Black mould in washing machine draw

[Mummytobe383]

Hello, I’ve done the stupidest thing.
This morning I went to put my daughters clothes in the washer but when I went to put the powder in the draw I could see a bit of black so I pulled the washing machine draw out and it was black everywhere in the draw and I had only cleaned it out not long ago.
So I cleaned it again this morning with one of those sonic cleaner brushes and stuff with disinfectant but I didn’t realise I think it’s me just being stupid that I didn’t realise it was black mould and I cleaned it without a mask and gloves and I’m 25 weeks+1 pregnant now and I just feel stupid for cleaning black mould and not realising, really naive of me but I’m a bit worried now as it’s obviously been all over my hands and probably breathed it in too!
I’m definitely having a bit of anxiety about it because obviously black mould can harm the baby. Should I ring my midwife or something?
I’m under my mental health parental team but they’re not open on Saturday so I can’t ring them at the moment and is this something to ring my midwife about?
Thanks.

I'm sure it's fine, try to remain calm, speak to MW if you're worried but that type of mould gets everywhere damp

It's fine, worrying over nothing, I wouldn't even give cleaning that off the washing machine drawer a second thought.

As far as I can remember from when I was pregnant, there arent any studies which link black mould to miscarriage or birth defects. There's just anecdotal evidence, but that anectodal evidence is for repeated and prolonged exposure. You cleaning a little about of it will be fine. Dont worry.
Maybe get someone else to clean it regularly for you at the moment so you're not worrying, but this one time really isnt something to panic about. You and baby will be fine.

Also, it's a drawer.

Don't worry- that kind of mould is not the same as proper, black mould on walls etc- it's just a build up of water/ particles from the clothes. It forms in the drawer of the washing machine all the time.

You should be ok I think. After using washing machine leave the drawer and the door open for a wee while. I find that helps with machine gunk etc.

Thanks everyone, I’m just feeling a bit stressed about it as I was stupid to not even put a mask on to do it 😔 I didn’t realise it was black mould until I googled the best way to get rid of it because before I would just scrub it down with disinfectant but it wasn’t doing the trick this time and then it came up as it’s black mould and it’s so dangerous and should be worried for cleaning it while pregnant and it’s just sent me into a panic I’ve hurt my baby and also my daughter by washing her clothes in the washing machine, I’m at the point of just buying a new washing machine haha.
I couldn’t get rid of it all either it wasn’t coming off so I’ve put it on an empty cycle now with loads of disinfectant and so on but it’s still there and is it going to be all over my clothes now and my daughters clothes still, sorry having a bit of a worry about it all just scared of it harming my baby and daughter.
I know someone said it’s only prolonged exposure but I’ve been washing everyone’s clothes in the dirty washing machine with the mould so been exposing us to it, sorry for the long post and the worrying just feel like I’ve been harming everyone by not cleaning it regularly and now cleaning it while pregnant too.
I’ll ring the on call midwife now thanks everyone.

Was it all wet? Its even less likely to release spores if wet. Also check the plastic rim around the door because this too can hide mould. I agree with leaving the door open or change to pods so you don't need to use the drawer at all.

Yeah it was all wet, it had just been on a wash and was putting a second wash on when I saw the black so it was still wet from the first wash!
That’s good to know that it doesn’t release as many when wet.
I follow mrs hinch on Instagram so I know she cleans her washing machine draw while she’s been pregnant but she doesn’t show if she wears a mask or anything but she obviously does wear gloves and more than likely a mask but me being stupid didn’t.
Sorry for the worry and sounding so silly but the pregnancy anxiety has hit me well and truly and everything to do with cleaning really really stresses me out and my partner is so good he does it but I then go over it after him because I feel like he hasn’t done it right.
I’m just scared I’ve harmed my baby with cleaning it with no mask, no gloves.

Don't use pods they gunk up my machine like anything.

Dettol do little washing machine cleaner bottles which.
I've never worn gloves or a mask to clean it though and not noticed any issues. I find above the drawer where the water comes out is the worst bit to clean, I buy cheap toothbrushes and use those to scrub it off.

Even if you don't use the drawer it will get a build up and go in to your fabrics so cleaning it off is always a good idea.

I didn't even know this was a thing

I’ll grab one of those today the washing machine cleaners and an old tooth brush too. I just can’t seem to get rid of it completely, like you said it’s the worse at the top and there’s places in the draw I can’t reach because it’s small I can’t really get my hand in those places so the black stuff is still all there and I can’t seem to get it so I’m still washing my clothes with all this black mould; I can’t seem to win at the minute!

Lol I came here for the "it's a drawer" comments

If you google the model number, there might be a youtube video of how to get the entire drawer out. I've done this to give it a scrub, then as you said, use an old toothbrush to get to the parts inside the drawer which dont come out.

You can always call 111 to speak to someone or your GP for a phone appointment so they can confirm that you'll be ok. They'll be happy to talk to you

Baby will be absolutely fine
I was living In a horrid rented property during my first pregnancy covered in rising damp as it was a basement flat and the walls where all wet and covered in mould.
Baby was fine and I was there months
We moved during the last month of my pregnancy. It never occurred to me that it could harm my baby tbh

@Horehound you’ve come to the wrong thread then sorry.
I just want to say thank you so everyone for not coming to say it’s just a drawer as people do really struggle with anxiety about certain things just because you don’t and it’s not just a drawer it’s the black mould that’s in the draw.
Thank you everyone I do feel a bit better about it. I’ve taken the draw out I have an cleaned that but finding it hard to get to the inside of the draw when it’s out of that makes sense I don’t think we can take that out but I will definitely google the model number now and everything to have a good luck, I’m on the verge of selling this one as it’s not that old at all and buying a new one and keeping on top of that one instead haha.
Thanks everyone for being really understanding and giving suggestions and advice thank you it means a lot.

People aren't saying "it's just a drawer" as in don't worry about it, they're saying it's called a drawer, not a draw, a draw isn't a thing. Just clarifying that people aren't saying "chill out it's just a drawer", they don't mean it like that.

Ahh right sorry my bad, I realised now that I’ve spelt it wrong the whole time just in a state of panic, sorry if I offended with the comment above x

I have never in my life worn a mask to clean mould out of the drawER of the washing machine. There is no danger to you or your baby.

I use a denture brush and/or an old toothbrush to clean the roof bit of the machine where the drawer goes. Wipe with a cloth if you can fit your hand in

Thanks, I’ve done that I’ve tried my best but it seems to be the little holes at the top of the inside of the draw that I can’t get it all out of, I’ve scrubbed again with a mask and gloves on and been there for so long but it’s not coming off, just worried that all the clothes I’m washing now after this is still going to be covered in the mould, just don’t know what else I can do, I’ve tried everything today to try and get it out of the little holes.

There's a little interdental brush I use for the holes. I got it from savers in the toothbrush section

It's a long handled one like this. Maybe spray some bleach spray at it too

A toothbrush recommended for braces has a little brush bit that fits in those holes well.

Without being able to strip the washer apart you will always have a small amount left somewhere. It's such a small amount that you need not worry about clothes being contaminated though.

DRAWER!!! How many times?!