Mold and Odor Hide Where Cleaning Tools Cannot Reach
15 posts across 4 communities in the last 30 days; 73% from r/CleaningTips.
“Referring to the dark spots in the bottom and around the outside. Pulled my filter out to discover caked up dust and possibly mold? It has a horrible smell as well and I am curious what to do to remedy this. I am a renter and will be using whatever information provided to…”
“It looks like mold is in my tank and might be coming through my sink. How do I fix this? Also, not sure if what’s in my faucet mold or just build up. I’m in the state of North Carolina. Edit: Do I need to replace the hose?”
“Why is this happening with my A/C ? Is there something I can do to prevent this ? The gunk was now dry and crumbly, but was most probably wet & slimy at some point (I’ve been running the A/C on fan mode only for the past 2-3 days). It had a sort of urine/ammonia smell. A/C…”
Users are seeking advice on removing stubborn odors and mold buildup from household appliances (Keurig, dishwasher) and behind radiators. The challenges involve difficult-to-reach areas and ineffective cleaning methods.
SOURCES (40)
“Referring to the dark spots in the bottom and around the outside. Pulled my filter out to discover caked up dust and possibly mold? It has a horrible smell as well and I am curious what to do to remedy this. I am a renter…”
“It looks like mold is in my tank and might be coming through my sink. How do I fix this? Also, not sure if what’s in my faucet mold or just build up. I’m in the state of North Carolina. Edit: Do I need to replace the hose? submitted by /u/Competitive-Mud-7920 [link] [comments]”
“Why is this happening with my A/C ? Is there something I can do to prevent this ? The gunk was now dry and crumbly, but was most probably wet & slimy at some point (I’ve been running the A/C on fan mode only for the past 2-3 days). It had a sort of urine/ammonia smell. A/C details Brand : Midea Model : MP10SVWBA3RCM BTU : 12,000 Duo Smart Inverter Purchase year : 2023 Usage : about 5 months / year (during summer time where I live) Draining holes are for heating mode only according to owner m”
“I poured in hot water, soapy hot water, hot water then wiped with vinegar but the rancid smell is still clinging to the plastic. No idea what's best for this kind of smell. It's the milk but also the artificial sweetener. submitted by /u/Errantry-And-Irony [link] [comments]”
“My water bottle had mold spots in the bottom of it, I’m not sure if it’s aluminum or not. Was just a $10 jug from Walmart, TAL brand I believe. I tried using bleach spray and hot water to soak the bottom and it seemingly got rid of the mold but not sure if safe to drink from. Any tips or should I replace it entirely? submitted by /u/lilcupcakegangsta [link] [comments]”
“I noticed a tiny bit of mold inside of it yesterday, so I tried to clean it out by filling it up with warm water dish soap and viniger, shaking it up, then letting it sit overnight. I just emptied it out and rinsed it with more warm water, but there’s still a bit of mold inside of it. How do I clean it out? submitted by /u/RoscoeSF [link] [comments]”
“I moved houses recently and when started to cook my meals and using the kitchen hood I noticed that the hood when on started to smell awful, even after a few minute on (2 to 5 minutes). So awful I'd rather not even turn it on. I looked underneath it and saw that it was all dirty and grease. Am I able to clean it? And what products are best suited?)(I'm in Italy currently) submitted by /u/heedwiig [link] [comments]”
“During the summer I would leave the window open. Even when it rained. It now looks like this. How should I tackle this? edit: assuming mildew/mold. although it could be dirt submitted by /u/zephyr_skyy [link] [comments]”
“I’m not sure what this part of humidifier is called. But it looks like it’s clogged or something. The air coming out is weaker compared to how it was before. Hope someone can give me an advice. TIA! submitted by /u/PerformanceNo920 [link] [comments]”
“I’m not sure what this part of humidifier is called. But it looks like it’s clogged or something. The air coming out is weaker compared to how it was before. Hope someone can give me an advice. TIA! submitted by /u/PerformanceNo920 [link] [comments]”
“Hello! I just moved into a camper at the farm I work at and the Kenmore (80s?) camper fridge smells SO strongly of tea tree oil. I rubbed it down with alcohol which decreased the scent a bit, or maybe it just decreased from the fridge being turned on for the first time in a couple months. If I had to guess, tea tree oil was applied when a coworker cleaned the fridge in July. Aside from the intense odor, it doesn't seem food safe to me. I also get quite anxious about my cats accidentally inge”
