Washing Machine Soda and Vinegar: A Repeatable Care Routine

You want to clean your washing machine with baking soda and vinegar. You’ve heard this combination is effective and natural. That’s true, but you need to use them correctly. Baking soda and vinegar react together, so they need to be added separately. When used right, they clean, deodorize, and descale your washing machine without harsh chemicals. Here’s a repeatable care routine using washing machine soda and vinegar.

Washing machine soda and vinegar is the use of baking soda and white vinegar to clean and deodorize a washing machine. Baking soda breaks down residue and deodorizes. Vinegar dissolves mineral deposits, kills bacteria, and removes residue. When used together (added separately), they provide a natural, effective clean without harsh chemicals.

To clean a washing machine with soda and vinegar, add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and half a cup of baking soda to the drum, run the hottest cycle, then run a second cycle with affresh. Do this monthly. Don’t mix them in a container before adding, don’t use more than 2 cups of vinegar, and don’t use apple cider vinegar.

What Soda and Vinegar Do

Baking Soda

Arm and Hammer Baking Soda is a mild alkali that:

• Breaks down detergent residue
• Deodorizes by neutralizing acids
• Softens hard water
• Acts as a gentle abrasive for scrubbing

White Vinegar

White vinegar is a mild acid that:

• Dissolves mineral deposits
• Kills bacteria and mold
• Removes detergent residue
• Deodorizes by neutralizing bases

Why They Work Together

Baking soda (alkali) and vinegar (acid) react when combined, producing carbon dioxide, water, and sodium acetate. This reaction helps break down residue. But they should be added separately to the washer so they react in the water, not in a container.

Repeatable Care Routine

Monthly: Deep Clean with Soda and Vinegar

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

Step 2: Add baking soda to the drum. Add half a cup of baking soda directly to the drum.

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

Step 4: Run a second cycle with affresh. For best results, add 1 tablet of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner to the drum and run another hot cycle.

Step 5: Wipe the drum. After the cycles, wipe the drum with a clean, dry cloth.

Step 6: Leave the door open. Leave the door open for several hours to let the drum dry.

Weekly: Wipe the Seal and Dispenser

Step 1: Wipe the rubber seal. Wipe with a cloth dipped in vinegar. Step 2: Wipe the dispenser. Wipe with a damp cloth.

After Each Wash: Leave the Door Open

Leave the door open between washes to let the drum dry.

Every 3 Months: Deep Clean

Do the full deep clean: clean the rubber seal with vinegar and baking soda paste, clean the detergent dispenser, run 2 hot cycles (vinegar then affresh), clean the filter, and wipe the drum.

Using Soda and Vinegar for Laundry

For Odor Removal in Clothes

Step 1: Add detergent. Add 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle.

Step 2: Add baking soda to the wash. Add half a cup of baking soda to the drum.

Step 3: Add vinegar to the rinse. Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.

Step 4: Wash in hot water.

For Whitening Clothes

Step 1: Add detergent.

Step 2: Add baking soda. Add half a cup to 1 cup of baking soda to the drum.

Step 3: Add oxygen bleach. Add 1 scoop of oxygen bleach.

Step 4: Wash in hot water.

Step 5: Add vinegar to the rinse. Add 1 cup of white vinegar.

Step 6: Dry in the sun.

For Softening Clothes

Step 1: Add detergent.

Step 2: Add vinegar to the rinse. Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.

Step 3: Wash as usual.

What Not to Do

Don’t mix baking soda and vinegar in a container. They react and neutralize each other. Add them separately to the washer so they react in the water.

Don’t use more than 2 cups of vinegar. Excess vinegar can damage rubber seals over time.

Don’t use apple cider vinegar. It can stain light-colored components. Use white vinegar only.

Don’t mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. Mixing them creates toxic chlorine gas.

Don’t use baking soda and vinegar as a replacement for detergent. They boost cleaning but don’t replace detergent. Always use Tide Free and Gentle.

Don’t use baking soda and vinegar on silk or wool. The acidity of vinegar can damage protein fibers.

Don’t close the door between washes. Leave it open to let the drum dry.

FAQ

Can you use baking soda and vinegar to clean a washing machine? Yes. Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and half a cup of baking soda to the drum. Run the hottest cycle. For best results, also use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

How do you use baking soda and vinegar in laundry? Add baking soda to the wash (half a cup in the drum) and vinegar to the rinse (half a cup in the fabric softener dispenser). Don’t mix them in the same cycle. Use with Tide Free and Gentle.

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

How often should you clean your washing machine with baking soda and vinegar? Monthly. Add 2 cups of vinegar to the dispenser and half a cup of baking soda to the drum, and run the hottest cycle. For best results, also use affresh monthly.

Does baking soda and vinegar damage a washing machine? No, when used correctly. Don’t use more than 2 cups of vinegar per cycle, don’t use apple cider vinegar, and don’t mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. Use white vinegar and baking soda in the recommended amounts.

References

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