topic Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid in Kitchen

Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

tbearski — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 16:26:03 GMT

I have several sets of lock and lock bowls and today I noticed black mold or mold growing inside of the lid! While washing the "Clear" bowl lids, I noticed it from the outside and after removing the rubber gasket with a needle the inside was covered in it all over the gasket and inside the track! I use these bowls for my daughter's lunch every day and wash them nightly and then let them air dry and tonite I found the mold. I checked my other sets and they were all ok! The only ones that were affected were the 6-ounce bowls that were used on a daily bases! Usually, I put in fresh or canned fruit and veggies or jello cups in them overnite and they sit in the fridge all nite and then off to school in the morning! So maybe this might be a problem to watch out for! Just wanted to let everyone know because if you got the colored lids it might be very hard to see!

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

KaySD — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 16:33:03 GMT

That's downright scary! Obviously it's not the L&L containers themselves, since most of yours don't have that problem. I've never seen it with any of my containers or bowls, either. So the mold contamination is coming from somewhere else. Inside the lunch box or bag your daughter carries? Or inside the backpack that holds the lunch box?

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

chickenbutt — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 16:53:39 GMT

1) I seriously doubt if it is what is known as 'black mold'.

2) If anything that contains moisture is not properly cleaned and dried, you might expect to see mold accumulate. That's just a fact of life, not a flaw of Lock & Lock.

I always make sure that the seals are able to be completely dried out, after washing. If there is any moisture between the rubber o-ring and the plastic seal, I just remove it and dry everything completely. That will preclude any mold from forming inside there where it's pretty much blocked off from air circulation (which is, btw, the point of the o-rings in the seals).

I have hundreds of L&L containers and haven't had that happen but I am careful about making sure that they are clean and dry. If you do that, you should be fine.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

tbearski — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 16:57:06 GMT

I think you are way off with that theory! It's inside the rubber gasket so it has to be from moisture getting inside and not completely drying! My daughter's lunch box is clean so that rules that out also. I don't know if the seal is broken and somehow the moisture is getting in there and by a broken seal I mean it's not physically broken or cracked, just not sealing! Much like a double pane window would let moisture get inside and fog up the window! Again, maybe it's just from using them every day when most people would only use them occasionally! My bigger containers are only used for leftovers and that doesn't happen too often! Just putting it out there, maybe I'm not the only one!

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

tbearski — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:01:25 GMT

OK, I never removed any gasket to clean and wash the lid! Will be doing that now and do people actually remove the gasket every time they clean them?

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

chickenbutt — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:11:15 GMT

Hi again! I don't remove all of mine. I only remove one when I can see that there is moisture in there, or something that has seeped in there. I'm pretty neurotic, so you an probably imagine I scrutinize things to the nth degree.

If there is some moisture trapped in there you can see it. What I do is take a butter knife and, with the rounded end, push it down and gently kind of twist it under and it will pop out.

I hope that made sense. When you do it, you'll see what I mean.

I find that seldom happens with the ones I have washed in the dishwasher, but I use full heat dry. I also don't let them sit in water in the sink. There are ones that are in constant use so when I wash them between filling them I wash the seal and put it either in the kitchen window (for small ones that I need to dry sooner), or in the dish drainer, even if the container is in water. That just lessens the opportunity for water to find its way in there.

(yeah, I think too much)

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

Carmie — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:14:24 GMT

Mold is caused by moisture. I have had a few lids that got some mold between the seal and lid.

Now, I don't put the lids on when I take the bowls out of the dishwasher or hand wash them. I let them sit on the counter for a while until I know that are 100% dry before I nest them with the lids on. Sometimes I don't store them with a closed lid at all.

I have two RV's that are stocked with lock and lock. I never seal the lid on an empty bowl in an RV.

Every so often, I remove the seal and wash it seperate and dry it well before I return it to the lid.

I have several lunch size containers. I do not use the same ones every day. I rotate them. If there is a lot of mold, I would wipe down the seal with chlorine bleach and rinse well. If any mold spores are alive and well, they will multiply with any moisture... even moisture from fruit.

When my Grands were using plastic sippy cups, we had the same problem. Too much moisture day in and day out. This seems to be pretty common.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

Texas Gray Wolf — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:18:21 GMT

I've experienced the mold on my gaskets as well.........I remove them on occassion to clean/dry separately..........