“So I have this air filler that keeps the air in my room circulating. I have turn it off since I dont feel safe with it on; looking like a mold breading ground. How do I clean this thing? Can I clean it? Is it possible to clean this or should I throw it away with how bad it looks? Any tips or answers will help. Qwq my mom doesn't know how to clean it and neither do I. submitted by /u/Frip_Creations [link] [comments]”
“I haven’t used my Nespresso maker in a couple of months and when I went to use it today I found that a pod had gotten stuck to the top and I didn’t realize. I removed it and found this mold. I’m very happy I realized before putting a new pod in and making coffee. Is there a way to clean this efficiently and kill all the bacteria? Any help is much appreciated!! submitted by /u/BrushWilling5257 [link] [comments]”
“Never happened before but my toilet gets moldy so quick. I put bleach in the tank and cleaned it out (😮💨😭 it was moldy and gross) but still coming back. Any tips? Do I need a new toilet? Or to add a vent? submitted by /u/ResponsibilityOk9470 [link] [comments]”
“It’s on the rim under the seat and on the underside of my bidet attachment :( submitted by /u/stonedwithmybestie [link] [comments]”
“I wish I drank black coffee. But no. I drink cafe con leche. Milk and espresso. I wiped the surface stuff. But I’m just worried about the rotten milk smell that will come. submitted by /u/Avocadosandtomatoes [link] [comments]”
“Long story short, I was using this as a kegerator with a temperature controller. I guess some ice had frozen at the bottom, and when the fridge got unplugged it melted, created some mold, and left a puddle at the bottom. I got rid of the moldy keg, beer lines, etc, but what's the best way to clean this out so I can still use it as a freezer? My plan was to tilt it over to get all the gross water out, hose it down, and then clean with bleach. Anything else I should try? submitted by ”
“We received this fridge for free a few weeks ago and stupidly left it unplugged the entire time, and now there’s a bunch of mold :/ is this still safe to use? This will be our second fridge, so it will primarily be used for drinks and extra freezer space. My cleaning plan was to - 1) take out all shelves & drawers wash in hot soapy water 2) wash what’s in the picture in hot soapy water 3) then wipe everything down with diluted bleach So far it seems like there’s some crevices in the shelves”
“Looks like a Bissel spot cleaner for rugs. Similar to this unit. I’ve got one for pet and kid messes. https://www.staples.com/bissell-little-green-pro-commercial-spot-cleaner-bgss1481/product\_24598617”
“I got it for free because my last one broke, the fridge works but it was in a disgusting state (expected), it smelled terrible and there were black mold on thé walls, but the vents that connect the lower section to the freezer are what worries me, should i try to clean them and if so, how? Or should i just buy a New one? submitted by /u/Key_Koala_ [link] [comments]”
“I have two perfectly nice water carafes that I use to chill filtered water, but there is black mold forming under the stoppers in the lids. The little gaskets don’t come out. I’ve tried soaking and bleaching. Do I just throw them in the recycling bin? submitted by /u/Commercial_Use_363 [link] [comments]”
“Hi!! I really want to take this cup with me on a trip, and just realized there's mold in it!! The parts with hard plastic cleaned easily, but this is stuck!! I tried washing it with hot water and bristled strawbrush, soaking in vinegar overnight, scraping at it with a toothpick, and running through the dishwasher. submitted by /u/EfficiencyVarious221 [link] [comments]”
“TLDR: green algae (?) in shower around drain and in shampoo bottles / what’s causing it and how to clean? We moved into a new apartment~ 2 months ago and since moving in I’ve been stuck on figuring out what this green mold/algae is that is growing in our shower drain. We deep clean the shower once a week with bleach but the green around the drain persists! Even after cleaning it! I also opened new shampoo bottles less than a week ago and the top of the bottle seems to have the same green color w”
“Is this mold? I’ve tried cleaning with vinegar and it didn’t budge. I ended up putting some bleach on a qtip and still nothing.. is it mold or just wear and tear? Thanks in advance. submitted by /u/alienfeminists [link] [comments]”
“Hello we live in FL where it's very hot and humid. Every summer there is a terrible mildew smell coming out of the vent in the primary bedroom which is at the end of a long hallway (ranch style home). (The odor may be coming out of all vents but this is the only room where it's noticeable.) Our AC unit is 5-10 years old although we still have original ductwork that's at least 40 years old. We once had a family of squirrels living in our attic but we hired pest control and believe the”
