Regardless of how old your washing machine is, proper maintenance remains essential to ensure it operates efficiently and cleans your garments properly.
Washing machine specialists recommend running a service wash to cleanse the interior of your appliance, otherwise dirt accumulates and mould can develop, causing your clothes to smell unpleasant.
However, there’s another area requiring attention… the detergent drawer. You may have spotted mould forming in this compartment – and one specialist has identified what he believes is the primary culprit.
According to an appliance service repair expert from Melbourne, Australia, (@ezywashingmachinerepair), fabric softener usage can lead to mould growth in the drawer.
During a recent client visit, the specialist enquired whether she used fabric softener, as he noticed mould exclusively on the section where that product would be placed.
On TikTok, he stated: “No matter what you buy, softeners are not good even the sensitive [ones].”
He proceeded to show how the mould appeared solely on the softener compartment side, even after removing the drawer.
The expert suggested using white vinegar instead, which costs approximately 35p at supermarkets such as Aldi and Tesco. Initially, he advised cleaning the drawer to eliminate the softener residue.
“[I’d] recommend instead of your softener, filling it up with white vinegar, natural essential oils, any smell you like, lavender, rose, whatever,” he advised. Rather than adding a cup of fabric conditioner, he recommended substituting it with an equal measure of white vinegar, plus “two drops of essential oil”.
He added: “Works like magic. Your clothes will become soft. They will have a bit of smell from the essential oil.”
In another clip, where he outlined his reservations about fabric softener, he argued it’s “full of chemicals, causes mould in the machine and irritation on the skin”.
Among the comments, several viewers expressed concerns that the “vinegar acidity” might harm the rubber seals or cause the metal components to rust.
The specialist addressed this worry in a follow-up video, acknowledging that “scientifically” it could potentially lead to corrosion.
Nevertheless, when poured into the detergent drawer, he noted it would flow into the drum fairly rapidly.
“You would need to soak it in white vinegar to cause corrosion,” he maintained.
“When you put it in the washing machine it [goes] through the plastics, through the rubbers and it gets washed out by the end of the cycle. It’s not going to sit in the machine.”
That said, if vinegar lands on the machine’s exterior, it may eventually cause corrosion, he cautioned. Laundry brand Vileda states that white vinegar is “entirely safe for use in most laundry situations”.
Their website notes: “Its mild acidic nature makes it gentle on fabrics while being a potent cleaning agent. However, always remember to dilute it and avoid direct contact with undiluted vinegar, particularly on delicate fabrics.”
However, we suggest reading the manual of your appliance before trying the hack. As well as this, the instructions should be able to tell you the best way to keep your washing machine clean.
