Mold in the washing machine's detergent dispenser? Eliminate it with simple remedies

One of the reasons why we detect bad smells that remain on clothes even after being washed in the washing machine, is the lack of maintenance cleaning of some parts of the appliance. One of the areas that we don't always remember to clean, but where dirt can accumulate and mold can form, is the dispenser into which we pour the detergents and softeners.

In fact, these substances that always leave a greasy deposit, and given that the tray is not rinsed with hot water (unlike the washing machine's drum), this greasy residues increases over time and eventually becomes the breeding ground for mold. Just neglecting this cleaning for a few weeks, and you will immediately notice the appearance of black spots. So, how can we eliminate them? You have several methods available, and we detail these below:

Creativo

In the most serious cases it will be necessary to remove the entire dispenser from the housing and leave it to soak in a basin or in the sink of water into which you have also poured some active ingredients. You can use:

• Lemon juice: squeeze the juice from one lemon into the water and leave the dispenser to soak for a few hours.
• Citric acid: dissolve a couple of tablespoons in the water.
• White vinegar: You will need about one glass full.
• Hydrogen peroxide: this is the most effective remedy against mold, because it is able to eliminate the spores better.

After at least an hour of immersion (better if let longer) in one of these solutions, you can wash the dispenser using a sponge or a soft cloth and dish washing soap (or Marseille soap), possibly adding again one of the ingredients used beforehand. At this stage, you can also use a bit of baking soda, but rub it in gently as it is slightly abrasive and may scratch the plastic surface of the dispenser itself. This step is to remove any dark spots, and therefore to reach all the nooks and crannies you will have to use an old toothbrush.

On the other hand, if the dispenser is not in terrible condition but only needs a ligh usual cleaning to avoid the formation of mold and dirt, then you can go directly to the second step, described above.

Then rinse everything off, carefully, and above all remember to thoroughly clean and sanitize the sponges, cloths or brushes that have come into contact with the mold: these too will benefit from a dose of hydrogen peroxide or vinegar and hot water.

Great job!