October 12, 2026, 4:01 am | Read time: 3 minutes
When you pull out the detergent drawer of your washing machine, you might sometimes find not only detergent residues but also a persistent, slimy layer. Many people then wonder if they’re doing something wrong when washing or if the residue is even harmful to health. myHOMEBOOK asked Bernd Glassl from the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW) about the slime film and how to get rid of it.
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What exactly is this residue?
The residue is caused by remnants of detergents and fabric softeners left in the detergent drawer. “The active washing substances (anionic or non-ionic surfactants or cationic surfactants) and other ingredients are easily biodegradable by bacteria and fungi,” explains Glassl from the IKW. If these residues are not removed regularly, they provide ample food for fungi and bacteria, which are present in virtually every home and basement. The biodegradation of detergent and fabric softener residues often appears as a brown or black residue. Additionally, household dust may contribute to its formation, according to Glassl.
Why does the slime form specifically in the detergent drawer?
Hardly any other part of the washing machine offers microorganisms such favorable conditions as the detergent drawer. It often remains damp after washing and receives new nutrients in the form of detergent and fabric softener residues with each wash cycle. Without moisture, bacteria and fungi can hardly multiply. This fact also plays a central role in prevention later on.
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Am I doing something wrong when washing?
If you’re thinking of low washing temperatures or the wrong detergent, you’re mistaken, according to Glassl: “Low washing temperatures have no impact on the formation of the residue because the water usually runs in cold and is only heated afterward. The form of detergent (powder with or without bleach or liquid detergent) also has no effect on it.” The actual reason is simpler. The residue forms simply when the detergent drawer is not cleaned regularly. Whether you wash at 30 or 60 degrees or which detergent you use does not affect its formation.
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Is the slime a health concern?
If water flows over the residue, bacteria or fungi can transfer to the laundry and cause unpleasant odors, explains Glassl. Whether the germs themselves are a health concern cannot be generally stated, according to the IKW expert. He has no reliable information on this. To be on the safe side, the detergent drawer should be cleaned regularly, regardless of any potential health risk. This also prevents odor transfer to the laundry.
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Removing and preventing residue
If brown or black residues are already visible, Glassl advises removing the detergent drawer completely from the washing machine and cleaning it in the sink. To prevent it from getting to this point, he recommends cleaning the drawer regularly, about every eight weeks. After each wash cycle, it should also be pulled out completely or at least partially to allow it to dry, as bacteria and fungi lack the moisture needed to multiply.
Glassl is not aware of any specific detergent or program that reliably prevents the formation of the residue. The only reliable protection remains the regular, manual cleaning of the detergent drawer.