How to Disinfect a Washing Machine Safely and Thoroughly

You need to disinfect your washing machine. Maybe it smells, maybe you’ve been washing heavily soiled items, or maybe someone in the house has been sick. A washing machine can harbor bacteria, mould, and odors that transfer to your clothes. Disinfecting kills these organisms and keeps your machine clean. Here’s how to disinfect a washing machine safely and thoroughly.

Disinfecting a washing machine is the process of killing bacteria, mould, and other microorganisms in the drum, dispenser, rubber seal, and filter. Disinfection goes beyond cleaning by killing organisms rather than just removing residue. Vinegar, oxygen bleach, chlorine bleach (for white machines only), and affresh can all be used for disinfection.

To disinfect a washing machine, clean the dispenser, wipe the rubber seal, run a hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar, run a second hot cycle with half a cup of baking soda, and use affresh monthly. For heavy disinfection, use chlorine bleach in the bleach dispenser (not the drum). Leave the door open between washes.

Step-by-Step: Disinfecting a Washing Machine

Step 1: Clean the Dispenser

Remove the detergent dispenser and soak it in hot water with Dawn Ultra Dish Soap for 30 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse and replace.

Step 2: Wipe the Rubber Seal

Wipe the rubber seal with a cloth soaked in equal parts white vinegar and water. Pull back the folds to clean underneath.

Step 3: Run a Vinegar Cycle

Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser. Run the hottest cycle with no clothes. Vinegar kills most bacteria and mould.

Step 4: Run a Baking Soda Cycle

Pour half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda into the drum. Run the hottest cycle with no clothes. Baking soda neutralizes acids and absorbs odors.

Step 5: Use affresh Monthly

Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly. Place one tablet in the drum and run the hottest cycle.

Step 6: Clean the Filter (Front-Load Only)

Open the filter access panel, remove debris, rinse under water, and replace.

Step 7: Leave the Door Open

Leave the door and dispenser open to let the machine dry.

For Heavy Disinfection (After Illness)

Method: Chlorine Bleach (For White Machines Only)

Step 1: Add bleach. Pour 1 cup of chlorine bleach into the bleach dispenser (not the drum).

Step 2: Run the hottest cycle. Run with no clothes.

Step 3: Run a rinse cycle. Run an extra rinse to remove bleach residue.

Step 4: Wipe the drum. Wipe with a clean, damp cloth.

Note: Don’t use chlorine bleach in the drum, as it can damage rubber seals. Use the bleach dispenser only.

Method: Oxygen Bleach (For All Machines)

Step 1: Add oxygen bleach. Add 2 scoops of oxygen bleach to the drum.

Step 2: Run the hottest cycle. Run with no clothes.

Step 3: Run a rinse cycle.

Method: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

Step 1: Add Lysol. Pour 1 cup of Lysol Laundry Sanitizer into the dispenser.

Step 2: Run the hottest cycle. Run with no clothes.

Disinfection Schedule

Frequency	Task	Product
After every load	Leave door open	Air
Weekly	Wipe rubber seal	Vinegar and water
Weekly	Run one hot water load	Tide Free and Gentle
Monthly	Clean dispenser	Dawn dish soap
Monthly	Run affresh cycle	affresh tablet
Monthly	Clean filter (front-load)	Water
After illness	Disinfect with bleach or Lysol	Chlorine bleach or Lysol
Every 6 months	Deep clean with vinegar and baking soda	Vinegar and baking soda

How to Keep the Machine Disinfected

Use less detergent. Use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per load.

Don’t use fabric softener. Use vinegar instead.

Use hot water weekly. Hot water kills bacteria.

Leave the door open. Let the machine dry between washes.

Use OxiClean Max Force Spray for stains. Prevent food and sweat residue.

Use Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam for grease. Prevent grease buildup.

What Not to Do

Don’t use chlorine bleach in the drum. It can damage rubber seals. Use the bleach dispenser only.

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

Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent feeds bacteria.

Don’t use fabric softener. It coats the drum and seal with waxy residue.

Don’t close the door between washes. Trapped moisture causes mould.

Don’t use cold water for every load. Cold water doesn’t kill bacteria. Use hot water weekly.

Don’t skip monthly cleaning. A dirty machine harbors bacteria.

FAQ

How do you disinfect a washing machine? Clean the dispenser, wipe the rubber seal, run a hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar, run a second hot cycle with half a cup of baking soda, and use affresh monthly. For heavy disinfection, use chlorine bleach in the bleach dispenser or Lysol Laundry Sanitizer.

Does vinegar disinfect a washing machine? Yes. White vinegar kills most bacteria and mould. Pour 2 cups into the detergent dispenser and run the hottest cycle with no clothes. For heavy disinfection, also use affresh or Lysol.

Can you use bleach to disinfect a washing machine? Yes, but use it in the bleach dispenser, not the drum. Chlorine bleach can damage rubber seals if poured directly into the drum. Use 1 cup in the bleach dispenser and run the hottest cycle.

How often should you disinfect your washing machine? Monthly with affresh. After illness with chlorine bleach or Lysol. Also wipe the rubber seal weekly, clean the dispenser monthly, and leave the door open between washes.

Does affresh disinfect a washing machine? Yes. affresh Washing Machine Cleaner kills bacteria and removes residue. Place one tablet in the drum and run the hottest cycle monthly.

References

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