The washing machine drawer sees various types of liquids and powders pass through it on a weekly, and sometimes a daily basis. The residue of liquids and fabric softeners is often gunky and thick, meaning it is sometimes difficult to rinse through the compartment fully. If not cleaned, the liquids and powders can turn hard, providing the perfect environment for black mould to grow. To make the task easier for those who have let their washing machine drawer get taken over by mould and soap scum, Mrs Hinch fans have shared their advice.
Unsure of how to clean her dirty washing machine drawer, Nancy Morrison took to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page to ask for some tips.
She wrote: “Drawer from washing machine, never ever been as bad as this, think laundry liquid is to blame. Tried elbow grease which hasn’t worked. Any thoughts?”
The images the cleaning enthusiast posted on social media showed the washing machine draws completely covered in soap scum and black mould.
Taking to the comments, group members suggested Nancy use white vinegar to clean the compartment.
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Charissa Hanson said: “Soak the drawer in hot water and vinegar. After an hour or so all the mess will have washed off.”
Mary Seale wrote: “I did mine last week. It’s best to put it in hot water with just white vinegar, make sure it is fully covered and leave for about an hour.
“It was pure white when I took it out. The crusty soap scum and mould had disappeared.”
Kelly Jones commented: “I soak mine with white vinegar and a tiny bit of washing up liquid.”
Catherine Rhodes said: “Soak in hot water with a bit of white vinegar, should be like new when you’re finished.”
Jane Boden wrote: “I always soak mine in the sink in boiling hot water and white vinegar for about half an hour then scrub it, that works fine.”
Kathy Lant commented: “I soaked mine in white vinegar and then used an old toothbrush to scrub, this morning. Worked a treat.”
Sue Williams recommended: “White vinegar works like a dream on stubborn soap scum and even mould. It’s all you need to tackle a dirty washing machine drawer.”
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White vinegar is a cleaning miracle. Not only is it much more gentle than harsh chemicals like bleach, it’s also affordable and incredibly effective.
Distilled white vinegar is known for its numerous cleaning benefits like mould and it can help to break down detergent that’s left behind in washing machine drawers.
When it comes to cleaning the inside of a washing machine, white vinegar will give better (and longer lasting) results than bleach will as bleach typically masks stains rather than removing them.
Bleach will simply kill any bacteria or mould living on the surface at that time, whereas vinegar can penetrate the surfaces slightly and will keep killing bacteria or mould for longer.
White vinegar can be bought from most supermarkets or online if there’s not already a bottle at the back of the cupboard.
The household cleaning liquid can be picked up from local supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda for just 29p.
To reduce the chances of detergent and mould building up inside the drawer again, take the drawer out regularly to just rinse it under the tap to wash away any detergent that remains. Leave the drawer to dry thoroughly before putting it back in the machine.
Other suggestions for removing black mould and soap scum from washing machine drawers included using soda crystals, mould spray, and dishwasher tablets.