‘I can smell mold, mildew, and wet wood anywhere I go’: Woman issues PSA about your washing machine

Photo byFabrikaSimf/Shutterstock @brittney_necole/TikTok Cegli/Shutterstock

Mold can find its way into your home in the most unlikely of places. And also several likely places—your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room being prime candidates.

Sinks in the kitchen, bathtubs, and even laundry machines can turn into places where mold grows if they're not regularly cleaned and kept dry, except when they're in use, as another TikToker has mentioned.

In a video that has received more than 91,000 likes, Brittney Necole (@brittney_necole), who mainly focuses on sharing tips on recovering from mold poisoning, mentions that she could detect a mold odor coming from her washing machine.

“I’m freaking out,” she says in the video. “I knew there was mold in my laundry room. I could smell it. I kept telling my husband. I was like, ‘Maybe it’s in the washer machine.’ I have a nose for mold. If you want to hire me, I will come to your house and I will find it. I can smell that sh*t.”

Necole says her husband then decided to open up the washing machine to check. “We’re going to see if there’s mold in it because I’ve seen videos on the internet of this,” she says. “Y’all are not prepared for what I’m about to show you.”

The video then switches to scenes showing her washing machine, with the drum taken out and the agitator visible, both items covered in what looks like mold.

“At this point everywhere I go, I do not claim that, I do not want it, but anyways check your washing machine because it probably has mold in it.”

How can I prevent mold from growing in my washing machine?

There are several ways to combat mold buildup in your washing machine. Most involve allowing components to dry out completely:

• Leave the lid and detergent drawer open when not in use
• Clean the inside of your washing machine weekly with vinegar
• Wipe down seals after using
• Make sure you’re using the correct detergent, as excess soap residue can feed mold.
• Remove wet clothing as soon as possible.

What are some signs I have mold in my home?

If you’ve never had to deal with mold in your home before, you might not recognize the signs telling you that you have spores growing there.

This encompasses a musty, damp odor in your house; the emergence of white or black blemishes on your washed clothes; the presence of stains and smells on your carpets; warping of the walls; and signs of asthma or asthma attacks.

Viewer advice

Several viewers provided advice for preventing mold from taking root in appliances like washing machines.

“After you wash a load of clothes, leave the washer door open till it dries,” one commenter wrote. “Or mold will grow in there. same with the dishwasher.”

“The door to my washing machine is always left open at all times of day, unless I am washing clothes,” another said. “That’s the only time it’s closed. My mother taught me that.”

“Deep clean the washer every month and I put vinegar in every load,” a commenter wrote.

Others mentioned that they had encountered a similar situation, experiencing mold growth in washing machines and various home appliances.

“This happened to me !” one commenter wrote. “I actually spend thousands repairing stuff it wasn’t, it was the washer the whole time! It stunk up the whole entire house! It was a Samsung also.”

“Glad I bought a new one,” another commented. “There is mold everywhere. I had a toilet recaulked omg the mold under the old caulk.”

“My Samsung top load does this too,” a third added. “We leave it open after every single wash cycle and run the self cleans too. We took it apart a year ago and cleaned it. I’m sure it’s dirty again.”