Cleaning Clothes Washer with Vinegar: What Works and What to Avoid

You want to clean your clothes washer with vinegar. Maybe you prefer natural cleaning products, or you want to save money on commercial cleaners. Vinegar is a natural washing machine cleaner that kills mold, removes odors, and dissolves buildup. But using vinegar wrong can reduce its effectiveness or damage your machine. Here’s what works and what to avoid when cleaning your clothes washer with vinegar.

Vinegar (white vinegar, 5% acetic acid) is a natural cleaning agent that kills mold, removes odors, and dissolves hard water deposits and detergent residue. It’s a safe, affordable alternative to commercial washing machine cleaners. However, vinegar has limitations: it doesn’t remove heavy buildup as effectively as commercial cleaners, and it can damage rubber seals if used in excess.

To clean your clothes washer with vinegar, add 2 cups of white vinegar to the dispenser or drum, add half a cup of baking soda, run an empty hot cycle on the longest setting, and wipe the seal and dispenser after. Use monthly. Don’t use apple cider vinegar, don’t use more than 2 cups, and don’t mix vinegar with bleach.

What Works

Use White Vinegar Only

Use white vinegar (distilled white vinegar, 5% acidity). Don’t use apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or other colored vinegars, which can stain.

Add 2 Cups to the Dispenser or Drum

Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser or directly to the drum. This is the right amount for a standard washing machine.

Add Baking Soda

Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the drum. Baking soda and vinegar work together to remove odors and buildup.

Run an Empty Hot Cycle

Set the machine to the hottest water setting and the longest cycle. Hot water kills mold and dissolves buildup.

Wipe the Seal After

After the cycle, wipe the rubber seal with a cloth soaked in warm water and vinegar. This removes any remaining mold.

Clean the Dispenser

Remove and clean the dispenser drawer with Dawn Ultra Dish Soap and an old toothbrush.

Use Monthly

Clean the machine monthly with vinegar and baking soda to prevent mold and odors.

Use with the Right Detergent

Use Tide Free and Gentle for laundry. Vinegar cleans the machine but doesn’t replace detergent for clothes.

Use affresh for Deep Cleaning

For deep cleaning or severe odors, use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner in addition to vinegar. Use affresh one month and vinegar the next.

Use Other Stain Removers

OxiClean Max Force Spray: link

Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam: link

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer: link

Amodex Ink and Stain Remover: link

What to Avoid

Don’t use apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar contains pigments that can stain. Use white vinegar only.

Don’t use more than 2 cups. Excess vinegar can damage rubber seals and gaskets over time. Use 2 cups per cleaning cycle.

Don’t mix vinegar with bleach. The combination produces toxic chlorine gas. Use one or the other.

Don’t use cold water. Cold water doesn’t kill mold or dissolve buildup. Use hot water.

Don’t skip the seal and dispenser. The rubber seal and dispenser are where most mold hides. Clean them after every cleaning cycle.

Don’t use vinegar as a detergent replacement. Vinegar doesn’t have surfactants. Always use detergent for laundry.

Don’t use vinegar on every load. Vinegar is for cleaning the machine, not for every laundry load. Use it monthly for cleaning and half a cup in the rinse for softening.

Don’t close the door after cleaning. Leave the door open to allow the drum to dry and prevent mold from returning.

How to Clean Each Washer Type with Vinegar

Front Load Washers

Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser. Add half a cup of baking soda to the drum. Run an empty hot cycle on the longest setting. Wipe the rubber seal and dispenser after.

Top Load Washers

Add 2 cups of white vinegar directly to the drum. Add half a cup of baking soda. Run an empty hot cycle on the longest setting. Wipe the drum, agitator, and dispenser after.

HE Washers

Use the same amount (2 cups of vinegar, half a cup of baking soda). HE washers use less water, so the vinegar is more concentrated.

Comparison: Vinegar vs. Commercial Cleaners

Feature	White Vinegar	affresh Tablets
Cost	Low	Medium
Mold removal	Good	Excellent
Odor removal	Good	Excellent
Residue removal	Fair	Excellent
Ease of use	Easy	Very easy
Safety	Very safe	Safe
Best for	Monthly maintenance	Deep cleaning

FAQ

Can you clean a clothes washer with vinegar? Yes. Add 2 cups of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda to the machine and run an empty hot cycle. Vinegar kills mold, removes odors, and dissolves buildup.

How much vinegar do you use to clean a clothes washer? Use 2 cups of white vinegar per cleaning cycle. Add half a cup of baking soda to the drum for extra cleaning power.

Can you use apple cider vinegar to clean a clothes washer? No. Apple cider vinegar contains pigments that can stain. Use white vinegar only.

Can you mix vinegar and bleach to clean a clothes washer? No. Mixing vinegar and bleach produces toxic chlorine gas. Use one or the other, never both.

Is vinegar as good as commercial clothes washer cleaners? Vinegar is good for monthly maintenance but doesn’t remove heavy buildup as effectively as commercial cleaners like affresh. Use vinegar for regular cleaning and affresh for deep cleaning.

References

1. Tide. “Vinegar in Laundry Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Vinegar for Washing Machine Guide.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Vinegar Cleaning Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. affresh. “Cleaning Guide.” affresh.com.