How to Clean your Washing Machine Without Using Harsh Cleaners! {Cleaning Tips}

Posted by Angela V / Published on February 3, 2012

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What you need:

Vinegar* or Lemon Juice
Cleaning Cloth
Small Brush (toothbrush)

1. Start by wiping down the exterior of your washing machine with the cleaning cloth using the vinegar.

2. Pour two cups of lemon juice or vinegar into the tub and run a full cycle on the hottest setting. (If you have a front-loading machine then put the vinegar/lemon juice in the detergent dispenser instead).

3. Scrub the lid/door and all the corners with vinegar using the small brush and/or the cleaning cloth.

You are done!!!

Note: Remember to always leave the door open after you finish a load to allow the washing machine to dry out completely. This is specially important with front-loading machines to prevent mildewing.

*White vinegar is ideal, but you can definitively use cider vinegar if you wish (just keep in mind that it is a bit more expensive). Cider Vinegar is more likely to be organically produced, which is better for the environment.

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58 Responses to “How to Clean your Washing Machine Without Using Harsh Cleaners! {Cleaning Tips}”

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Melissa R — February 4, 2012 @ 3:39 am (#
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Love the easy steps!

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Brianna and Brian Laughman — February 4, 2012 @ 8:56 am (#
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Thanks for this. I really need to do this but I didn't want to harm my cloth diapers. This should be easy and use things I already have in the house!

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MommaSparkleBot — February 4, 2012 @ 9:50 am (#
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Seems so easy! Thanks!

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el03ro — February 4, 2012 @ 2:27 pm (#
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February 4–Thank you for this tip. I know Heloise is always telling us about the uses of vinegar and baking soda. I will try this as It is less toxic than using a commercial bleach product.-el03ro

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Amy M — February 4, 2012 @ 5:05 pm (#
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I was just thinking about how to clean it this morning.. so glad I found this. Don't want to use bleach or whatever chemical that is recommended. Thanks!

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Sabrina — February 4, 2012 @ 8:06 pm (#
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Thanks for the simple steps! Good reminder re leaving the door open.

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Vanessa Coker — February 4, 2012 @ 9:34 pm (#
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Really great tips! we actually cleaned ours last weekend and used many of the same ingredients listed here. Except we ran a wash with vinegar first and then another cycle with baking soda.

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Cynthia Mollison — February 4, 2012 @ 9:37 pm (#
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Great tips! Thanks so much! Will definitely give it a try!

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Bidchka — February 5, 2012 @ 6:32 pm (#
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That's some great advice. Thanks a lot.

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Deb Dorrington — February 5, 2012 @ 10:40 pm (#
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Thanks for this, I need to clean my machine and I will definitely use your tip.

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Samantha Jenkins — February 6, 2012 @ 4:09 am (#
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Thanks for the reminder. I need to clean my washing drum and I just bought white vinegar too. Great tips!

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Lisa KH — February 21, 2012 @ 2:47 pm (#
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Thanks for the tip about using vinegar. We purchased a new washer last year and I’ve been looking for a natural cleaning solution to ensure our washer “stays new”.

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Karina — February 25, 2012 @ 7:16 pm (#
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Great tip !!!

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Katy — February 26, 2012 @ 4:45 pm (#
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I needed this…my washer is due a good clean! Thanks x

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Adri — March 5, 2012 @ 8:30 pm (#
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I wanted to get a front-load – now I know what to do

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Ester G — March 11, 2012 @ 8:53 am (#
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Super important to clean a front load. We noticed our clothes were smelling funny, then decided to regularly clean the washer and it is great!

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morgan danskin — March 12, 2012 @ 8:43 pm (#
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wow this is super easy! glad to read this cuz i just noticed my washer is smelling fuuuuuunky!!!!

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Hoa — March 13, 2012 @ 7:56 pm (#
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Nice, very useful tips!

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Lynn Hall — March 15, 2012 @ 12:15 pm (#
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a lot cheaper than those products they sell. Thanks

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Cherry — March 25, 2012 @ 11:35 am (#
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Thank you for this useful tips!

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Perk11 — April 2, 2012 @ 7:58 pm (#
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Thank you for this post, we did all your tips and our machine is smelling so much fresher…

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- Angela at OneSmileyMonkey — April 2nd, 2012 @ 8:05 pm
  
  So happy for you! Thanks for your feedback! So easy to do too eh?
  
