How To Clean Mold From Front Load Washer Gasket? A Few Tips to Remember

With a front-load washer, it’s difficult to maintain it clean. Most people are bothered by mold, mildew, laundry soap buildup, and musty odors.

We’ve finally figured out how to maintain our HE washer clean and fresh year after year after a lot of trial and error and guidance from washing machine technicians.

There are many ways to maintain a front-load washing machine clean and smelling good.

How to Remove Mold from Washing Machines

• Lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, and water are all powerful cleaners that fight mold and keep it from growing in the first place.
• Lemon juice and distilled white vinegar can be used as an alternative to hydrogen peroxide as an all-purpose cleanser.
• If the mold development in your washer gasket is sparse, you can get away with using just vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 4 parts water).
• If the above-mentioned natural cleansers don’t work for you, use bleach instead.
• Spray the mold on the gasket with a solution made from your chosen cleanser. Avoid mold spores by using rubber gloves to protect your hands and a dust mask. After that, thoroughly clean the gasket with a cloth or towel. Allow the solution to sit for a few minutes before using an old toothbrush to remove stubborn blemishes.
• It’s time to purify the drum and hoses once you’ve cleansed the seal. Use your chosen mold remover and run a hot cycle to remove mold odors and traces from the washer drum and hoses.
• Mold may be forming behind the washer drum if the musty odor persists. If your machine is still covered by a warranty, you should contact the manufacturer or a reputable repair service. Mold may be removed from your washing machine by a professional.

How to Prevent Mold in Washing Machines

• Do not use any other kind of detergent. High-Efficiency (HE) detergent is needed if you have a HE washer. Mold thrives in the presence of too much suds left behind by non-HE detergents. For the same reason, use only the suggested amount of detergent.
• It’s best to leave the door open after every wash so that the machine can dry out. Preventing a wet, mold-infested atmosphere by doing so
• Remove damp clothing as soon as possible after a washing machine cycle. This not only keeps moisture and mildew from growing, but it also keeps the musty scent out of your garments.
• Use a mildew cleaner on a regular basis to clean the door gasket. Make sure you do this at least once a week to keep mold from growing from moisture and detergent residue.
• If the space where your washer is located is very moist, consider installing a dehumidifier. Make sure to solve any water or humidity issues that may be causing the mold in the machine. In the room, set up a dehumidifier.

Tips for keeping your front load washing machine clean, fresh and mildew free

Front-loading HE washers, in contrast to top-loading models, necessitate regular user maintenance.

If you don’t maintain a regular cleaning plan, mold, mildew, and scum will quickly accumulate due to the machine’s design and capabilities. Here are a few pointers for keeping your front-load washer clean now that you’ve cleaned it thoroughly.

Leave the door open or ajar

After each wash, it’s a good idea to leave the door open or ajar until the washer is completely dry. This prevents mold and mildew from forming and keeps unpleasant odours at bay.

If you’re concerned about mold, you may want to consider leaving the door open all the time. Use a laundry lasso to keep your washer’s door ajar when it’s not in use if it’s in a heavy traffic area.

Keep the soap tray holder open

If you see any water or moisture in your soap tray, empty it out and keep the soap tray holder open between usage to avoid mold and mildew from forming.

Clean once a month to keep fresh and prevent mildew

You may need to properly clean your front-load washer once a month, depending on how many loads of laundry you run. After each wash, make sure to wipe clean the door and the drum with a damp cloth.

Clean drain plug and filter once a month

Inadequate performance in HE front-load washers is common because of a blatant omission of this crucial phase.

If you forget to remove your hair ties or money from your pockets before placing them in the washing machine, they’ll be caught by the filter. Insufficient cleaning of this area is likely to cause problems with your washing machine’s performance.

Don’t use liquid detergent

The best HE detergent to use in my HE washer is always powder, no matter how many times a technician comes out to look at it.

With powder detergent, you’re less likely to have buildup and muck in your soap dispenser, drum, and rubber gasket than with liquid detergent.

Using powdered detergent has also eliminated the mildew smell from my towels, which I’ve found occurs from time to time.

Don’t use too much liquid/powder

Even though the lines on the laundry cap tell you otherwise, only use the first or second line of the cap for larger loads, and use the cap’s lower line for smaller ones.

Obviously, detergent companies won’t tell you this, but I’ve heard it from both service personnel and local appliance repair shops. Because HE detergents are so concentrated, you don’t really need as much of it.

Don’t use fabric softener

Using fabric softeners in your front-loading washer will leave a thick waxy coating on your clothing and in every nook and cranny of your appliance, creating a large mess and a buildup of filth. Wool dryer balls are a better alternative to fabric softener.

Front Washer Maintenance

Less detergent is needed since HE washers consume less water during the cleaning and rinsing cycles. Avoid overfilling the detergent drawer with soap.

Keeping your washing machine smelling fresh is as simple as adding vinegar to the fabric softener or laundry detergent dispenser during the last rinse. To clean the gasket, remove the seal back and wipe the crevice dry with a cloth after each laundry cycle.

Once a month, run your washing machine’s self-cleaning cycle to remove bacteria and prevent mildew growth. If this is not an option on your machine, you can eliminate germs by running a hot water cycle with one cup of bleach and no clothing.

Find any lint, coins, or other debris that may have become lodged in the gasket by inspecting it every few weeks. Immediately remove garments from the washing machine to prevent the growth of mildew and mold.

Don’t forget to keep the door open between loads if you don’t have any children or pets in the house.

Washer door, rubber seal, fabric softener dispenser, and tub must be cleaned with a washing machine cleaner of the correct type.

Cleaning your front-loading washing machine on a regular basis keeps mold at bay and keeps your laundry area smelling great.

How To Prevent Mold In Washing Machines Gasket?

When it comes to cleaning the cloth, always use the recommended detergent. If you have a high-efficiency (HE) washing machine, make sure to use a HE detergent from the Top brand. To foster mold growth, cheap detergents produce too many foams. For the same reason, use only the detergent supplied by the washing machine manufacturer. Keep the door open after each wash cycle to allow water to evaporate from the machine. Mold cannot grow in a damp atmosphere because of this. Replace damp clothing as quickly as possible after washing only a few times. This prevents mildew and humidity from growing, but it also prevents your clothes from smelling musty from mold. Find out how to eliminate mold from washing machines with these helpful hints.

It’s A Wrap

My friends, we hope you’ve learned how to remove mold from a front-load washer gasket after reading these wonderful advice! Mold can be removed from a gasket using commercial and home-made chemical solutions. Keep these ideas in mind the next time you have to clean some grimy rubber seals. Thank you for stopping by! Aside from cleaning the washer drain hoses and using OxiClean in the top load washer, you may also want to learn more about how to do so.