Why the Detergent Drawer Grows Mould

The detergent drawer stays damp between washes, and leftover detergent, fabric softener, and residue give mould exactly the food source it needs. Because the drawer sits enclosed inside the machine with little airflow, moisture lingers far longer here than almost anywhere else in a kitchen or utility room, which is why black mould tends to appear here first, before anywhere else on the appliance. If mould keeps turning up elsewhere in the home too, our guide on removing mould from a bathroom ceiling covers a similar approach for a different surface.

What You Will Need

• Rubber gloves
• An old toothbrush or small cleaning brush
• White vinegar or a proprietary mould and mildew remover
• A large bowl, sink, or bucket for soaking
• A soft cloth

Step by Step: Cleaning the Drawer

1. Remove the drawer

Most drawers release with a catch or button beneath the front edge, though some need to be pulled firmly while pressed down at the same time. Check your machine’s manual if it does not come free easily, since forcing it can damage the mechanism.

2. Soak it

Submerge the drawer in a bowl or sink of hot water mixed with white vinegar for at least thirty minutes. This loosens caked-on detergent residue and softens mould before you start scrubbing, making the next step considerably easier.

3. Scrub every compartment

Use an old toothbrush to get into the corners and channels of each compartment, particularly the fabric softener section, which tends to collect the thickest residue. Rinse thoroughly under running water once clean.

4. Clean the housing the drawer sits in

The recess inside the machine, where the drawer normally sits, is just as prone to mould as the drawer itself, and it is the part most people forget entirely. Use the same brush and solution to clean the top and sides of this cavity, checking carefully near the back where mould tends to build up unseen.

The Part Almost Everyone Misses: The Drawer Tube

Behind the drawer housing, a flexible tube or channel carries water and detergent down into the drum. Mould frequently builds up inside this tube, and since it is hidden from view, it can keep reinfecting a freshly cleaned drawer within days. Flushing this tube with a jug of hot water mixed with vinegar poured directly into the empty drawer housing, followed by running an empty hot wash, helps clear residue from inside the tube itself rather than just the visible parts of the drawer.

Preventing Mould from Returning

• Leave the drawer slightly open, or fully removed, between washes to let air circulate
• Wipe the drawer dry with a cloth after each wash if you have a moment
• Run a monthly empty hot wash with a washing machine cleaner or a cup of white vinegar
• Avoid overfilling the drawer with liquid detergent, since excess residue is what feeds mould growth

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to use bleach on a plastic detergent drawer?

Diluted bleach can be used occasionally, but repeated use can degrade some plastics over time. White vinegar is gentler on the material and is effective enough for regular maintenance cleaning.

Why does mould keep coming back after I clean the drawer?

This usually means the drawer housing or the tube behind it still has residue that was not reached during cleaning. Flushing the tube with hot water and vinegar, and cleaning the full housing rather than just the drawer, resolves this in most cases.

How often should I clean my washing machine drawer?

A quick wipe after each wash, combined with a more thorough soak and scrub once a month, keeps mould from establishing itself in the first place.

Can a mouldy drawer affect how clean my laundry gets?

Yes. Mould and residue in the drawer can transfer a musty smell to clothes and reduce how effectively detergent reaches the drum, so keeping it clean genuinely affects wash quality.