Black mould on washing machine seal - eco solution?

[moogdroog]

Hi there,
Staying at my folks house and their washing machine seal has black mould all over it (they're not slatterns, really!). I'd normally just chuck a load of bleach or mould and mildew remover all over it, but they live out in the sticks and have a septic tank that my DM is religious about not putting anything nasty in. Ecover all the way here!
Any ideas of something non toxic I can try?

if you look at "kitchen spray with bleach" I think you'll find it says safe with Septic Tanks

Will check it out thanks PigletJohn - just don't tell my mother

i wonder if bicarb and vinegar might be worth a shot as it'll be a while before i can get to the shops?

don't mix them as they will neutralise each other

It is usually mildew growing on a sludge of old soap and fabsoft that has not dissolved. Cool washes are not good for dissolving soap. A HOT HOT HOT wash with NO POWDER will start dissolving the soap sludge. You can add a cup of washing soda if you have it. If the watyer goes grey anmd foams up, that's the old soap dissolving. Do it again until it stays clean. It may smell of rotten soap as it dissolves into the water.

Scrub out the soap drawer and its slot with hot water.

There will be black mildew that cleans off easier once it is dead. You don't need a lot of bleach. The spray and a nylon brush will do it. You could use household GP cleaner if you have no kitchen spray.