When doing household chores, laundry is one of the most necessary tasks. With this, we can not only avoid clutter at home, but also help ensure that our clothes are always clean, fresh and smell good.
There are families who use washing machines daily and other people who get by doing weekly laundry, but in any case, it’s something you can’t escape. And regular use of the washing machine also requires frequent cleaning, which helps remove all the dirt buildup and leftover detergent or lint that gets stored inside the washing machine during cycles washing. Cleaning our appliance regularly is essential so that the clothes always come out clean.
One of the parts of the washing machine that accumulates the most dirt is the rubber of the door, a favorable place for the formation of bacteria and mold due to the accumulation of moisture that occurs between its folds. In this way, it is important to carry out regular maintenance which not only allows the clothes to come out as clean as possible but also extends the useful life of that component for a longer period.
To do this, it is important to know the existing tips and methods that will allow you to clean the rubber in the washing machine when it turns black. We tell you everything here:
What you need to clean the rubber of the washing machine
It is possible for the rubber of the washing machine to blacken for various reasons, such as constant humidity in the machine, the accumulation of residue such as soap or fabric softener, or lack of ventilation. Therefore, cleaning it on time can help optimize washing and prevent clothes from getting dirty after a cleaning cycle.
To clean the rubber of the washing machine, the following materials will be needed:
- White cleaning vinegar -or bleach in some cases-.
- Baking soda.
- Hot water.
- Microfiber cloth.
- Soft bristle brush – or old toothbrush.
- Rubber gloves.
How to clean washing machine rubber when it turns black
To begin cleaning the washing machine rubber, open the door and check the area for parts with mold or residue. Search intensively, opening each fold until you detect all the dirty areas, checking which ones need deep cleaning and which ones don’t.
Next, mix equal parts white cleaning vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Vinegar is not only a powerful disinfectant, but it also has deodorizing properties that will help combat bad odors present in the appliance.
To begin cleaning, put on rubber gloves and spray the solution liberally over the entire surface of the rubber, especially in areas where you have detected the greatest mold buildup. After that, scrub the affected area with a soft-bristled brush – or an old toothbrush – it is important to go through all the areas, even the least damaged ones.
If the mold is very encrusted, spray again and let the mixture sit for a quarter of an hour before starting to scrub. If the mixture fails to soften it, it is possible to use bleach in the dirtiest areas, as it has a greater descaling and disinfecting power than vinegar. However, be careful not to mix the two, as together they could be toxic to your health.
On the other hand, sprinkle baking soda on particularly dirty areas or those that you detected as being more difficult to clean during the initial analysis. Apply the product directly to the rubber dampened with white vinegar or bleach and scrub with a toothbrush to create a low intensity abrasive action.
Next, rinse the entire area with hot water to prevent debris from building up, as this is one of the main reasons why mold could reappear on washer tires. To do this, use a microfiber cloth dampened with warm water and remove all the excess. It is particularly important to ensure that no traces of the product remain if cleaning with bleach has been carried out.
Thus, it is also possible to program a quick rinse cycle to ensure that any possible remains of product that could have fallen into the drum of the device are eliminated.
Finally, let the area dry outside, opening a window near the washing machine if possible. In addition, it is advisable to leave the appliance door open when it is not operating, thus allowing the appliance to ventilate more easily and preventing the formation of bacteria and mold.
