Cleaning Your Washer with Baking Soda: What Helps and What Makes It Worse

Your washing machine smells sour. You’ve heard that baking soda can clean and deodorize it, but you’re not sure how to use it. You don’t want to damage the machine or waste time on a method that doesn’t work. Baking soda can help clean your washing machine by absorbing odors, breaking down residue, and scrubbing away buildup. But it’s not a complete solution on its own. Here’s what helps, what makes it worse, and the right way to clean your washer with baking soda.

Cleaning a washer with baking soda means adding baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to a hot wash cycle to absorb odors, break down residue, and scrub away buildup. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and mild abrasive that helps clean the drum and dispenser. For best results, combine baking soda with vinegar in a two-step cleaning process.

To clean a washer with baking soda, add half a cup of baking soda to the drum, run a hot water cycle, then add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and run another hot cycle. Wipe the drum and dispenser after. Don’t use baking soda alone for heavy buildup, don’t use cold water, and don’t skip the vinegar step.

What Helps

Baking Soda + Vinegar Method (Best Overall)

The most effective way to clean a washer with baking soda is to combine it with vinegar in a two-step process.

Step 1: Add baking soda. Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda directly to the drum.

Step 2: Add vinegar. Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser.

Step 3: Run a hot cycle. Set the machine to the hottest and longest cycle. The hot water dissolves residue, the baking soda absorbs odors, and the vinegar breaks down mineral deposits.

Step 4: Wipe the drum. After the cycle, wipe the drum with a clean cloth to remove any loosened residue.

Step 5: Clean the dispenser. Remove the detergent dispenser and soak it in warm water with baking soda for 30 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush and rinse.

Step 6: Wipe the rubber seal. On front loaders, wipe the rubber seal with a cloth dipped in vinegar solution to remove mold and residue.

Baking Soda Paste for the Drum

For visible buildup in the drum:

Step 1: Make a paste. Mix baking soda with water to form a paste.

Step 2: Apply to the drum. Spread the paste on visible buildup in the drum.

Step 3: Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Step 4: Scrub. Scrub with a sponge or brush.

Step 5: Run a hot rinse cycle. Run a hot water cycle to rinse the drum.

Baking Soda for the Dispenser

Step 1: Remove the dispenser. Take out the detergent dispenser.

Step 2: Soak in baking soda solution. Soak in warm water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Scrub. Scrub with an old toothbrush to remove residue.

Step 4: Rinse and replace. Rinse thoroughly and put back.

What Makes It Worse

Using baking soda alone. Baking soda alone doesn’t break down mineral deposits or kill bacteria. Combine it with vinegar for a complete clean. Or use a dedicated cleaner like affresh Washing Machine Cleaner.

Using cold water. Cold water doesn’t dissolve residue or activate baking soda effectively. Always use hot water for cleaning.

Using too much baking soda. More than half a cup can leave a white residue in the drum. Use half a cup per cleaning cycle.

Mixing baking soda and vinegar directly. When mixed directly, they neutralize each other and lose their cleaning power. Add baking soda to the drum and vinegar to the dispenser so they’re released at different times.

Skipping the rubber seal. On front loaders, the rubber seal is where mold and residue collect. Don’t skip cleaning it.

Not cleaning monthly. If you wait too long between cleanings, buildup becomes harder to remove. Clean monthly.

Closing the door between washes. Closing the door traps moisture and promotes mold growth. Leave the door open between washes.

Comparison: What Helps vs. What Makes It Worse

Action	Effect
Baking soda + vinegar + hot cycle	Helps (complete clean)
Baking soda paste for drum buildup	Helps (scrubs away residue)
Baking soda soak for dispenser	Helps (removes residue)
Hot water	Helps (dissolves residue)
Wiping rubber seal	Helps (removes mold)
Leaving door open	Helps (prevents mold)
Baking soda alone	Worse (incomplete clean)
Cold water	Worse (doesn’t dissolve)
Too much baking soda	Worse (white residue)
Mixing directly	Worse (neutralizes)
Skipping rubber seal	Worse (mold grows)
Closing door	Worse (traps moisture)

When to Use a Dedicated Cleaner

For heavy buildup, persistent odors, or if baking soda and vinegar don’t work, use a dedicated washing machine cleaner:

affresh Washing Machine Cleaner: Formulated specifically for washing machines. Removes residue, odors, and mineral deposits. Use monthly.

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer: For sanitizing the machine and killing bacteria.

FAQ

Can you clean a washing machine with baking soda? Yes. Add half a cup of baking soda to the drum and 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser, then run a hot cycle. The baking soda absorbs odors and the vinegar breaks down mineral deposits. Wipe the drum and dispenser after.

How much baking soda do you use to clean a washing machine? Half a cup per cleaning cycle. Don’t use more than half a cup, as excess can leave a white residue in the drum.

Can you mix baking soda and vinegar to clean a washing machine? Add them separately: baking soda to the drum and vinegar to the dispenser. This way they’re released at different times during the cycle. Don’t mix them directly in a container, as they neutralize each other.

Does baking soda remove odors from a washing machine? Yes. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that absorbs odors. Add half a cup to the drum and run a hot cycle. For best results, combine with vinegar.

How often should you clean your washing machine with baking soda? Once a month. If you have hard water or wash heavily soiled loads, clean every 2 to 3 weeks. For heavy buildup, use a dedicated cleaner like affresh.

References

1. Tide. “How to Clean a Washing Machine.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Clean a Washer with Baking Soda.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Washing Machine Cleaning Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Arm and Hammer. “Baking Soda Cleaning Guide.” armandhammer.com.