“My sister used my keep cup and left it in her car for days with coffee in it. it smells rank. i’ve cleaned it 4-5 times but smell persists. how can i get the smell out? i dont use it often but have been trying to save money by making hot drinks at home so i would like to start using it again and i cant while it has an odour lol. thanks! submitted by /u/SadPaperBag_ [link] [comments]”
“We installed a 5 stage water filter with a small tank that sits under your cabinet couple of years ago. Every morning when I drink water, it has some sort of subtle smell. Can algae grow inside the tank or any other issues I might not be aware of? submitted by /u/Traditional_Egg3808 [link] [comments]”
“We just moved into a new house, and the dishwasher came with it. While cleaning it, I noticed the filter has a green discoloration on it. I applied some detergent to the filter and put it back in the dishwasher while running a long cleaning cycle with a dishwasher cleaning solution. After a 2–3 hour cycle, the green color was still there. What do you think? Is this just staining and nothing to worry about, or should I consider replacing the dishwasher? I would really appreciate your help. I'”
“Hi everyone! I just moved into an apartment in Florida and I think I may be dealing with a mold or mildew issue. When I first got to the apartment, it kinda had a musty “indoor pool” type of smell. Fast forward about a week, I swear my hair and clothes have been picking up on the smell. It’s really weird because when I’m in the apartment, my hair and clothes smell fine to me, but when I leave the apartment, that’s when I start picking up on the smell. I’ve lived in several other Florida apartmen”
“Greetings kind people 💚 This humidifier fella has been sitting around for a few months. I cleaned the tank but on the bottom part - I don't know where to even start. How do I clean the inside that I can't fully see? Can I use something other than water? Can I clean the filter (that has some sort of pebbles inside)? Help would be greatly appreciated ❤️ Love and respect 💛 submitted by /u/422184 [link] [comments]”
“My room started to smell like mildew and I found mold in the filter so I took the whole thing apart and cleaned it. But there’s still black specks that look like mold all over the radiator fins . I’m wondering if it’s even possible to grow mold on the radiator but I’m not sure. submitted by /u/NarrowDifficulty5436 [link] [comments]”
“Is this mold??? It’s on the silicone piece that holds the straw in place from the lid of an insulated mug. It doesn’t scrape away with my finger, but I have no idea how anything BUT mold could have gotten there and made it black. If it is mold, what’s the best way to go about cleaning this? Or should I just toss it? submitted by /u/BlueMac13 [link] [comments]”
“Okay so I opened up a water dispenser because the water tasted like plastic so I thought I’d give it a clean. there’s roach poop/mold and it’s around all the electrical parts of the water dispenser as well. It was given to me from a friend who didn’t need it anymore as they got a fridge that dispensed water. This dispenser would save me money over time… but I’m not sure how to go about cleaning it or if it’s savable. How would you guys go about cleaning something like this? Would you even bother”
“have been smelling a foul smell, and I happened to have the air conditioner open bc I decided to clean the coils with an approved non rinse coil cleaner. I was looking at this nasty rusty thing that still coils great , when, the upstairs neighbors ran /drained their dishwasher.and it SHOT into the drain pan of my air conditioner: bubbles and all. I don’t know what to do. The apartments are changing hands. They just got sold. Nobody’s in the office Everyone is using up their vacation. .This has b”
“Hello all. I have a Keurig tank that I've cleaned out a number of times using dish soap and a sponge, but it still has this buildup of what I assume to be algae. What do I do? The lid has also become very misty. As far as I know these two components are made of the same plastic. Any suggestions? submitted by /u/rugrmon [link] [comments]”
“The radiator is way too close to the wall that I cannot really get any clean instruments down there that are long enough. I could potentially go in-between the spaces of radiator, but it's also very tight and I'm not sure I'll be able to get it all. So far, I've sprayed it with bleach, wiped as much I can (which isn't much), sprayed again and let sit. The smell behind the rad is sooooo damn foul that I gag almost every time I enter the room. Airing the room out makes it worse”
“Hi everyone, I need help with the dishwasher in my apartment! 😖 ***I have already tried white vinegar BTW, please read below*** For context, the dishwasher is modern and in good working condition. I have been in this apartment for about 1 year and it smelled old and mucky from the day I moved in. When I first moved in, I ran a few empty cycles on it and added an appropriate amount of white vinegar in hopes to clean out the smell (advice from this page). It didn't work. I stopped having any”