Mrs Hinch fans share 55p item to get mouldy washing machine drawers sparkling again
Washing machines are designed to clean clothes, but they also need regular scrubbing to stay fresh themselves. This is particularly true of the detergent drawer.
Because the drawers are used frequently, softener and detergent can cause mould to build up, making them look grubby. The narrow drawers are also hard to clean, so they are often left for long periods of time.
There are cleaning products on the market that promise to clean your drawers in seconds. However, these can be pricey and often not very reliable. So, what is the best way to get your washing machine drawer sparkling clean?
Fans of cleaning guru Mrs Hinch —real name Sophie Hinchliffe—believe the process is simple and involves a cheap household item that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboards.
Posting on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook group, one person asked recently: 'Has anybody got any suggestions on how to get rid of black mould in the washing machine drawer?'
And cleaning fans were quick to respond, with several people telling the woman to remove the drawer, soak it in a bowl of water, and use a washing-up liquid, which can be bought for as little as 55p from Asda.
One person said: 'Washing up liquid is great for this, simple and so effective.'
For the best results, Mrs Hinch fans recommend cleaning the drawer after every use, so that mould doesn't have the chance to build up.
There are many reasons why mould may grow in the washing machine drawer, including excess detergent, which can cause soap scum that can get caught and turn into mould.
Homewares deal of the week
Looking to beat the heat as temperatures continue to rise?
Then look no further than Dunelm's White Rechargeable USB Desk Fan that has an almost perfect five star rating for its small, yet mighty, design that means it works "even on the lowest setting."
Easy to connect via a USB cable that can be connected to laptops and computers, this desk fan is perfect for those who find themselves working from home on these sweaty, humid summer days.
However, it doesn't need to remain plugged-in, as the rechargeable element and compact six-inch design means it can be taken anywhere, even placed on a bedside table overnight on summer nights thanks to its "quiet" operation.
It's finished with four speed settings to choose from and an adjustable angle that can help direct the cool breeze where it is needed, unlike other models that can sometimes be stuck in one place.
As for Dunelm's own mini desk fan, it has received an impressive 4.8 rating from impressed shoppers who say that, despite its size, it is "surprisingly powerful" and "a literal life-saver" during this kind of weather.
One five-star review read: "Fantastic fan, surprisingly powerful, quiet, lasts for quite a long time when charged, very hard to find a decent small rechargeable fan but this is it, will be buying more!"
Beat the heat with Dunelm's White Rechargeable USB Desk Fan that costs just £25.
Washing at temperatures below 40 degrees regularly can also leave behind some residue, which facilitates the growth of mould and dirt.
Meanwhile, other cleaning fans recommended using white vinegar instead of washing up liquid. The product is known for its versatility in tackling a variety of cleaning jobs.
It can dissolve hard water and cut through grime, making it ideal for washing machine drawers.
And for another alternative, some commenters in the same Facebook group suggested putting the drawer in the dishwasher if you have one or soaking it in water with a dishwasher tablet.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Sarah Dempsey, a cleaning expert from MyJobQuote, recently shared the best method to clean inside of your washing machine.
Sarah said: 'The best way to clean your washing machine seal is to run a hot wash cycle.'
The expert added that there are some household products that you can use to clean your washing machine. She added: 'For example, you can spray the washing machine drum with white vinegar and wipe it all around the drum with a clean cloth.
"This will help to get rid of residues and hard water stains and can even lift away grease easily."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
The colossal cost of feeding teens revealed as kids 'eating parents out of the house'
Teens are literally eating their parents out of the house, according to a new report. If you feel like your teens are always hungry, you're not alone. In fact, the absolutely staggering cost of feeding teenagers has been revealed by a new report from Asda, and apparently, it's even worse during the summer holidays. Asda surveyed 2,000 UK parents with school-age children, revealing that the cost of feeding teens was a shocking £22,932 per year. For house-holds with with kids aged 13-18, the big weekly supermarket food shop now adds up to £189 per week, according to findings. Surplus spending for two weekly 'top up' food shops at £64 each and two food deliveries averaging £42 each, as well as an additional £40 cash extracted from parents for snacks and lunches while out the house brings the total cost of feeding teenagers to £441 every week. An astounding 89 per cent of parents with teens say their kids are always hungry, with the new data revealing that a multipack of crisps lasts just four days in an average home. The research also revealed that a carton of milk being is finished within three days, and that a punnet of grapes lasts just two days in the average teen household. And with the kids home all summer long, three in 10 parents (29%) say that their weekly shop disappears twice as fast over the six-to-eight-week holiday. What's worse, it's not just our own children tucking in, but four in 10 (38%) of surveyed parents even say that their children's friends help themselves to food in their house when they come over - so much that 15 per cent encourage their kids to stay at other parents' houses so they can eat their food instead. But our teenagers can't be given all the blame for the colossal cost of feeding them, as it's no secret that budgets are already under pressure. According to the latest Asda Income Tracker, 40 per cent of UK households saw a drop in income in June 2025, which hit already-struggling families hardest, with weekly shortfalls of £74 between income and basic costs. Mum of two hungry boys Elizabeth Nichols, 40 from Bristol said: "It's only the start of the summer holidays and already the kids are eating me out of house and home. "It feels like I'm constantly topping up the fridge and cupboards. "Any parent of a teen will know, feeding them is like throwing food into a bottomless pit, especially when they're active like mine, constantly riding their bikes or kicking a ball around in the park. They are literally always hungry." Aurelia Blair, a 36 year-old mum of three teens, added: 'Summer holidays always mean a big increase in how much we're spending on food. "It feels like the fridge is emptying faster than we can fill it. I really welcome any help to make our shop go further.' A spokesperson for Asda added: 'We know families are feeling the pressure- especially during the school holidays when the pace (and the portions) pick up. That's why we're committed to helping parents stretch their budgets without compromising on quality." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Get shower screen sparkling in minutes with little-known product that's better than vinegar
