How do you stop the rubber seal of your washing machine from getting black mould?

[FenellaBestwick]

I've just spent the afternoon with a black mould remover, applying and reapplying to get rid of all the black mould on my washing machine seal. I don't understand how it gets so mouldy as I already leave the machine door permanently wide open to air it. I'm worried about the rubber degrading over time. How do you prevent this?

Use bio powder instead of liquid.

Hot wash or drum clean every couple of months (mine has a setting for this)

My rubber seal is always fine, drawer gets a bit black though and needs cleaning.

Powder, definitely.

Yep, bio powder.

only time in 35 years I’ve had problems with mouldy or smelly machines is when I switched to non bio liquid when ds was a baby.

Engineer told me to put a bit of neat bleach into the pit of the seal, foam it up with a clean paint brush and leave overnight. This worked well on a rented house WMachine.
Otherwise, wipe out with dry kitchen towel every single time you finish using it. That might help?

Use powder and do a hot wash more often?

Leave the door open after each use. Mines coming up 5 years old now and the seal is immaculate.

Posted in error

I clean the door, the seal and the drawer after every wash. No mould.

Always leave door and soap drawer open (even slightly) between washes. Stops mould totally. Gamechanger.

Thank you Phil the plumber who taught me that 😊

With a new machine/newly cleaned
machine ….
wipe seal and drawer immediately after use with kitchen roll and leave door/drawer open to thoroughly dry. Mine is 4 years old and no mould.
Btw I use washing liquid (not pods) inside machine not via drawer and don’t use fabric conditioner either - I think this reduces mould forming in drawer.

I have never had this, I use bio powder mostly, and mostly leave the door ajar when not in use.

My engineer said to wash whites with powder very hot 90 and use soda crystals. Or just do a hot wash every so often with soda crystals in the drum and powder in the drawer. Leave the door open. He said ok to use capsules too but powder from time to time.

It annoys the life out of me because I keep crashing into it in my small kitchen, but yes if you leave the door open between uses it works!

I'd be careful of using mould spray some of them are very strong and would be concerned of them perishing the seal over time.

Agree with other posters - use powder not liquid, always keep drawer and door open in between washes and do a regular hot wash (90c) with soda crystals.

My machine is nearly 10 years old and the seal is like new.

I don't think washing at low temps helps either - I never wash lower than 40.

My machine is about 10 years old and has never had mould on the rubber seal. I mainly use bio powder

I’ve swapped from liquid to powder, plus I almost always do my washing on a 30 eco wash (which takes 2 hours but for some reason costs less than a quick wash) then I wash my bedding and towels every other week on a 90 wash. I dont leave the door open because of where its sited and now no longer have mouldy seals.

Non bio powder at 60 for darks. Whites do a quick wash with vanish powder sometimes at 30 then non bio for a second wash. Don't use conditioner. Never had mould. We do live in a soft water area

I don't know what combination of what I do is what helps, but I've never had mould in my washing machine in the 30 odd years I've had washing machines

I leave the door open
I only use powder
I wash most stuff at 40, with about one wash at 60 each week
I've never done a 'maintenance wash' or 'cleaned' my washing machine in my life.
We do have lovely water where I live though - no limescale in the kettle, not 'hard water' or anything which I guess will affect things?

I've never had mould in the washing machine.
I wash most things at 40.
Towels and sheets at 60
Sometimes do towels and tea towels at 90

Persil bio powder

Me too. Dry everything off and leave to open air

OP has said she already does this!

Leave the door open for an hour.

I use Tesco non bio powder. Good for sensitive skin (not as good as fairy powder but can’t afford that any more)

I always leave the door open and empty the drawer of the excess water at the end of every wash...and STILL have black stain on the bottom of the seal and between the seal and the drum there's gunky yukky stuff that I wipe out.

Do a maintenance hot wash at 70 deg C once a month.

Drives me insane that washing machine manufacturs can't design a machine that doesn't leave water in the drawer!!

Following the tips on here with interest. Even bought hydrogen peroxide to clean the seal and the drum. Did nothing

In London with hard water. Use bio liquid in the drawer. This machine is 10 years old anf not awful, but only because I clean it so often...but I have lots of other things I'd rather be doing than cleaning my washing machine!!!

My washing machine is 8 years old, and has no mould on the seal. I always leave the door open for a couple of hours, and often (but not always) wipe away the water that collects under the ridge of the rubber.
I use liquid detergent. I do a very hot cycle with a bottle of white vinegar every couple of months.