How to Kill Mold on Dish Racks

Struggling with mold growth on your dish racks? This guide shares how to kill mold on your dishware with various methods like boiling water, bleach, baking soda, and vinegar.

dishes stacked on a rack inside a cabinet

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow on dish racks. It thrives in moist environments, so it can be a problem if your dish rack or mat doesn’t dry properly. Mold can cause respiratory problems and other health issues, so it’s important to clean dish racks regularly and prevent mold from growing.

To kill mold that has grown on dish racks you must use very hot (boiling) water to kill mold spores, as well as use another cleaning method like baking soda, bleach, or vinegar to ensure all mold has been removed. Then it’s very important to store your racks in cool, dry areas that do not promote future mold growth.

Want more tips for killing mold on your dishware? Read on for our top tips!

What is mold and why is it dangerous?

Molds are a type of fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. They reproduce by releasing spores into the air, which can cause allergic reactions or other health problems in some people. Molds can grow on dish racks and dish mats because they are often wet, so it’s important to clean them regularly and prevent mold from growing.

How to identify mold on your dish racks

Mold can be identified by its black, green, or white fuzz-like appearance. It often smells musty or earthy. If you see any mold on your dish racks or dish mats, it’s important to clean them immediately to prevent further growth and exposure to allergens and toxins.

Does boiling water kill mold?

Boiling water can kill mold spores. It’s an effective way to clean mold from dish racks and mats, and it’s also a good way to prevent mold from growing in these places.

Very hot water (close to boiling) will kill molds on metals like stainless steel. Boiling water will not, however, remove all the mold from surfaces, so it’s important to use other methods of cleaning if you have a plastic or silicone dish rack, or a cloth dish mat.

What temperature water kills mold?

Water that is about 212 degrees Fahrenheit will kill mold spores. This is the temperature of boiling water, so pouring boiling water over a moldy dish rack or soaking the rack in water that was boiled will kill mold.

How to clean dish racks with mold on them

There are a few different ways to clean mold from dish racks and dish mats.

a blue sponge floating in a sink full of soapy water

Boiling water method

For dish racks, pour boiling water over the moldy area and agitate with a brush or sponge. To clean mold on dish mats, soak the dish mat in very hot water that has been boiled before adding to a sink or large bowl for soaking.

Do not wipe the area clean before pouring the boiling water or soaking the dish mat or rack, as using a sponge or scrub brush to remove mold will only spread mold spores when you use them again.

Baking soda method

Sprinkle baking soda over the moldy area and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Agitate with a brush or sponge, then rinse with hot water.

Bleach method

Add 1/2 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of hot water. Soak the moldy area for 10 minutes, then agitate and rinse with hot water.

Vinegar method

Add 1 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water. Soak the moldy area for 10 minutes, then agitate and rinse with hot water.

a woman holding a bag of natural cleaning products

How to prevent mold growth on dish racks

The best way to prevent mold growth on dish racks is to clean them regularly. Make sure they are dry before putting them away, and avoid leaving them in a wet or humid place like on the countertop where water can sit and promote mold.

Controlling humidity in your home, especially in dark and damp areas of your kitchen (like where you store your dish racks and dish mats), is especially important in reduce mold growth.

More tips for keeping your dish mats and racks clean

Looking for more ways to keep your dish mats and racks clean? We’ve got you covered:

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