How to Clean a Washing Machine with Vinegar and Baking Soda

Your washing machine has been smelling musty and your clothes aren’t coming out as fresh as they used to. You know the machine needs cleaning, but you don’t want to buy a special cleaner. You already have white vinegar and baking soda in your kitchen. These two ingredients are a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to clean a washing machine. Vinegar kills mold and dissolves mineral deposits. Baking soda provides gentle scrubbing and deodorizing. Together, they remove the residue and mold that cause odors. Here’s how to clean a washing machine with vinegar and baking soda.

Cleaning a washing machine with vinegar and baking soda uses the natural properties of both ingredients to remove mold, mildew, and detergent residue. White vinegar (acetic acid) kills mold, dissolves mineral deposits, and neutralizes odors. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) provides gentle abrasion, absorbs odors, and helps break down residue.

To clean a washing machine with vinegar and baking soda, pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the drum and half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda into the dispenser, then run the hottest cycle. Wipe the drum, dispenser, and rubber seal after the cycle. Clean monthly. Don’t mix vinegar and baking soda in the same container (they neutralize each other).

For Front Loading Washing Machines

Step 1: Prepare the Machine

Remove any clothes from the drum. Check the rubber seal around the door for debris, hair, and mold. Wipe it with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

Step 2: Add Vinegar

Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar directly into the drum. Don’t put it in the detergent dispenser.

Step 3: Add Baking Soda

Add half a cup of baking soda to the detergent dispenser. Don’t mix vinegar and baking soda in the same location, as they react and neutralize each other.

Step 4: Run the Hottest Cycle

Set the machine to the hottest water setting and the longest cycle. Let it run through the complete cycle.

Step 5: Wipe the Drum and Seal

After the cycle, wipe the inside of the drum with a clean cloth. Pay special attention to the rubber seal, where mold and residue collect.

Step 6: Clean the Dispenser

Remove the detergent dispenser and soak it in warm water for 10 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush. Replace it.

Step 7: Leave the Door Open

Leave the door open to let the drum dry completely.

For Top Loading Washing Machines

Step 1: Add Vinegar and Baking Soda

Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar into the drum. Add half a cup of baking soda to the drum as well. For top loaders, the large drum allows both to be added together since the water fills gradually.

Step 2: Run the Hottest Cycle

Set the machine to the hottest water setting and the longest cycle. Let the machine fill with water, then pause for 30 minutes to let the solution soak. Resume the cycle.

Step 3: Wipe the Drum and Agitator

After the cycle, wipe the inside of the drum and the agitator with a clean cloth. Pay attention to the top of the drum where water doesn’t reach.

Step 4: Clean the Dispenser

Remove the detergent and fabric softener dispensers and soak in warm water. Scrub with a toothbrush.

Step 5: Leave the Lid Open

Leave the lid open to let the drum dry completely.

What Not to Do

Don’t mix vinegar and baking soda in the same container. They react and neutralize each other. Put them in different locations (drum vs. dispenser).

Don’t mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. The combination creates toxic chlorine gas.

Don’t use too much vinegar. Excess vinegar can damage rubber seals over time. Use 2 cups per cleaning cycle.

Don’t skip wiping the seal. The rubber seal on front loaders is where mold grows. Wipe it after every cleaning cycle.

FAQ

How do you clean a washing machine with vinegar and baking soda? Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the drum and half a cup of baking soda into the dispenser. Run the hottest cycle. Wipe the drum, dispenser, and rubber seal after the cycle. Clean monthly.

Can you mix vinegar and baking soda to clean a washing machine? Don’t mix them in the same container, as they react and neutralize each other. Put vinegar in the drum and baking soda in the dispenser so they enter the wash at different times.

How much vinegar do you use to clean a washing machine? 2 cups of distilled white vinegar per cleaning cycle. Pour it directly into the drum. Use the hottest water setting.

How often should you clean your washing machine with vinegar and baking soda? Once a month. If you notice odors between cleanings, run a vinegar-only cycle mid-month. You can also use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner between vinegar cleanings.

Can you use vinegar and bleach to clean a washing machine? Don’t mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. The combination creates toxic chlorine gas. Use one or the other, not both.

References

1. Tide. “How to Clean a Washing Machine.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Clean a Washing Machine with Vinegar.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “How to Clean a Washing Machine.” goodhousekeeping.com.