how to clean mildewy rim on washing machine seal?

newleaf

Funny thing really, I have been thinking about joining the local W.I. but when I got my flour moth infestation I thought I might get black-balled and it put me off joining for a while! Off topic, I know, but since last w/e I've killed about a dozen moths and half as many larvae. Today's the first day I haven't seen either - and I have heightened awareness at the moment, I can tell you!

Back to topic then, Stardrops is a wonderful gold coloured liquid detergent that's made here in Yorkshire, I think. You can get it at Wilkinsons (where I believe it's only 58p) or at Morrisons, where it's 75p. It's just a very effective, pleasantly scented, liquid cleaner for almost any task. With the ubiquitous microfibre cloth and a bottle of Stardrops you can take on the world! There are two sister products too, Starclen looks like lemon barley water and contains ammonia for heavy duty tasks, and Starpine is a dark green pine scented disinfectant - but it's much harder to find than the other two.

cathybird

I'll never ever tell the WI about the moths!! I promise!!

I haven't seen any of 'em lately either - though that doesn't mean they're not lurking, of course...

Thanks for info on Stardrops, extremely useful, will head down to Morrison's to see if I can find

x cathy

Pink.

Hi cathybird,

There's a long thread here on the wonders of Stardrops....it really is amazing stuff!

Some of the replies on these older threads might help with the seal on the washing machine:

Stinky washing machine!

how to clean mildewy rim on washing machine?

"rusty" mark on shirts from washing machine ?

Smelly Washing Machine!!!

Pink

cathybird

totally brilliant - thanks all!

ivyleaf

If there's an Asda near you you might find it in there for 58p too - that's where I bought mine. I think people must have been asking for it, as i've never seen any in there before!:D

stuart264

Run a 90 degree cycle with an empty machine with a full dose of bio powder in it to clean out the machine. If the seal is that yucky its going to be yucky inside where you cant see. Its a good habit to get into doing once a month.

A tip I picked up off another site, it must be powder (bio for preference) as the bleach in powder help to clean the machine it doesnt work as well if you use laundry liquid as its not chemically possible to put bleach in a liquid detergent, they have bleaching agents rther than bleach.

cathybird

well, maybe that's what I've not been doing correctly, since I normally use the 40 degree cycle for everything...

Welshlassie

I check my seal everyso often I've regularly found coins in there, it all mounts up and is fed to Flossie the Mortgage sheep.

msmicawber

Once you've got it as clean and fresh as you can using the advice above, you can avoid it getting that way again by just wiping it and the glass bit in the door with a dry cloth each time you unload it, then leaving the door open to let it dry out between washes.

cathybird

yeah, been leaving the door closed - clearly not a good idea. will leave it open from now on.

haven't found any coins in there sadly tho!!