Isbark.com

If you’ve ever taken out the washing machine detergent drawer, you may have been horrified by what you’ve seen inside. Once the detergent drawer has been removed, a layer of revolting mould is likely to have been seen all over.

It’s even more gross to think that this is where the soap goes and flows into the washing machine drum. Could mould spores be flowing into your wash and making your clothes smell a bit musty? Thankfully, there’s a simple way to restore the cleanliness of the washing machine detergent drawer area.

Cleaning enthusiast Anita Birges of Mise en Place – a professional organising, decluttering and property styling business – revealed her go-to trick.

Posting the demonstrative video to her Facebook page, she removes the washing machine drawer to uncover the mouldy enclosure.

While the actual soap drawer is soaked in the kitchen sink with hot water and white vinegar, how she cleans the inside of the washing machine drawer area could be viewed as unique.

Taking a dish brush – the kind where you can fill the washing-up liquid in the handle – Anita squeezes “a little toothpaste” inside and fills it up with water.

Once shaken, she then takes this brush to “get in there” and give the area a “good clean”.

Anita added: “You can also use a toothbrush to get into the smaller crevices.”

While the actual drawer is soaking in the kitchen sink (which should be left for at least an hour), the washing machine compartment is then rinsed with boiling water from the kettle.

The next step is to wipe down the area with a microfibre cloth to result in a “clean, fresh and mould-free” washing machine drawer.

Once the actual drawer has been soaked for long enough in hot water and white vinegar, has been scrubbed, and rinsed clean, you can put it back into the washing machine.

One commentator added how you can keep the area free from mould once you’ve got it nice and clean.

“Leave the door and drawer wide open after washing,” the commentator noted. “Then the mould won’t happen, as it can dry.”