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

alicedee — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:31:23 GMT

I haven't had this happen on every L&L piece, but occasionally I've noticed the beginnings of the mold...I just remove the gasket, wash and dry it thoroughly, and put it back in place. I'm not going to bother taking them apart every time I use them! I just keep an eye on them and deal with them accordingly.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

software — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:32:59 GMT

I have a few, I don't like them but I do use them sometimes. Did not purchase from QVC but they are authentic L&L. I always remove the gasket. I wash in hot soapy water and dry with a clean towel. I guess if I had to clean multiple containers every day, I might not, but I might use one, once a week so it's no trouble to pull out & replace the gasket.

@tbearski

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

hovis — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:59:24 GMT

I have had lock and lock for several years and no problems at all.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

SharkE — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:03:55 GMT

dishwasher?

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

CLEM — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 21:35:24 GMT

Whenever I wash a bowl with the lid, I always take the silicone seal off, wash everything, and then let the seal and the lid dry on air for a few hours before putting everything together and away. Never had a problem.

But both lid and silicone seal need to be dry before putting it together again.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

ID2 — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 12:05:46 GMT

I've thrown out all of my plastic storage containers and replaced with L&L. I did this about 12 years ago so I have quite a collection that I use for absolutely everything! I've never had any seal problem, never have had any type of mold problem and I've never had any of the latches breaking off. I've only read about these L&L issues here on this bb. Weird.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

Shawnie — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 20:23:48 GMT

My dishwasher never completely dries a lock n loc lid. So after if is finished i take the lids and given them a good couple of shakes over the sink. Then i set them upright to dry on a dishwasher rack to finish drying. Never a problem.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

Mothertrucker — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 20:29:21 GMT

just a thought, I have not experienced this myself, but could it be from a humid climate? I live in arid Southern California, so thought this might be a factor...

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

tbearski — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 14:39:24 GMT

OK after reading all the posts and really thinking about it, I kinda figured it out! Things I can rule out---everything clean and always washed, no mold anywhere else and no humidity (in Pa in the winter)...So out of the 8 cups that I use 3 or 4 are constantly being used for the fruits, veggies, jellos and puddings! After school, they are washed and dried with a towel and within minutes refilled and stored in the fridge until the next day and it starts all over again! (sometimes being stored in the refrigerator from Fri afternoon until Monday morning) I never removed the gaskets, or washed them in the dishwasher or even gave them a chance to dry out and breathe and they spent 23 hours a day in the fridge and cold lunch box! As some of you said, you never have seen mold or black goop under your lids but hopefully, this will help everyone to be on the look out and prevent this from happening! I'm a single father raising a handicapped girl and sometimes guys have no clue about the simple things! Thank you all for your helpful input.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

leighagemini — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 15:13:01 GMT

@tbearski wrote:
OK after reading all the posts and really thinking about it, I kinda figured it out! Things I can rule out---everything clean and always washed, no mold anywhere else and no humidity (in Pa in the winter)...So out of the 8 cups that I use 3 or 4 are constantly being used for the fruits, veggies, jellos and puddings! After school, they are washed and dried with a towel and within minutes refilled and stored in the fridge until the next day and it starts all over again! (sometimes being stored in the refrigerator from Fri afternoon until Monday morning) I never removed the gaskets, or washed them in the dishwasher or even gave them a chance to dry out and breathe and they spent 23 hours a day in the fridge and cold lunch box! As some of you said, you never have seen mold or black goop under your lids but hopefully, this will help everyone to be on the look out and prevent this from happening! I'm a single father raising a handicapped girl and sometimes guys have no clue about the simple things! Thank you all for your helpful input.

If you have a Dollar Tree in your area they have locking containers with out a seal. Might get a couple of these for the ones you are constantly using so you don't have to worry about taking out the seals constantly when you are cleaning.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

Tigriss — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 17:38:18 GMT

Bleach water! Justwash weekly in bleach water. After they are used, it stays in a warm, dark lunch bag in a school full of germs and mold in the air.

Re: Lock and lock black mold/algae problem inside lid

chickenbutt — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 19:29:27 GMT

Hey again, Tbear! Glad you figured it out and the mystery is solved.

That moisture was just staying in there too long. What would be cool would be if you had an additional set of those sizes so that you can rotate them.

I find that certain sizes I really like and use for numerous reasons, or need to have available all the time, I just take that HPL or HSM number off the bottom of the vessel and search for more of just that size.

I will either find them sold separately, or in sets of multiples of the same size, on Amazon or ebay or the locknlock site.