Yes, You Can Clean Your Washing Machine Using Just Vinegar—Here's How

A washing machine traps detergent and fabric softener residue, mineral deposits from water, and soil each time you wash a load of laundry.

Eventually, that trapped build-up will redeposit onto your laundry leaving it dingy and smelling less than fresh.

Regularly cleaning your washing machine will give you cleaner laundry and extend the life of your machine. Here's how to clean every type of washing machine with vinegar.

Why Vinegar Works Well to Clean a Washing Machine

Distilled white vinegar and cleaning vinegar contain acetic acid that helps dissolve minerals that build up in washer drums and hoses. The acid also helps kill bacteria and fungi that cause odors. Vinegar, when diluted, will not harm clothing and easily rinses away during the washer's rinse cycle.

How to Clean a Top Loading Washer With Vinegar

1. Empty the washer and set controls. Be sure any automatic dispensers are empty of detergent, bleach, and fabric softener and that the washer drum is empty. Set the water temperature to hot water. Select the largest load setting and the longest wash cycle available.
2. Add distilled white vinegar to the drum.Pour in two cups, and allow the machine to run through the entire hot water cycle.
3. Check and clean automatic dispensers.If the dispensers are removable and need further cleaning, wash them in hot, soapy water, rinse, and replace them. If not, pour warm distilled vinegar into the dispensers, let it sit, and flush it away in the rinse cycle.
4. Clean the outside of the washing machine. Mix a solution of warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Dip a microfiber cloth in the solution and wipe down the machine. Open the lid and dip an old toothbrush into the soapy water to get into corners and tight places on the lid.

How to Clean a Front Loading Washer With Vinegar

1. Empty the dispensers, and add vinegar. Be sure the dispensers are empty of detergent, bleach, and fabric softener and that the washer drum is empty. Add two cups of distilled white vinegar to the detergent dispenser.
2. Select the cycle and wash temperature.Many front-loading washers have designated cleaning cycles and you should choose it if that is an option. If not, select the longest wash cycle, largest load size, and hot water.
3. Clean the dispenser drawer.Rinse the drawer and inserts in hot tap water to remove traces of accumulated powders and liquids. If they are heavily coated with built-up residue, let them soak for 10 minutes in hot water, then rinse. Allow the drawers to air-dry.
4. Run a final rinse cycle.This will flush away any debris trapped in the washer.
5. Clean the outside of the washer.While the rinse cycle is running, use a microfiber cloth dipped in hot, soapy water—use an all-purpose cleaner or a few drops of dishwashing liquid—to wipe away dust, dirt, and product drip from the outside of the washer.

Should I Use Bleach or Vinegar to Clean My Washing Machine?

Distilled white vinegar is not as effective at killing bacteria and fungus as chlorine bleach, especially when diluted with the water required to run a washing machine cycle.

Undiluted vinegar can dissolve hard water deposits but the acid can also damage some rubber washer components like hoses and gaskets.

Before cleaning any washer, especially a new one, read the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning. The use of vinegar for cleaning may void some machine warranties.

Additional Tips for Cleaning a Washer with Vinegar

• A standard top-load washer should be cleaned at least four times per year, especially if you live in a hard water area.
• High-efficiency top-load washers and front-load washers use much less water than standard machines and should be cleaned every month.
• Detergent and fabric softeners may build up in the dispenser drawers and cause odor and operational problems. Residue should be removed once or twice a month.
• After running a load of clothes through your front-load washing machine, you should leave the door open so it can air dry to prevent mold and odors from developing.
• To keep a washer clean longer, use the right amount of detergent. More is not always better because it leaves build-up in the washer.

Read the original article on The Spruce.