How to Clean Mold from a Dish Drying Mat

If you find mold on your dish drying mat, never fear! You can clean moldy mats with a few simple items you likely already have around the house like vinegar, hot water, and bleach with our three simple steps.

white dishes stack on a blue dish drying mat on a grey countertop

The types of molds that grow on sink mats and drying racks are tougher to remove because they thrive in moist environments with little air circulation.

For the best results when removing mold from your dish mat, you should:

  1. Thoroughly wash it with soap and water
  2. Then spray a solution of vinegar and hot water on it to kill any remaining bacteria.
  3. If this doesn’t work, try using bleach to remove any remaining mold.

Now that you know the general steps to removing mold from your mats, let’s dive deeper into how to get your mats squeaky clean. So grab some paper towels and let’s get started beating the battle with mold!


Why cleaning mold from dish drying mats is important

Mold is a type of fungus that can be a major cause for concern in a household. It grows quickly and spreads easily, and it thrives in moist, dark places (like the bottom of your dish mats).

If you have found mold on your dish drying mat, chances are that there is mold on other parts of your home as well. Cleaning the mold from the mat will prevent it from spreading to other areas where you may not want to have it.

In addition, if you continue using the mat while the mold is still present, you risk getting sick because mold spores can get into your body when they are inhaled or ingested. If you find that there is a lot of mold on a dish drying rack, it’s a good idea to throw away the mat


What is the best cleaning solution for cleaning mold

Bleach

Bleach kills mold by reacting with the spores to stop their growth. Bleach will not kill mold growing on dry surfaces but it does kill any new mold growth if sprayed directly onto the surface where the mold is present.

If you want to clean an area with bleach, make sure to wear gloves and safety goggles before starting because bleach can cause burns and blindness when exposed to skin or eyes respectively if not handled properly.

Vinegar

Vinegar kills mold by disrupting the enzymes that allow mold to grow and reproduce. Here’s how you can use it as a weapon against this pesky household enemy:

  1. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts white distilled vinegar and water (you can add a bit of baking soda as an abrasive to remove tough mold).
  2. Spray your dish draining mat with the mixture until all surfaces have been covered
  3. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes before wiping away with old toothbrush or sponge
a woman holding a bag of natural cleaning products

How to clean mold on a dish drying mat

  1. Run your mat through a hot dish washer cycle (optional). First, place the mat in the dish washing machine and set it to a gentle cycle with warm or hot water. If your dish drying mat has lots of tough, deep stains, it might be best to soak it for about an hour before putting it in the washer. Once you have run through one complete cycle, check the mat for mold.
  2. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water into a spray bottle. First, fill a spray bottle with warm water and add vinegar. Then shake well to combine.
  3. Spray the mixture onto the surface of your dish drying mat. Aim for any areas with mold or mildew stains. Allow the vinegar and water mixture to sit on the mat for about 15 minutes before cleaning mold.
  4. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away any remaining mold growth on your dish drying mat. To really get rid of any tough, deeply-embedded mold stains, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub the affected areas. Make sure to wear gloves to protect your hands!
  5. Rinse with clear warm water before air drying your dish mat. Rinse your dish drying mat several times with warm water to get rid of all traces of the mold and vinegar.
  6. Air dry your dish rack completely before using it again or store it in a very dry place. To prevent mold from growing on your dish drying mat, make sure you keep it in a dry place and allow it to fully dry before putting it back in the kitchen. The best way to do that is to let the dish rack air dry completely before using or storing it again.

Cleaning a dish drying mat with bleach

If you’ve tried the vinegar and hot water solution to clean your dish mat and you’re still seeing mold, it’s time to break out the heavy duty cleaner – bleach.

Here are some tips for how to clean mold from a dish drying rack with bleach:

  • Mix half a cup of bleach with two gallons of water in a bucket or other container that can be used for mixing chemicals.
  • Soak the entire mat in this solution for at least 30 minutes before scrubbing off any visible dirt or grime with soap and water if necessary.
  • Rinse well with soap and water to remove any bleach residue before air drying.

Remember, however: it’s incredibly important that you wear safety goggles and gloves when working with chlorine-based cleaners like bleach.


More ways to clean your dish area

Remember that all dishes come in contact with your dish mats so if they’re dirty or covered in moldy residue there’s no way for them to be clean! Your kitchen will thank you for taking care of this problem by following these easy steps.

Looking for more ways to clean your dish area? We’ve got you covered:

What are some ways that YOU take care of mold? Share your best tips below – we want to hear what works for you!

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