If your washing machine is beginning to smell it may be time to check its front door as it is often a breeding ground for mould and bacteria.
The rubbing seal around the door of a washing machine is one of the most common places for black mould to grow, which can make both your clothes and home smell musty.
Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean, has recently shared that washing machine seals are more likely to become mouldy in summer as mould growth thrives in warm and moist conditions.
In a recent Instagram post, Lynsey said: “Don’t forget this time of year, your machine will smell more than ever with the higher temperatures.”
The seal can be incredibly awkward to place to to thoroughly clean it to prevent mould from coming back, but luckily Lysney has shared one simple kitchen ingredient that will “banish stinky odours and mould build-up in your washing machine rubber seal.”
Baking soda is one of the most effective ways to remove seal mould as it has mild antibacterial and antifungal properties while also being alkaline, meaning it can break down the acidic grime which mould thieves in.
Lynsey said: “Sprinkle into the rubber seal some bicarbonate of soda, spritz with water, scrub with a small brush, leave for 10 minutes, and then run a rinse cycle.
“The bicarb will soak up the odours and clean up the seal with ease. No more smelly washing machine!”
After the time is up, use a small brush such as a toothbrush to scrub the baking powder into the seal and then use a damp cloth to wipe it away.
If you wish, you can also spray with white vinegar as an additional cleaning disinfectant to make the solution stronger, but make sure it is thoroughly dry to prevent moisture build-up.
Make sure to regularly clean the washing machine seal at least once a month to prevent mould build-up.
You can also wipe down the seal after each laundry wash and leave the door open to allow it to dry out completely to help prevent bacteria from forming.
In Lynsey’s comment section, many fans were amazed and thanked her for the easy cleaning tip.
One user said: “Never tried this but will definitely give it a go!”
Another person commented: “This is so good! I was wondering why my machine was smelly.”
Someone else wrote: “Thank you! This is such a good tip mine definitely needs doing.”