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No, soap scum doesn’t cause mildew, but the two substances often appear in the same spots. If soap scum is left to sit long enough and if the area stays damp, mildew and mold can grow on top of it. When these fungi combine with soap scum, your surface can become discolored, grimier, smelly, and more difficult to clean.

Most washing machines will not remove gum. In fact, running an item with gum on it through a washing machine will make the matter worse. The combination of water, movement, and detergent can cause the gum to break down. Instead of it remaining in one piece, the gum can spread and stick to other items during the wash cycle. If you’re lucky, the gum will stay in the pocket it was left in, so you only have one item to fix. 

Putting off cleaning your fridge is a bad idea for a few reasons. For one, any food spills can build up, making it much harder to clean your fridge when you finally do get around to it. Plus, any stray pickle juice or leaky leftovers are a recipe for a stinky fridge. 

But beyond that, if you don’t clean your fridge, it could be a health hazard. Old food can turn moldy and old spills can too. Even if none of that scares you, putting off cleaning your fridge will make it look downright gross, which should be reason enough to break out your sponge. 

To neutralize mildew smell, you can use natural deodorizers like baking soda or activated charcoal. Baking soda absorbs odors; sprinkle it liberally on the affected area, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up. Activated charcoal, available in pouches, works similarly. Vinegar, with its natural acidic properties, can also neutralize odors. Mix equal parts water and vinegar, spray the affected area lightly, then blot it with a dry cloth. Enzymatic cleaners are effective too, breaking down odor-causing compounds.