Moldy Front-load washer

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
I'm unsure how comfy I am with this situation... how "housewifey" I've become that I even noticed this news story - let alone found it interesting!

Anyhow, beware of potential mold issues if you are using a front-load washing machine. You need to leave the door open (beware of children and pets climbing inside though!) and dry the rubber door seal between wash days. Also check if there is a lint trap as this also traps water inside the machine and you could wind up with a moldy lint collection.

Here is the story for those intersted: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33997384...r_news/page/2/

2
Another suggestion for maintaining your machine. Sun (Unilever) makes a product that is used to clean the machine itself (without any dishes in it). It is suggested that you do this treatment every three months.

The product can be found at Coop (maybe Migros has the equivalent). It normally comes in a package of three treatments.

This treatment gets rid of all the crude and other stuff inside the machine and pumping system. You still need to clean the rubber joint by hand.

3
I saw a tip on a recent television programme where you wash a cupful of household vinegar (apple or similar) in an empty washing machine and it cleans and de-scales the drum.

I do this 3 or 4 times a year in our own machine and also in the communal machine in the wash kitchen.

Edit: you should store all washing machines with their doors open in order that the whole interior can dry out - not just the door seal.

4
For the towels I use vinegar (putzessig) in lieu of the liquid fabric softener. The towels are more absorbent and it helps keep the washer clean.

Also, don't forget to clean out the filter. We killed our first machine because we never (in five years!) cleaned out the filter.