How To Clean Mildew From Plastic

yogurtmaker

Carol asked: How do I remove mold from a plastic yogurt container used for yogurt making? The 2-liter container which goes into our incubator has a mold line near the top. I washed it well, but fear the mold may be the cause that our yoghurt processing has not functioned correctly the last two times. We could not find a specific ratio of bleach to water for removing mold from plastic food containers. We need to know that amount and the length of time to leave it in the container.

Anywhere that there is moisture, mold spores can thrive. Mold can be dangerous in so many ways and cause problems when it enters the body. Use these steps to quickly rid your plastic pieces of mold and freshen up your dishes.

You Will Need:

Non-ammonia soap or detergent
Bleach
Water
Soft cloth or sponge
Rubber gloves (optional)

Steps to Remove the Mold

Begin by washing away any visible mold from the surface of the plastic using a dish soap or detergent that does not contain ammonia. Ammonia is avoided because bleach is used in the following step. If bleach and ammonia mix, it creates toxic fumes.
Mix a bleach solution with ½ cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water. For mold that cannot be cleaned off, use a stronger strength solution of 1 cup bleach and 1 gallon of water.
Place the plastic container in the solution so that all of the moldy areas are completely submerged.
Allow the moldy areas to sit in the bleach solution for at least 15 minutes.
Remove and wash away all bleach with a non-ammonia soap or detergent.
Allow the piece to dry completely before use.

Additional Tips and Ideas

The sun is a natural mold remover. Set the piece in the direct sunlight for several hours to remove any remaining traces of mold.
Be sure to ventilate the area well and use rubber gloves when working with bleach. The liquid and fumes can be irritating to the eyes and skin.
If the mold is visibly setting on top of the surface of the plastic, it can be removed by very carefully scraping it away with a razor. Use caution not to cut into the plastic.
Do not try to use the dishwasher to kill the mold. There is a chance that the temperature won't be high enough to be effective, and mold spores will then be deposited on your other dishes and within your machine.
An alternate to bleach is using white vinegar. The vinegar will remove the mold without the harsh fumes. Follow the same applications as above.
Disinfecting the plastic pieces regularly will help deter mold build-up. Quickly drying each piece will keep the moisture away that mold requires to grow.

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