Is washing machine cleaner worth it? (2023)

Is washing machine cleaner really necessary?

Not only do they keep your machine running smoothly, but they can also prevent your clothes from smelling dirty even after you just washed them. From how these cleaners work to the best product options out there, here's everything you need to know about cleaning the very thing that keeps your clothes clean.

The short answer to this question is that yes, washing machine cleaners do work. However, not all washing machine cleaners work all the time. It's quite common to use a product and not notice much of a difference.

For a top-loading washing machine, a hot setting cycle with white vinegar will do the trick. To help prevent soap scum buildup, Gazzo likes to use eco-friendly products like white vinegar instead of fabric softener. “Vinegar won't leave any soap or fat residue on the drums or the drain,” he says.

In an ideal world, says Courtenay Hartford, the author of The Cleaning Ninja ($15.99, amazon.com), you should be cleaning your washing system about once a month. "Cleaning your washer should be viewed as more of a preventative measure than as something that you do to fix a problem once it arises," she explains.

Not just your delicates - all of your clothes are damaged on a microscopic level when they go through a wash cycle. Washing by hand is therefore a great way to keep them looking new and fresh for longer.

Appliance company Bosch also warns against the practice on its website, stating, “To keep maximum efficiency and quality, please do not use dishwasher tablets or detergent to clean your washing machine or to clean laundry.”

For the best results, make sure you put the detergent and softener into the right sections of your detergent drawer. The powder detergent goes into the largest section of the drawer, usually on the left hand side. If in any doubt, check your washing machine's manual.

Vinegar is sometimes used as a fabric softener or for getting rid of stains and odors in laundry. But as with dishwashers, it can damage the rubber seals and hoses in some washing machines to the point of causing leaks.

If you have washing machine cleaning detergent, use it with the drum cleaning program. Otherwise, do not add any detergent while you a running a program to clean. If you can, wipe down the inside of the drum and the door with a soft cloth after each use to remove any remaining moisture.

What can I use to clean my washing machine instead of affresh?

Vinegar and baking soda are amazing natural cleansers and can be used safely in your washing machine. Add a quart of white vinegar and a cup of baking soda to the cleaning mode and run the washer without clothes.

If your laundry is very heavily soiled, the washing machine may not succeed in fully rinsing it and draining away all the dirt. In this case, you need to presoak and rinse the items before putting them in the washing machine. Some washers make this easy by offering a “presoak” cycle.

Today's washing machines work with the same principle as these original washing machines: Loosen dirt from clothes and linens with soap and water, rinse and squeeze out as much water as possible. Modern washing machines, though, are almost completely automated.

Wash with cold water.

Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load's energy use in half, and using cold water will save even more. Cold water detergents can be helpful to ensure items get clean, and high-efficiency detergents (indicated by the "he" symbol) should be used when required by the manufacturer.

You should be putting FOUR dishwashing tablets in your washing machine | 7NEWS.

Mrs Hinch showcased how she cleaned her washing machine

Simply add a capful of white vinegar and a scoop of bicarbonate of soda into the drum along with the cloths you have used, then put the clean drawer back into your machine and put it on a quick spin cycle to leave the inside sparkling clean.

Add one tablet to an empty washing machine or two for a 10 kg machine. Run a warm/hot wash cycle (above 60 degrees). For best results run a rinse cycle for a complete clean.

If you're a fan of bleach in the laundry sphere, you're in luck because it might just be the hardest-working product for sanitizing. If you want to avoid bleach and its harsh chemicals, though, white vinegar is a good alternative with powerful deodorizing and bacteria-killing properties.

The only reason they advise against using the soda crystals on aluminium is that it can cause pitting (small indentations). This would be undesirable on anything on show. But as no one can see the drum spider it shouldn't be a problem.

How can I clean the inside of my washing machine?

Pour a quart of white vinegar into the wash drum with a cup of baking soda. Use a stiff nylon brush and vinegar to scrub the interior of the wash drum. At the hottest temperature setting, run a wash cycle with this cleaning solution in an empty washer; select the heavy-duty wash cycle if available.

Over time, components in your washer can become clogged with built-up detergent or fabric softener residue, which can become a playground for bacteria that can cause a sour smell. Regular cleaning of your washing machine can eliminate this issue and set you on the path to better-scented clothes.

Pour two cups of white vinegar into the drum, then run a normal cycle at high heat—without any clothes, of course. The baking soda and vinegar should break up any residue stuck to your drum and kill any mold that might be present. They'll also help remove any foul odors.

The odor you perceive is bacteria, mold, and mildew. The bacteria is what causes the odor and can result from moist laundry, detergent build-up, the residue of softeners, a dirty laundry machine, and more.

Although vinegar and baking soda shouldn't be harmful to your washing machine if used in moderate amounts, extreme use can impact some of the coatings on the drive shaft components, which are the parts responsible for switching cycles from agitate to spin.