A washing machine that leaves laundry clean but smells moldy happens more often than you might think. In a testimony picked up by the press, a couple discovered that mysterious stains on their clothes were actually caused by a dirty, clogged washer—worn out to the point of needing replacement.
Well before reaching that point, it is possible to clean a malodorous washing machine with two very simple ingredients: white vinegar and baking soda. The method relies on two separate hot-water cycles that dissolve residues, limescale, and bad odors. It just requires following the right order and a few simple precautions.
Why the washing machine smells bad and how vinegar works
Behind the musty odor, residues almost always accumulate. Laundry guides remind us that an overuse of detergent, the habitual use of fabric softener, and cycles that are too short leave product traces in the fibers, which yellow the laundry and dull whites. These same residues also settle in the drum, the ducts, and the seals, where they feed bacteria and mold.
Fabric softeners play a particular role. Classic formulations leave a greasy film, sometimes based on polydimethylsiloxane, on textiles. This film sticks to the fibers, traps moisture and detergent residues, which favors odors as soon as the laundry exits the drum. White vinegar, by contrast, dissolves limescale and loosens some of these greasy deposits. “Ingredients like vinegar and baking soda are less harmful to health, more environmentally friendly and more economical,” explains Maverick Davis, appliance expert for Frontdoor.
Méthode pas à pas : nettoyer une machine à laver malodorante avec vinaigre et bicarbonate
Always start with a completely empty drum. Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar directly into the drum, without adding detergent. Select the hottest and longest program available, often called tub cleaning or disinfection. This hot cycle allows the vinegar to circulate everywhere, soften detergent residues, tackle mold, and eliminate a good portion of odors. “If you use bleach in the laundry, run the machine empty to rinse it before adding vinegar,” recommends Glenn Lewis, president of Mr. Appliance.
Once this first cycle is finished, sprinkle a half-cup of baking soda into the drum, again without laundry. Run a new hot program. The baking soda helps deodorize in depth and completes the vinegar’s work on organic deposits. At the end, wipe the drum, the glass door, and the gasket carefully with a clean microfiber cloth to remove the last moisture, then leave the door open to dry the interior. “I always recommend, after any cleaning, running a long and very hot program: it’s in a way a long rinse for the machine,” adds Maverick Davis.
Frequency, precautions and actions to prevent odors from returning
According to Glenn Lewis, a vinegar-baking soda cleaning once a month is enough to keep the machine fresh, to limit mildew, and to eliminate detergent residues. He also emphasizes a key point: do not use vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle. “Check your machine’s manual for warnings, and never mix vinegar and baking soda in a single cycle to avoid clogs and deposits,” he advises. Detailing guides also note that an acid mixed with certain more alkaline products can neutralize their action, hence the importance of separating the steps.
To ensure the odor does not come back, a few washing habits make all the difference:
- Measure the detergent according to water hardness and the actual load, rather than “by eye”.
- Do not fill the drum more than three-quarters full to allow water to circulate well.
- Limit fabric softener, especially for towels and bath linens.
- Descale the machine every 1 to 3 months depending on water hardness.
- Leave the door and sometimes the detergent drawer ajar between washes.
A load that comes out with a slight dull veil or a closed scent usually signals residues not rinsed properly rather than a textile issue. Then run another empty cycle with vinegar in the drum, followed by a cycle with baking soda to restart on a healthier footing. This routine, combined with sensible product dosing and a machine that is regularly descaled, prolongs the life of the washing machine and keeps clothes truly clean as they come out of the drum.
