Clean Your Washer With Vinegar To Keep It Smelling Fresh

The other day I decided my washing machine was starting to smell a bit when I opened the door. So I got out my tried and true white vinegar to give it a cleaning.

Maybe it seems that a washing machine is constantly washing itself when it’s laundering clothing and such. But it does need an occasional cleaning. Like once every six months.

My apartment kitchen

You don’t need fancy cleaners to clean all kinds of things in your home. Vinegar and baking soda will clean most anything, I’ve learned. And I don’t like chemicals. So I prefer the natural way to clean.

Both these items are natural, not to mention cheap.

  • I keep a bottle of half water/half white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray it around the rubber gasket. Then use something like an old toothbrush to remove the soap scum, mildew and detergent/fabric softener buildup.
  • Start an empty wash cycle using the largest load size and hottest water. Since my washer is front loading, I poured white vinegar into the detergent and fabric softener dispenser. If you have a top loading washer, you can pour white vinegar into the spot where you pour detergent.
  • If you want to get it super clean you can repeat this step with baking soda. A half cup should do the trick.
  • Lastly wipe your washing machine down to get dust and dirt off of it.

An interesting article I found on where to put your suitcase immediately upon entering your hotel room can be found here.

We just got back from Charlie’s land therapy. He’s a bit tired from having those leg muscles worked.

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4 Comments

  2. I do indeed periodically run my washing machine with vinegar only. Same with my dishwasher. Thanks for the tip on bed bugs – interesting to hear about keeping your luggage in the bathroom. Only problem is, you eventually have to open the suitcase to get things out, so where do you do that?! The bathroom isn’t big enough.

  3. I use BiOKleen detergent and I have never had the problem. I thought it was not using a detergent based on petroleum chemicals. But then I also have my laundry area on the second floor and I think having it on the ground floor is the problem especially if your drain pipe from the washer flows horizontally. Mine goes down from the washer to below the lower floor level. My daughter in law had problems with her washer and she has the pipe going horizontally. If I had that I would use a vinegar rinse often.

  4. hi
    I love the way you decorate your house and your antique store finds.
    For a few years now I just leave the washer door a little ajar
    so it can breath. I have been using this technique a long time.
    Try it if its a fail back to Vinegar which is a very good idea for the problem also.

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