Black jelly-like substance in soap dispenser and on soap drawer
If your washing machine has a black jelly-like substance growing in the soap dispenser it is likely to be a fungal/bacterial growth called biofilm. Apart from looking nasty, it can cause problems because it blocks up the little holes in the top of many soap dispensers where the water enters the washing machine. This can cause water flow to be restricted. Other problems can be that water is deflected into other compartments causing for example the fabric conditioner compartment to take the conditioner too soon, or even to not get flushed out at all. Finally, the deflected water can cause leaks as water is diverted or sprayed to the front of the dispenser and runs down from the bottom of the dispenser drawer.
What causes the black jelly biofilm?
The growth is accelerated by moist environments. Bacteria and fungi need both water, and a source of nutrients. If both are present on a surface the organisms will grow and multiply to produce a grey/black jelly-like (slime) growth or produce a pink/red staining around bathroom tiles.
If you have a water valve not shutting off properly you can get a very small but constant drip of water into the soap dispenser. This can sometimes be observed by removing the soap drawer and seeing if you can see any dripping, or a bulging globule of water some time after the washing machine has finished. (If so, wipe the water away and see if it comes back, if it does you may need to have a new valve fitted although in some cases a badly blocked filter in the back of the valve can cause it not to shut off properly, or even water pressure that’s too low).
How to prevent growth
The best way to prevent this growth is to improve ventilation to allow these damp areas in kitchens and bathrooms to dry rapidly. With a washing machine I would leave the soap dispenser drawer open (at least partially) after washing and dry it out manually first. If badly affected you may need to remove the drawer and wipe everything with kitchen towel or similar. It’s a pain, but large growths can be troublesome and may require a complete new soap dispenser to be fitted – plus the growth will reoccur if nothing is done to stop it or at least control it. Most soap dispenser drawers can easily be removed as there’s usually a clip to depress at the back which allows the drawer to come out.
It is also important to reduce the food sources for the bacteria and fungi to prevent growth. Food sources can include shampoo, soaps, propellants from hair spray and deodorants, and general kitchen food but with washing machines it’s clearly the soaps and fabric conditioner that the growth feeds on.
How to remove growth
Wiping with bleach or commercially available mildew removers should successfully remove the growth unless it’s really well established.
Black slime associated with tap fittings can be removed by cleaning the inside of the tap or around the base of the tap with a small brush dipped in a mild solution of bleach. I used to have this problem with my bathroom taps. Little flakes of black substance would occasionally hang from the inside of the nozzle and if I pushed a bit of tissue up the nozzle to clean it there would be a slimy black jelly inside the tap. Give your taps a very good clean occasionally by working a little disinfectant around not only the outside, but also the inside of the tap nozzle with a toothbrush or a cottonbud.
Kitchen surfaces and bathroom tiles can be wiped with a household cleaner or mild bleach solution that will kill the bacteria and fungal spores.
Further information – Slime and staining
Written By - Washerhelp on May 15th, 2008 with
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Louise
#1. September 2nd, 2009, at 4:06 PM.
I have a Siemens washing machine and suffer the black slime coming out of the water inlet holes above the wash powder drawer which is impossible to get at because this is an integral part of the machine. Their solution to this is to put it on repeated (at least 5 or 6) boil washes to cure it. I can’t see how boiling water in the drum will cure this problem because it is a cold fill machine, but they are adamant. When you mention the valve, is this a valve within the machine which will be passing. I only have standard washing machine valves at the back of the machine which as far as I am aware remain open. Your help would be be appreciated.