How to clean a washing machine with vinegar (plus warning!)

Inside: How you can clean your washing machine with vinegar to leave it sparkling clean without any nasty chemicals. Extra: Why you need to pay attention to the warning.

There are some days when my washing machine just starts to stink. Which actually always surprises me seeing as it should technically get cleaned with every wash… but apparently it doesn’t work like that.

Washing machines need regular cleaning to remove any residue left behind from washing dirty laundry. Vinegar is a great natural solution that will eliminate odours, dirt and grease. Whether you have a top-loading machine or a front load washer you can make it run like new again.

Nobody wants a smelly washing machine, do they? Regular deep cleaning will leave your machine sparkling and it couldn’t be easier!

Why do you need to clean your washing machine?

Every time you run a cycle there will always be some water left sitting in the pipes. This can stagnate and form bacteria (have you ever come home from holiday to a stinky drain? This is why!). There will also be a build up of soap scum as time goes on – all leading to bad smells!

Whether it is your own machine or a washer rental, if your machine stinks then it won’t do a great job of cleaning your clothes. You’ll start to smell a musty smell coming from your supposed clean clothes when you remove them from the machine.

Easy to fix though as vinegar is a natural disinfectant and de-greaser – just run an empty hot water cycle and your machine will look and smell like new.

If you are interested in other natural cleaning methods – check out this post on cleaning shower tile grout naturally.

How to clean your dirty washing machine with vinegar

When I clean my machine I like to do so in 2 parts.

• First of all, I take a microfiber cloth and dab it with a little vinegar to clean the inside of the machine (wiping all around the washer drum), the inside of the door (there always seems to be a build up of grime on the underside) and the entire outside of the machine (paying particular attention to the control panel).
  
• I will then take an old toothbrush and clean inside the rubber gasket. You may even find an odd sock or reusable wipe in there! If it has a heavy build up of mildew you can use some baking soda to neutralise and scrub it away.
  
• I then remove the detergent tray and give it a rinse in the sink. If the fabric softener dispenser is particularly grimy you can soak it in soapy water to make cleaning easier.
  
• The second part of the clean is simple add white vinegar to the machine and run it on its hottest cycle. Amount of vinegar varies depending on whether you have a top loader or a front loader.
  
  • For a top-loading washing machine, add 4 cups of white vinegar (1L) directly into the water.
    
  • For a front-load washer, add 2 cups of vinegar (500ml) to the detergent dispenser.
    
• Once it has finished, run an extra rinse cycle to make sure there is no vinegar left sitting in the pipes.

If you follow these simple steps you will have a machine that cleans your clothes well for a long time.

Top tips

• Leave your door open after each wash so it can air and dry to prevent mildew growth in damp conditions.
  
• If you live in an area with hard water then a pro tip is to use soda crystals into the drum along with the vinegar as together they will work to break down limescale that will have formed. Use 500g of soda crystals to 1 cup (250ml) of vinegar.
  
• It should go without saying but do not leave wet washing to sit inside the machine. Remove it as soon as the cycle ends.
  
• Run your machine on its hottest water cycle once a week. So many detergents allow for washing at cool temperatures these days so it is important to run a regular hot cycle just to kill off lingering bacteria.

Important warning

It is important to check the manufacturer’s instructions for your machine as some models do not recommend using vinegar as it can break down the rubber seal. However, generally this advice is aimed at those who choose to use vinegar as a natural fabric softener and so will be adding it to the machine daily.

The more you use, the greater the risk. If you are only adding it as a deep clean every couple of months then it should be fine. But please do check your manual.

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I hope this has inspired you to try natural ingredients to clean the inside of your washing machine.