metal casing beside door. Adjust curve(s) so hold door open enough to air, then gently hook over door edge towards centre so neither cat access nor snagging of bystanders...

Note: If you use a *lot* of spray-bleach, I must recommend doing a short 'empty' mini-wash to flush detergent etc route before next load..

FWIW, I only use the dispenser 'tray' for liquid 'softener', detergent goes into drum as a 'blobby'.

 

[DaveC426913]

But, the cure is ventilation. I began removing the dispenser tray after each wash, parking it in 'half-sink' to drain after thorough rinse. I also began wedging front-loading door open enough to air, but not admit cats.

These are badly-designed products. How did they let these get to the shelves?

 

[Nik_2213]

I suspect it correlates with majority of cycles now being cool 'eco-washes'..
IIRC, everything except 'fragile' used to run on a 'hot' wash.
Such attrition seemed to keep the dreaded bio-film at bay.
Now, 30ºC eco-wash is routine --And effective !!-- with 'hot' washes reserved for 'Heavy Soil' and 'Sanitising'....
YMMV...

 

[AlexB23]

Also, if water is low cost, select one extra rinse on top of the normal rinse cycle if possible. Helps rinse any extra soap away from the machine's interior and reduces the need for softener.

Most of my laundry is on cold like 25-30°C or so cos it makes clothes last longer and I am eco conscious, but the once every thirty loads self clean cycle on hot removes any soap film from the drum.

 

[DaveC426913]

I suspect it correlates with majority of cycles now being cool 'eco-washes'..
IIRC, everything except 'fragile' used to run on a 'hot' wash.
Such attrition seemed to keep the dreaded bio-film at bay.
Now, 30ºC eco-wash is routine --And effective !!-- with 'hot' washes reserved for 'Heavy Soil' and 'Sanitising'....
YMMV...

Yeah, except no washer has left the factory in decades without an eco-friendly stamp of approval rating. i.e. it's not like these washers are from ye olden times before such modern concerns. They must have just not gotten around to addressing this problem for some mystifying reason.