There is nothing more unpleasant than opening the washing machine door after washing and, instead of a fresh and pleasant smell, a damp and unpleasant stench. Dirt on the rubber of the washing machine is responsible for these bad odors. With each wash, dirt, hair, traces of dirt and dirty washing water accumulate in the rubber that hermetically isolates the drum and door of the washing machine from the outside.

Over time, this dirt and moisture accumulated in the rubber of the washing machine rots and gives rise to fungi that give it that unpleasant black and slimy appearance. Plus the rubber smells bad. But, How to clean the rubber of the washing machine?

The manufacturers They usually give instructions, but to avoid it you have to follow these tips and above all, you have to act to prevent it.

Index of contents:

Clean the rubber of the washing machine
Remove mold from washing machine rubber
Prevent the washing machine rubber from getting dirty

Clean the rubber of the washing machine

Follow these steps to clean the rubber if it is not moldy:

Wear gloves – Prevent your skin from drying out or getting any type of infection due to contact with cleaning products and dirt from the washing machine rubber. It's better to prevent.

Empty the drum – It's obvious, but make sure that no socks or panties are left behind inside of the washing machine drum misplaced paper since it can be damaged by the detergent used to clean the rubber of the washing machine.

Stretch the rubber – To clean it properly, it is necessary to pull it outwards, so that the entire surface to be cleaned is exposed. Do not pull too hard so as not to detach it from the drum.

Rub with detergent – Dampen a cloth with detergent and rub the rubber of the washing machine well along its entire length. Any detergent is valid, but if you want to use a natural, environmentally friendly detergent, mix 50 ml. of white vinegar, 250 ml. of water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. You can use a cloth or use it with a sprayer.

dries well – When you finish rubbing, it is very important to dry the rubber well so that it does not smell like humidity.

Let the door open – At least during half an hour, so that drying is complete.

How to remove mold from washing machine rubber

If a long time has passed without cleaning the rubber, it may even have created mold. It's something that is avoided if you dry the rubber after each wash as usual. Mold is a black, slimy stain quite unpleasant that gives off a bad smell and can impregnate freshly washed clothes. If your washing machine has mold, you will need another home cleaning remedy, also environmentally friendly, to eliminate it.

Dry the rubber well – The first step is to remove moisture with a dry cloth. Take a good look at all the folds and corners, since that is where the hair grows. fungus responsible for the bad smells.

Prepare the cleaner - Mix 1 liter of water with 20 ml. of lemon juice and 100 ml. of hydrogen peroxide. Put it in an atomizing spray.

Spray the rubber – Thoroughly impregnate the entire area affected by mold with the cleaner you have prepared. It is important to let it act at least 10 minutes so that it descales the mold and makes it easy to remove.

Rub the rubber – Use gloves and with a cloth rub the entire moldy surface impregnated with the cleaner until there is nothing left.

Dry the rubber again – When there is no longer embedded mold, dry the rubber well again.

Do a wash – Put the rest of the cleaning product that you have prepared in the drawer, in the detergent compartment and in the drum. Now schedule a wash 60 degrees unclothed. When I finish, dry the rubber and leave the door open to air out.

If you prefer to use a commercial product, there are several options on the market such as the popular HG Mold Cleaner.

How to prevent the washing machine rubber from getting dirty

The best thing to prevent the rubber from accumulating dirt and becoming stinky is to take precautions regularly and constantly with each wash.

Dry the rubber well after each wash with a cloth intended for this purpose. If you leave it on top of the washing machine out of habit, it will help you avoid forgetting to do it.
Leave the washing machine door open after each wash at least half an hour. Good drying is essential to prevent fungi from proliferating.
Clean the drawer well of detergent at least 3 times a year. The box comes out well if you pull it and cleans it in a moment with hot water under the tap.
Do not use bleach No aggressive products on the rubber of the washing machine since you will wear it out prematurely and you will have to notify a washing machine technician to change the entire rubber and it is a cost that we do not want.
Even if you don't see stains on the rubber, clean the rubber with natural detergent at least once a month to prevent mold from appearing.

There is no magic tricks to clean the rubber of the washing machine and there are many sites on the Internet that recommend everything from using bleach (it wears down rubber), to dish detergent, grease removers and dangerous mixtures of chemicals. Be very careful with these tips because they can be dangerous for your health. If you are still going to try them, always use gloves and a mask when making these types of mixtures.

make a good washing machine maintenance, drying the rubber and cleaning the drawers and drum regularly, will help you extend the life of the appliance and you will save detergent, money and time, since you will not need to do long washes with a lot of detergent so that your clothes are clean and scented.