Use Vinegar to Clean a Washing Machine: What Works and What to Avoid

Your washing machine smells musty and you want to clean it with vinegar. You’ve heard vinegar is a natural cleaner that kills bacteria and removes odors. That’s true, but vinegar needs to be used correctly. Too much can damage rubber seals, and mixing it with the wrong products can be dangerous. Here’s what works and what to avoid when using vinegar to clean a washing machine.

Using vinegar to clean a washing machine is the process of running a hot cycle with white vinegar to kill bacteria, remove residue, and deodorize the drum. Vinegar is a natural acid that dissolves mineral deposits, breaks down detergent residue, and kills most bacteria and mold. It’s safe for most washing machine components when used correctly.

To clean a washing machine with vinegar, pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser, add half a cup of baking soda to the drum, and run the hottest cycle with no clothes. Wipe the drum and seal after. Use affresh monthly for best results. Don’t mix vinegar with chlorine bleach, don’t use more than 2 cups per cycle, and don’t use apple cider vinegar.

What Works

Running a Hot Cycle with Vinegar

Step 1: Add vinegar. Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser.

Step 2: Add baking soda. Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the drum. The baking soda and vinegar work together to break down residue.

Step 3: Run the hottest cycle. Run the longest and hottest cycle with no clothes.

Step 4: Wipe the drum. After the cycle, wipe the drum with a clean, dry cloth.

Cleaning the Rubber Seal with Vinegar

Step 1: Wipe the seal. Pull back the folds of the rubber seal and wipe with a cloth dipped in white vinegar.

Step 2: For visible mold, apply vinegar directly. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.

Step 3: For stubborn mold, use baking soda paste. Mix baking soda with water, scrub with an old toothbrush, then wipe with vinegar.

Cleaning the Detergent Dispenser with Vinegar

Step 1: Remove the dispenser.

Step 2: Soak in vinegar. Soak in warm water with vinegar for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Scrub. Scrub with an old toothbrush.

Step 4: Rinse and replace.

Using Vinegar with affresh for Best Results

For the best results, combine vinegar with a commercial cleaner:

Step 1: Run a hot cycle with vinegar. Add 2 cups of vinegar to the dispenser and run the hottest cycle.

Step 2: Run a second hot cycle with affresh. Add 1 tablet of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner to the drum and run another hot cycle.

What to Avoid

Don’t Mix Vinegar with Chlorine Bleach

Mixing vinegar and chlorine bleach creates toxic chlorine gas. Never combine them in the same cycle or on the same surface.

Don’t Use More Than 2 Cups Per Cycle

Using more than 2 cups of vinegar per cycle can damage rubber seals and hoses over time. Stick to 2 cups for machine cleaning.

Don’t Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can stain light-colored washing machine components. Use white vinegar only.

Don’t Use Vinegar on Every Cycle

Using vinegar on every wash cycle can be too acidic for some fabrics and rubber components. Use vinegar for machine cleaning monthly, not on every load.

Don’t Skip Commercial Cleaners

Vinegar is effective but may not remove all buildup. For best results, use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly in addition to vinegar.

Don’t Put Clothes in the Cleaning Cycle

Don’t add clothes when cleaning the machine with vinegar. Run the cleaning cycle empty.

Comparison: Vinegar vs. Commercial Cleaners

Feature	Vinegar	affresh Cleaner
Cost	Low	Medium
Availability	Everywhere	Stores, online
Effectiveness	Good	Excellent
Residue removal	Good	Excellent
Bacteria killing	Good	Excellent
Odor removal	Good	Excellent
Safe for rubber	Yes (in moderation)	Yes
Best for	Monthly maintenance	Deep cleaning

How Often to Clean with Vinegar

Frequency	What to Do
Weekly	Wipe the rubber seal after each wash
Monthly	Run a hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda
Monthly	Use 1 tablet of affresh in a hot cycle
Every 3 months	Deep clean with 2 cycles: vinegar then affresh

FAQ

Can you use vinegar to clean a washing machine? Yes. White vinegar kills bacteria, removes residue, and deodorizes the drum. Pour 2 cups into the detergent dispenser and run the hottest cycle with no clothes. For best results, also use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

How much vinegar do you use to clean a washing machine? 2 cups of white vinegar per cleaning cycle. Don’t use more than 2 cups, as excess vinegar can damage rubber seals over time.

Can you mix vinegar and baking soda to clean a washing machine? Yes, but add them separately. Add 2 cups of vinegar to the detergent dispenser and half a cup of baking soda to the drum. They react in the water to break down residue. Don’t mix them in a container before adding.

Can you mix vinegar and bleach to clean a washing machine? No. Mixing vinegar and chlorine bleach creates toxic chlorine gas. Never combine them. Use one or the other.

How often should you clean your washing machine with vinegar? Monthly. Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser and run the hottest cycle. For best results, also use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

References

1. Tide. “How to Clean a Washing Machine with Vinegar.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Vinegar for Washer Cleaning.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Washing Machine Cleaning Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. affresh. “Washer Cleaning Guide.” affresh.com.