  Reply
Shirley — April 3, 2012 @ 6:06 pm (#
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Thanks for the tip. I would like to get away from chemicals too.

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Kathy T — April 7, 2012 @ 11:00 am (#
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so simple – great ideas

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Candice — April 13, 2012 @ 8:14 am (#
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Thanks for the great tips!!

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- Angela at OneSmileyMonkey — April 13th, 2012 @ 8:34 am
  
  NP
  
  Reply
jennifer laur — April 14, 2012 @ 8:16 am (#
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thanks for sharing this! our machine is in desperate need of a good cleaning but i like to stay away from chemicals

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Krystal M — April 16, 2012 @ 7:40 am (#
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Great advice! I usually give it a good clean with white vinegar at least every month. I wish everyone in the house would follow the rule about leaving the door open when not in use….. the hubbs is still in training! LOL

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dry cleaning Monroe County — April 30, 2012 @ 12:13 am (#
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These are great washing machine cleaning tips! It is good to note that there are gentle cleaners that can be used for this task. Thanks for sharing a very helpful article.

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Dreena — May 1, 2012 @ 3:15 pm (#
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Thanks! The washing machine is smelly a little funky!
Cheers.

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Tracy Dixon — May 6, 2012 @ 6:48 am (#
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Great tips, thanks!

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MissT — May 7, 2012 @ 7:11 pm (#
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That sounds easy. Vinegar is always so useful to clean with.

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Ann Demill — May 8, 2012 @ 5:43 am (#
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The front loaders tend to smell so these are great tips, thanks

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nancy — May 14, 2012 @ 8:52 am (#
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thanks! Those are some great tips.

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InezbyDesign — May 15, 2012 @ 9:11 am (#
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These are great tips. I also use white vinegar in each laundry load. It really helps with very hard water.

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M Turner — May 18, 2012 @ 5:59 pm (#
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Thank you just got a front loader.

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Srishayini — May 23, 2012 @ 9:21 am (#
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i use 1 cup bleach
usual detergent for load x 2
run with hot water

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Heather — June 4, 2012 @ 7:33 pm (#
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Great tip and its one that I will definitely use! Thanks!

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kelly — June 8, 2012 @ 8:17 am (#
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Thank you so much for this post! I was looking at our washer the other day and thought, man I need to clean it but what do you use? This is so helpful!

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Kristin — August 19, 2012 @ 10:36 pm (#
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Thanks for this info–I’ve been wanting to clean our washer, but didn’t know where to start!

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S — August 21, 2012 @ 7:25 pm (#
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Is there a difference between lemon juice and vinegar for this?

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- Angela at OneSmileyMonkey — August 21st, 2012 @ 7:36 pm
  
  You can use either. I have cleaned it with both and I found that it worked equally well.
  
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Sarah — August 27, 2012 @ 1:48 pm (#
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This has motivated me to get cleaning!

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amy v — August 30, 2012 @ 7:22 pm (#
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great tips!!i think this is important and i love how safe it is!

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Shelley R — September 9, 2012 @ 8:54 am (#
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Thanks so much! I need to try this

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Melissa Bono — September 19, 2012 @ 10:14 am (#
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Great info! Thanks so much!

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Nena Sinclair — October 6, 2012 @ 11:56 pm (#
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Thanks, I like the sounds of this so much better than using harsh chemicals! I bet I could use this in my dishwasher, too!

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Angela — October 14, 2012 @ 8:32 am (#
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Great idea. Thanks!

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Lindsey — November 9, 2012 @ 9:56 am (#
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good idea! I will try that with mine!

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Sarah — December 5, 2012 @ 9:40 pm (#
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Great to know! I’ve been wondering about cleaning the washing machine especially since using cloth diapers.

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catherine — January 9, 2013 @ 6:30 am (#
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This is an awesome idea instead of using the Affresh products which can be so gross.

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Stephanie LaPlante — January 13, 2013 @ 9:59 am (#
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This is an awesome idea. Harsh cleaners literally make me choke.

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Emilia T — January 16, 2013 @ 9:23 pm (#
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I better start cleaning it. I only left the door open for a bit after a wash.

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