5 Steps to Clean Mold Out of a Cooler

Scrub with dish soap and hot water first Remove loose gunk and debris before applying any disinfectant.

Use a bleach solution, not vinegar on porous plastic Mix one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. Bleach kills mold roots more reliably than vinegar on plastic.

Let the bleach sit for 10-15 minutes Apply the solution to all surfaces and let it dwell. Then rinse very thoroughly — bleach residue is unsafe near food.

Never mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners Combining bleach and vinegar produces toxic chlorine gas. Pick one cleaner and stick with it.

Dry the cooler completely with the lid open before storing Damp storage causes mold. Letting it air dry fully prevents the problem from returning.