Achieving that perfect streak-free shine on your shower glass can be difficult, but one specific product could be just the thing you need. Cleaning the shower screen in your bathroom can be a tough task. And when you finally get it sparkling, it can be just as hard to keep it stain-free. Shampoo, soap, and even water can quickly cling to the screen, making it a grubby mess all over again. Most believe that white vinegar is the ideal product to banish the stains; however, experts say there's another, lesser-known product that works quicker and even better. The hack, which was shared by consumer experts at Which?, on TikTok, shows a dirty shower screen being cleaned. Speaking over the video, the experts said: "Spraying it with vinegar will be effective, but citric acid is even better. It's stronger than vinegar, and brilliant at fighting limescale." All you need to do is mix a couple of spoonfuls of citric acid with hot water in a spray bottle, and apply it liberally all over your dirty shower screen. Then, leave it for a couple of minutes, as this will help the mixture to really seep into the limescale marks. Once you've done that, use a non-scratch sponge to scrub the glass clean, before spritzing with the mixture again and using a squeegee to wipe it off afterwards. But if you don't have a squeegee to hand, don't worry - you can use a microfibre cloth instead for the same effect. You can buy a tub of citric acid from Asda for as little as £1.75, and this is enough to do multiple cleaning jobs. In the video's comments, several people suggested their own tried-and-tested methods for keeping the shower clean. One person said: "Try using 5% of washing up liquid and 5% of cleaning white vinegar in a spray bottle, top it up with water. This helps to maintain the shower after use." Another suggested: "Just squeegee the screen every time you shower, that way there are never water droplets to dry and form [lime]scale." Mrs Hinch fans also recently shared a 'brilliant' cleaning item you can buy from Tesco that 'removes water marks' from shower screens and is 'effortless' to use. You may already have the handy tool at home, as it can be used for a number of different household cleaning tasks. But if you don't, they often cost less than £2 and can be picked up from most supermarkets. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The cleaning gurus' fans urged people to avoid harsh bathroom chemicals and use a £1.50 Dishmatic to get rid of streaks and soap scum. In the 'Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips' Facebook group, Dawn Allison asked: "Best thing to clean shower screen, please? " In response, many people suggested the handy washing-up tool with an attached sponge. Lisa Harris shared a tip: "Mix equal parts of Fairy Liquid and white vinegar in a Dishmatic. Rinse and dry. Removes built-up water marks and soap scum from your shower screen. It makes cleaning effortless." Lynney Jack also said: "Viakal and then scrub side with Dishmatic. Leave on for 20 minutes then rinse off. Use a squeegee every time and no need to clean! ".
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Asda urges shoppers to return common household device due to 'fire risk'
The product has been recalled with Brits urged to stop using it "immediately". A UK-wide product recall has been announced on a common household device, with Brits being told to stop using the device 'immediately'. Due to an uncovered fire risk, all Goblin handheld cordless vacuums have been removed from shelves across the country. Households are being told to stop using the device as it was found that the battery in some units of the vacuum began to overheat, which could potentially cause a fire risk. The label of the faulty cordless vacuum has indicated it was "produced for Asda stores", leading the supermarket to advise shoppers to return it to their local store. However, shoppers will first need to check the site codes on their device, as only certain units will be taken back for a full refund or exchange, reports the Mirror. The model in question that could cause safety hazards is the GHV102W-20 model of the Goblin handheld cordless vacuum. A statement on the UK Government website reveals: "It has been identified that in some units of the Goblin handheld vacuum, the battery may overheat. This could pose a fire safety risk if left on charge and unattended." The statement goes on further to clarify that the vacuum "does not meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016". This specific Goblin vacuum comes with labels indicating it was created to be sold in Asda stores, meaning the major supermarket has had to swipe their existing stock off the shelf and urge customers to return to their local store for a refund or exchange through a product recall notice. Asda's website advises: "Stop using the unit and return it to your nearest ASDA store for a full refund or exchange. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you would like any further information, please contact Asda Customer Relations on 0800 952 0101." Customers who find the following site codes on their vacuum should immediately stop using the device and head to their closest Asda store: 15A.08.20.115 15A.10.21.181 15A.09.22.168 However, if shoppers find the site code 15A.09.22.168A then their device is not included in the product recall and is still safe to use. Previous Asda customers have left a mixture of reviews for the Goblin vacuum, with some saying it is easy to assemble and has a 'very good suction'. However, some did say they wouldn't recommend it for carpets or pets. One shopper said: "I find the suction very good but it doesn't stand up on its own. It comes with one bracket with a sticker on the back to stick to the wall to help it stand up.' While another person added: "No, you plug it into any socket with the provided plug, the instructions say it's best to remove all the fittings and just charge the top part of the hoover." This was followed by an unimpressed review, stating: "Doesn't pick up hardly anything and it's already broken. Only had it for 3 months." A fourth customer wrote: "I bought this at the weekend and I'm not happy with it at all. It doesn't work. Even put it on charge, it's not even charging and I am not happy about it at all." While a final shopper added: "Its easy to assemble but ive had it for months now and its actually stared spitting bits of dirt back out. So I wouldn't recommend it for carpet or pets!".
