Cleaning Your Washing Machine: How to Freshen a Washer with Vinegar and Baking Soda

Cleaning your washing machine is one of those home chores that sounds unnecessary until your clean laundry starts smelling a little less than clean. Detergent, fabric softener, body oils, lint, minerals, and everyday grime can build up inside the washer over time, leaving behind odors, residue, and laundry that does not feel as fresh as it should.

I never really thought about cleaning a washing machine until a family member who worked with Habitat for Humanity mentioned the donated washing machines they had been cleaning that week. I assumed he meant wiping down the outside for dust and cleaning the inside for cobwebs. Then he asked, “Have you ever taken a washing machine apart and seen what’s inside?”

Now, I am not Mr. Fix-It and will not pretend to be. But at that point, I had to know.

He explained that a washing machine seems like it should be self-cleaning because, well, washing machine is right there in the name. But laundry detergent and fabric softener do not always rinse away completely. Some of that detergent and softener can hang around in the nooks, crannies, rim, gasket, and agitator area. Over time, liquid residue can dry into sticky buildup or slime. After years of laundry, that buildup can lead to odors, residue on clothes, slower performance, or even a repair call.

The good news? You do not have to take your washing machine apart to give it a practical refresh. This simple washing machine cleaning method uses white vinegar, baking soda, hot water, towels, and a little soaking time to help loosen buildup and freshen the washer.

Why You Should Clean Your Washing Machine

Your washer handles dirty clothes, towels, bedding, detergent, fabric softener, body oils, pet hair, dirt, and everyday family laundry. Even though the machine fills with water, it does not mean every part of the washer rinses perfectly clean after each cycle.

Cleaning your washing machine can help with:

• Musty washer smells
• Laundry that does not smell fresh
• Detergent residue
• Fabric softener buildup
• Grime around the rim or gasket
• Sticky buildup near the agitator
• Hidden lint, dirt, and soap scum
• A fresher laundry routine overall

If your towels come out smelling sour, your washer has a musty odor, or your laundry looks like it is bringing back yesterday’s problems, it may be time to clean the machine itself.

How Often Should You Clean a Washing Machine?

A house cleaning company recommended cleaning the washing machine twice a year, and that is an easy schedule to remember. I like choosing weekends before two holidays, such as Memorial Day and Thanksgiving, so the chore is tied to something already on the calendar.

If your washer gets heavy use, handles pet laundry, or often runs cold-water cycles, you may want to freshen it more often. A monthly wipe-down around the rim, lid, gasket, and detergent area can also help keep buildup from getting ahead of you.

What You Need to Clean a Washing Machine

This method uses two simple household ingredients: white vinegar and baking soda. It is budget-friendly, easy to find, and costs far less than a repair call.

• White vinegar — You will need up to 8 cups total if repeating the full cleaning cycle.
• Baking soda — You will need up to 2 cups total if repeating the full cleaning cycle.
• Measuring cup
• Clean cloth
• Towels — Used to help fill the washer and scrub the inside as they move through the cycle.

Important Safety Note Before You Start

Do not mix vinegar with bleach or bleach-based cleaners. Combining vinegar and bleach can create dangerous fumes. Use this vinegar and baking soda method only when there is no bleach in the washer, detergent tray, or cleaning cycle.

Always check your washing machine owner’s manual before using any DIY cleaning method, especially if you have a high-efficiency washer, a front-loading washer, or a machine with specific cleaning-cycle instructions.

How to Clean a Washing Machine with Vinegar and Baking Soda

This method is written for a traditional washer that can be filled with hot water and paused to soak. If your machine locks automatically or has a dedicated tub-clean cycle, use the method as inspiration and adjust according to your washer’s manual.

Step 1: Add Towels to the Washer

Fill the washing machine to its fullest practical capacity with towels. Towels help take up space and can gently scrub the inside of the washer while the machine agitates.

Step 2: Choose the Hottest Water Setting

Set the washer to the hottest water setting available. Hot water helps loosen detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, and grime.

Step 3: Measure the White Vinegar

Using a measuring cup, measure 4 cups of white vinegar total for the first cleaning cycle.

Step 4: Start Filling the Washer

Turn on the washer with the lid open if your machine allows it, so you can watch the water level rise.

Step 5: Add the Vinegar

When the washer is about one-quarter full of water, pour in 1 cup of white vinegar. Add the remaining 3 cups as the water rises.

Total for this cycle: 4 cups white vinegar.

Step 6: Let the Cycle Begin

Allow the washer to fill the rest of the way. Close the lid and let the cycle begin.

Step 7: Add Baking Soda

After about 10 minutes, open the lid or pause the washer. Add 1 cup of baking soda. Close the lid and allow the cycle to continue.

Total for this cycle: 1 cup baking soda.

Step 8: Pause and Soak

Let the washer run for about 10 more minutes. Then pause the cycle again and allow the hot water, vinegar, baking soda, and towels to soak for 25 to 35 minutes.

Step 9: Finish the Cycle

Close the lid, restart the washer, and allow the cycle to run all the way through.

