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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Drying showers and washing machines after use - do you?

48 replies

Notcontent · 27/09/2021 23:47

Ok, so my house is prone to damp and condensation downstairs so I have been reading up about it - including all the mumsnet threads - and I have become a bit paranoid about mould etc.

One thing puzzles me - do people really dry down their showers and washing machines to prevent mould and mildew?

OP posts:
myadhdusername · 27/09/2021 23:48

Shower yes - well the immediate area, not the whole bathroom but wouldn’t think the dry the washing machine!

Teaseall · 28/09/2021 00:04

I have a squeegee in the shower room, I just use that on the window and windowsill, and teak shower seat. The rest of the room just gets cleaned once a week.

Washing machine I just leave the drawer & door open over night once I've finished with it.

StrongSunglasses · 28/09/2021 00:06

I don’t. But I’m probably a slut.

ThirdElephant · 28/09/2021 00:06

Nope.

Justmuddlingalong · 28/09/2021 00:10

Shower screen is squeegeed after showers. Washing machine drawer and door left open slightly after each use.

Original poster
Notcontent · 28/09/2021 00:15

This is very interesting…. My mother has one of those squeegees in the shower and insists on it being used. I thought she was a bit mad but obviously not!!!! I might have to buy one.

OP posts:
GeorgiaGirl52 · 28/09/2021 00:19

Shower yes. Wipe down the walls and shake and spread the curtain.
Washing machine no. Just leave the door open when it is empty.

ElephantOfRisk · 28/09/2021 00:20

We squeegee the shower and then run over it with a cloth which then dries on the radiator. Room needs to be both heated and aired. Don't dry out the washing machine but do leave the door and drawer open.

Houses need heated and aired especially if you are drying laundry and have damp towels around.

grapewine · 28/09/2021 00:22

Shower yes, washing machine no. But I leave the door open.

TheHouseILiveIn · 28/09/2021 00:23

We squeegee the shower or it will get mouldy. I didn't know this and used to think our extractor fan wasn't good enough! Never heard of drying a washing machine in my 40+ years of life Confused

TheHouseILiveIn · 28/09/2021 00:24

@Notcontent

This is very interesting…. My mother has one of those squeegees in the shower and insists on it being used. I thought she was a bit mad but obviously not!!!! I might have to buy one.
75p from IKEA!
minipie · 28/09/2021 00:24

Squeegee here but to prevent limescale not mould. Window almost always open in the bathroom. It’s not heated much but is above the kitchen so stays warm.

Washing machine nope I just leave it open

ducksalive · 28/09/2021 00:25

Shower yes because we don't have a window in the bathroom.
We have a squeegee.

Spikeyplants · 28/09/2021 00:34

Washing machine- I leave the door ajar after use to dry out

Shower- I have a karcher window cleaner, but have only use it a hand full of times in there to suck the moisture off.

So generally NO- I don't specifically dry them down.

HeddaGarbled · 28/09/2021 00:43

Nope

Franticbutterfly · 28/09/2021 08:18

DH and I squeegy the glass after every shower. Saves on watermarks. I dont have to do much scrubbing in there.

Caspianberg · 29/09/2021 10:26

Shower always, reduces water marks left so reduces cleaning time.

Washing machine no. I leave the door open a fraction though so it drys out

Hedgesgalore · 29/09/2021 10:44

Squeegee the shower walls and door. We leave the shower door open. Windows open for as much time as I can. Bathroom door is left open when nobody using bathroom. Our bathroom and toilet are in separate rooms.

I have a thing about opening windows for fresh air daily, no matter what the weather.

Washing machine door always left open. The drawer gets washed regularly.

SquigglePigs · 29/09/2021 10:51

No, neither. It never occurred to me to dry something that would dry on it's own. As others have said, I leave the washing machine door open after I've emptied it though.

MrsPerfect12 · 29/09/2021 23:20

Yes I do it.

Youcancallmeval · 29/09/2021 23:25

I don't have a separate shower cubicle or a screen so nothing there.
After each wash has been removed from the machine, I wipe the inside of the window and also the seal inside and out, then leave the door open to dry properly.

Kite22 · 29/09/2021 23:27

No, neither.
Never herd of this being done for either.

Washing machine - I leave the door open. Shower I try to leave the bathroom window open for a bit after having a bath or shower or the extractor fan on whilst in there so the room is aired, and, as a pp said, keep the rooms warmed through every day once the weather gets cold.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 29/09/2021 23:54

Yep, dry the washing machine seal and the glass window with an old tea towel. This is because our last one went mouldy and I couldn't stand the smell.

Djifunrsn · 29/09/2021 23:59

I quickly squeegee the shower but that’s for limescale prevention (very hard water here). I think opening windows may be more effective if you want to prevent mould.

Washing machine left open. To prevent mould inside it (seal). Not to prevent mould in the house.

NorthernNic · 30/09/2021 10:16

I squeegee the shower. I leave the washer door ajar and wipe inside the seal (pull it open and see what lurks in there!) Periodically take the drawer out and give it a good scrub, again you'd be surprised how grubby that gets.