Just because the washing machine is all about washing doesn’t mean your rubber seal is immune to dirt. It is even one of the areas that harbors and accumulates the most dirt over time and one of the main culprits of odors emanating from laundry and the washing machine. In this article, we show you how to clean it to avoid ending up with a smelly laundry.
The rubber seal on the washing machine door traps moisture in the machine and then becomes the perfect area for mold to grow. Let’s see how to circumvent the problem by using natural ingredients and adopting the right gestures.
Washing machine gasket – Source: spm
How to clean your rubber seals and eliminate bad smells?
What you will need:
- A clean towel or cloth
- Dishwashing liquid
- white vinegar
- sodium bicarbonate
Vinegar is a great replacement for cleaning chemicals that are harmful to the environment and health. It can be used to clean the washing machine, the refrigerator, the kitchen counters or even the microwaves.
To start, pour 1 cup of baking soda inside the drum near the rubber seal. Then run an empty wash cycle and you should be able to deodorize your machine. For best results, it is best to set the washing machine to 90°C , which will not only wash the seal but also the machine.
Pour white vinegar into the laundry tub – Source: spm
You can also pour a mixture of 2 cups of white vinegar and ½ cup of water into the detergent drawer and then activate the machine for an empty wash. When the machine finishes its washing cycle, prepare a homogeneous mixture of lukewarm water and liquid soap then soak a clean cloth with which you wipe the seal. Be sure to wipe all sides including the gaps.
Another White Vinegar Method to Clean the Gasket
Another cleaning tip is to soak a sponge in white vinegar and then clean with the rubber gasket. As for the less easily accessible parts, use a cotton swab soaked in vinegar to reach them.
Clean the washing machine seal – Source: spm
The fold of the joint should also not be neglected. To clean it, pull it towards you then insert the cotton swab to rub it and remove all the debris and residue that is there. Of course, clean the whole joint and also plan more than one cotton swab.
Once the cleaning is done, proceed to rinsing to remove the white vinegar and rid your machine of any remaining dirt. To do this, activate an empty lukewarm water cycle or use the self-cleaning function if your appliance has one. Wipe the gasket one last time with a microfiber cloth or let it air dry with the washing machine door wide open.
How to prevent mold from forming on the seal of your washing machine?
To prevent mold from building up in your washing machine, just take a few steps:
- When you are not using the washing machine, leave the door ajar to allow air to circulate. You can also do it right after washing
- As soon as the washing cycle is finished, use a soft cloth to dry the door, the glass and the gasket.
- Take out the laundry right after the end of the laundry
- Avoid overusing detergents and low temperature washes. These two factors contribute to the formation of traces of mold and the appearance of gel-like or grease-like dirt.
As you can see, the cleaning of the washing machine must also go through that of the rubber seal if you want to avoid the inconvenience of bad odors. Of course, the best thing is to regularly maintain the washing machine in order to increase its lifespan.