Step 10: Repeat the Process

For a deeper clean, repeat the steps above one more time using another 4 cups of white vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda.

Step 11: Wipe the Washer Interior

After the second cycle, remove the wet towels and set them aside. Pour a little white vinegar onto a clean cloth and wipe the inside of the washer, paying close attention to areas the water may not reach well, such as:

• Under the top rim
• Around gaskets or rubber seals
• Inside the top of the agitator, if your washer has one
• Detergent or softener residue areas
• The lid and surrounding edges

Step 12: Run a Final Hot Rinse Cycle

Run the washer on the hottest setting by itself to rinse away leftover vinegar and baking soda. Once that cycle finishes, your washer should be fresher and ready for regular laundry.

You can then wash the towels as usual with detergent and softener.

Can You Use This Method for Front-Load Washers?

Front-load washers often have gaskets, detergent drawers, and cleaning-cycle settings that need specific care. Before using vinegar and baking soda in a front-loader, check the owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

For front-load machines, focus especially on wiping the rubber gasket, door, detergent drawer, and any visible buildup. Leave the door open after laundry when possible to help reduce moisture and musty odors.

How to Keep Your Washer Cleaner Between Deep Cleans

A twice-a-year deep clean is helpful, but a few small habits can keep your washing machine fresher between those bigger cleaning sessions.

• Leave the lid or door open after washing so moisture can escape.
• Use the correct amount of detergent.
• Avoid overusing fabric softener.
• Wipe the rim, gasket, and lid regularly.
• Remove wet laundry promptly.
• Run a hot cycle occasionally if you mostly wash in cold water.
• Clean the detergent drawer or dispenser area if your machine has one.

Once your machine is fresh, support your laundry routine with Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe, DIY Homemade Fabric Softener, or DIY Dryer Sheets.

What to Do If Your Washer Still Smells

If your washing machine still smells after cleaning, the issue may be trapped moisture, a dirty gasket, a clogged drain area, too much detergent, or buildup in parts you cannot easily reach.

Try these steps:

• Wipe the gasket, rim, and detergent dispenser carefully.
• Run another hot rinse cycle.
• Leave the lid or door open to dry fully.
• Use less detergent in future loads.
• Check your washer manual for filter or drain cleaning instructions.
• Call a repair professional if the odor persists or the washer drains poorly.

More DIY Laundry and Cleaning Help

If you are already freshening the washer, it is a great time to reset the rest of your laundry routine. These related guides can help:

• DIY Homemade Fabric Softener — A budget-friendly homemade fabric softener recipe for softer, fresher laundry.
• DIY Dryer Sheets — A reusable dryer sheet idea that helps freshen laundry with less waste.
• Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe — A practical homemade laundry detergent recipe for everyday family laundry.
• Uses for Citric Acid — Learn how citric acid can help with hard water, descaling, dishwasher recipes, and more.

Cleaning Your Washing Machine FAQs

Do you really need to clean a washing machine?

Yes. A washing machine can collect detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, lint, body oils, dirt, minerals, and moisture. Cleaning the washer helps reduce odors and keeps laundry smelling fresher.

How often should you clean your washing machine?

A good starting point is twice a year, especially if your washer does not smell. If you wash heavy loads, pet bedding, towels, or notice musty odors, clean it more often.

Can I clean my washing machine with vinegar and baking soda?

Yes, vinegar and baking soda can be used to freshen many traditional washers, but always check your owner’s manual first. Do not mix vinegar with bleach or bleach-based cleaners.

Why does my washing machine smell bad?

Washer odor can come from trapped moisture, detergent buildup, fabric softener residue, body oils, lint, mildew, or grime around the gasket, rim, agitator, or detergent dispenser.

Can too much detergent make a washer smell?

Yes. Using too much detergent can leave residue behind, especially in high-efficiency machines. That residue can trap dirt and odors over time.

Should I use vinegar in every load of laundry?

This post focuses on deep cleaning the washing machine, not adding vinegar to every load. If you want to use vinegar in laundry, check your washer manual and fabric care labels first.

Can I use this method in a high-efficiency washer?

Check your HE washer manual first. High-efficiency machines use less water and may have specific tub-clean instructions. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when cleaning an HE washer.

Why use towels when cleaning the washer?

Towels help fill the washer and move through the drum during agitation, which can help scrub the inside of the machine while the vinegar and baking soda solution circulates.

What should I avoid when cleaning a washing machine?

Never mix vinegar with bleach. Avoid using too much detergent, do not ignore the gasket or detergent drawer, and do not use a DIY method that conflicts with your washer manual.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your washing machine is not glamorous, but it can make a real difference in how your laundry smells and feels. A little white vinegar, baking soda, hot water, and time can help freshen the washer, loosen buildup, and make laundry day feel cleaner from the start.

Pick an easy schedule you will remember, such as the weekends before Memorial Day and Thanksgiving, and make washer cleaning part of your home reset routine.

Save this guide for the next time your laundry smells musty, your washer needs a refresh, or you want to build a cleaner laundry routine from the machine up.

This recipe was originally published August 12, 2017, and updated May 16, 2026, with improved instructions, updates, and new photos.—