Mould will pretty much take hold wherever it can but one favoured spot is the door seal of washing machines. 

Apart from looking pretty grim and not being very clean, the mould can also produce a smell that will affect your laundry.

Mould can thrive on the soap residue left behind after each wash cycle, too. Leaving wet clothes inside the washing machine for a long period creates even more ideal conditions for growth. 

So what should we do if the black stuff has taken hold? While households can use a mildew remover solution that contains bleach, there is an alternative that cleaning expert Sabrina Tretyakova at Fortador recommends to remove mould “without scrubbing”.

She suggests households use white vinegar as a “great alternative”. Sabrina explained: “Vinegar is an excellent alternative to mildew removers. You can use it if you do not have the stain removers handy.”

Vinegar can often be more effective than bleach at times as bleach only kills mould spores on the surface of affected materials whereas vinegar can penetrate porous materials, killing mould at its root.

For this method, mix white vinegar and warm distilled water in a spray bottle and apply liberally on the stains.

Households may have seen warnings about using vinegar in washing machines, however, using vinegar in a wash where it is diluted with water or making a solution and wiping it off will not cause any damage.

Not only is white vinegar effective, but it’s also cheap and easily accessible. It retails for 35p at Sainsbury’s and £1 at Morrisons.

Alternatively, Sabrina claimed that baking soda can also be used to tackle the mould.

She said: “Baking soda is an excellent household alternative to regular mildew stain removers.

“Mix a cup of baking soda with a gallon of water. Pour the mixture into the washing machine and run it on its highest setting for one cycle.”

After cleaning the machine, it is advised to wipe the rubber gasket using a clean and dry microfibre cloth. 

Finally, leave the machine door slightly open when it’s not in use. This allows all areas to dry out and that makes it difficult for the mould to gain a hold.