mouldy washing machines

[juliono]

Why does where I put the powder in my washing machine go black with mould?

[woodchopper]

Am having a guess that soap in its basic form is fat - which when rots grows mould on it which is a type of fungus.

[Ethel]

You are probably using a powder for 'colour care' or non-bio, and wash on a cooler wash.

Once a month, take the drawer out and give it a good scrub and clean inside the drawer cavity - I use a bottle brush.

Use a plastic tooth pick (or similar) to clean the jets at the top of the cavity too.

Now use a cheap biological powder (no conditioner) to run the machine empty on the hottest cycle. The bleach in the powder will give the machine a good clean and kill the bacteria that causes the mould.

All washing machine manufacturers recommend this routine care nowadays.