Regardless of your washing machine’s age, it requires proper maintenance to ensure efficient operation and optimal clothing cleanliness. Washing machine specialists concur that a service wash is necessary to clean the appliance’s interior; otherwise, it can become dirty, leading to mould accumulation and unpleasant odours in your clothes.
However, another area requiring attention is the detergent compartment. You may have observed this section beginning to develop mould – one expert has shed light on why he believes this occurs.
According to an appliance service repair specialist from Melbourne, Australia (@ezywashingmachinerepair), fabric softener usage can lead to mould build-up in the compartment. During a recent client visit, the expert enquired if she used fabric softener, as he could only spot mould on the compartment side where this product would be placed.
“Sometimes, not very often,” she responded. On TikTok, he asserted: “No matter what you buy, softeners are not good even the sensitive [ones].” He then demonstrated how the mould was solely on the softener bay side – even when the drawer was removed.
Instead, the expert suggested using white vinegar, available for approximately 35p at supermarkets like Aldi and Tesco. Initially, he advised cleaning the drawer to eliminate the softener.
“[I’d] recommend instead of your softener, filling it up with white vinegar, natural essential oils, any smell you like, lavender, rose, whatever,” he said. Replacing a cup of fabric softener with the same amount of white vinegar combined with “two drops of essential oil” is the secret to soft clothes and a pleasant scent, according to the expert.
He warned against using fabric softener, claiming it’s “full of chemicals, causes mould in the machine and irritation on the skin”.
In the midst of concerns that the “vinegar acidity” might damage the rubber or cause rust in the metal parts of the machine, he elaborated in a separate video. The expert clarified that “scientifically” vinegar could cause corrosion but reassured that it wouldn’t be an issue when used in the detergent compartment as it goes “When you put it in the washing machine it [goes] through the plastics, through the rubbers and it gets washed out by the end of the cycle. It’s not going to sit in the machine,”.
However, if vinegar comes into contact with the ‘body’ of the machine, it has the potential to corrode over time.
Washing brand Vileda has endorsed white vinegar as “entirely safe for use in most laundry situations”. They explain on their website: “Its mild acidic nature makes it gentle on fabrics while being a potent cleaning agent. However, always remember to dilute it and avoid direct contact with undiluted vinegar, particularly on delicate fabrics.”
Yet, cleaning expert Carol Harding at HomeAdviceGuide warns that white vinegar can damage rubber seals, so caution is necessary.