09 Sep How to Get Rid of Dishwasher Mold
Modern appliances make household chores easy and convenient. For example, cleaning up after a delicious dinner is much easier when you have a machine to do the dishes for you. But did you know that your dishwasher can also be a hiding place for mold?
Mold loves warm, dark, and damp places, and it feeds off of organic matter. This means that a dishwasher full of leftover food particles is the perfect place for fungal spores to thrive. Luckily, understanding what causes dishwasher mold can help you kick mold out of your kitchen.
What Causes Dishwasher Mold?
Mold spores can enter your home on your clothes, your pet’s fur, and your shoes, or through open doors and windows. However, spores only grow into mold when they find a food source and an environment with the right growing conditions.
Mold can eat almost any organic materials, including wood, fiber, paper, and food particles. Since the dishwasher provides a food source and a dark, humid environment, it is a common place for mold to grow. And even though a dishwasher uses very hot water, many strains of mold can survive the wash cycle, even with high heat.
Signs That There’s Mold in Your Dishwasher
While you may not suspect it, mold in a dishwasher is more common than you think. One study tested dishwashers across six different continents and found that 62% of them contained fungus. Even though your dishes may come out clean, that doesn’t mean your dishwasher itself is sparkling inside.
One common warning sign is a bad odor. If you notice a musty “basement smell” coming from your appliance, it may be time to call a mold removal professional.
Visible mold on your dishes is another clear indicator that it’s time for professional help, but underneath your plates isn’t the only place that mold likes to hide. Check these areas for signs of mold in your dishwasher:
- Dishwasher rack
- Drain hose
- Vent
- Behind the dishwasher
Mold can be tricky when it comes to hiding places, but My Pure Environment offers a free home inspection to help you find and remove mold in your home.
How to Prevent Dishwasher Mold
Mold exposure can have adverse health effects like itchy, watery eyes, a stuffy or runny nose, or an irritating skin rash. It can also aggravate symptoms in people with asthma and cause serious health risks in immunocompromised individuals. Taking steps to prevent dishwasher mold keeps you and your family healthy and safe.
You can keep mold out of your dishwasher by:
1. Cleaning the Filter
Scrubbing the filter in your dishwasher once a week prevents a buildup of rotting food and eliminates a growth factor for mold.
2. Drying Your Dishwasher
If you choose to let dishes air dry after a wash, keep the dishwasher door open and make sure there’s no remaining moisture even after you put your dishes away.
3. Washing the Gasket
The rubber seal surrounding your dishwasher door is a great place for mold to grow, so cleaning and drying it thoroughly is key to preventing fungus.
In general, you can keep mold out of your kitchen by creating an environment that is unfriendly to fungal spores. Running a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels low (between 30% and 50%), fixing leaky faucets and water damage right away, and making sure your space has proper ventilation can all help prevent mold growth.
Dishwasher Mold Removal in Massachusetts
In conclusion, the number one way to guarantee that the mold in your kitchen has been properly removed is to schedule a professional remediation service. My Pure Environment offers home inspections and demolition-free dry fog mold removal to make sure mold stays out of your home for good.
For all of your mold inspection, testing, and removal needs, reach out to our team of expert technicians today. You can call 401-205-3825 or contact us online for high quality, affordable service.
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