Washing machine warning issued after woman discovers 'growth' lurking in hers

A woman has issued a warning after discovering a 'growth' inside her washing machine. People are being urged to regularly check theirs as the woman shared what she found online.

Taking to popular Facebook group, Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips, Samantha admitted her dismay at finding mould growing inside her washing machine. An image she uploaded shows the inner seal of her machine covered in dark specks of mould.

She first urged people to not judge, before adding: "I have been trying to clean the inside of my washing machine. But I can't get rid of the mould in the seal.

"I've tried mould remover, bleach and washing machine cleaner but nothing works please help. It's only on the bottom of the seal. Washing machine is used twice, maybe more a day."

Hundreds of people flooded the comments section with advice and suggestions. Jacqui replied: "Astonish mould and mildew spray , cheap as chips and does an amazing job." Diane said: "Lemon baking soda & white vinegar."

Patricia put forward: "Hi try kilrock mould spray . I soak some kitchen roll with it and put in in the seal .leave for an hour then wipe off." Gail typed: "I use kitchen roll soaked in bleach and leave overnight and it's gone!"

Many people highlighted the risk of mould by keeping the washing machine door closed constantly. Sue warned: "This is caused by closing the washer door all the time.

"I always leave my washer door open a bit and never get this problem. It also says on the instructions to leave open when not in use."

Lynda added: "Always leave door and drawer slightly open when not in use. It avoids this completely." Roxanne put: "Also try leaving the door open in-between uses!"

Nicola echoed: "Always keep the door open." Wendy penned: "I dry mine after every wash. And keep the door open to air."

Samantha returned to the comment section later on to express her thanks and shared her results after following advice. "Thank you so much everyone. I tried using kitchen roll with mould spray which didn't work," she wrote.

Uploading a picture of her now-squeaky clean washing machine, she added: "Then I spotted Kilrock mould gel with a brush and here are the results."

A spokesperson from Persil explained the importance of leaving your washing machine door open between uses. "This will allow it to air out and help prevent mould and mildew from growing – so no more nasty smells lingering in the kitchen," they said.

"Regular cleaning is an important part of knowing how to use washing machines, after all, your washing machine won’t be able to do its job efficiently if it’s not clean itself. Set the washing machine to a hot cycle and add a cup of white vinegar to sanitise the machine and help remove smells."