How to Destink a Washing Machine Naturally

Destink a washing machine with vinegar.

Washing machines are just one of the many appliances that accumulate odor on a regular basis. The odor is typically caused by either moisture that sits inside the washing machine and turns into a musty smell, or a rotten egg smell that develops from bacteria that sits in the pipes after a wash cycle completes. Either way, using the right cleaning and disinfecting ingredient gets rid of the odors quickly.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar
• Baking soda

Instructions

Destinking with Vinegar

1. Turn on the washing machine using a hot water wash cycle and medium load size.

2. Pour 1 gallon white vinegar into the washing machine and let the cycle run its course. The vinegar will disinfect and deodorize the washing machine as well as your drain lines, getting rid of odor naturally.

3. Add about 2 cups vinegar to your laundry loads at least once per week to minimize odor in the future. Not only does this keep the washing machine odor-free, but it also deodorizes smelly clothing.

Destinking with Baking Soda

1. Turn on your washing machine with a hot water cycle.

2. Pour 1 cup baking soda into the washer midway through the cycle; for front-loading washing machines, pause the wash cycle.

3. Let the cycle complete and the baking soda will naturally destink the washer.

References

• Vinegar Tips: Cleaning
• Vinegar Book: Vinegar Tips for Cleaning
• Housecleaning Central: Cleaning Front Loading Washing Machines