How to Get Rid of Soap Suds in a Washing Machine

Remove excess soap suds by rinsing out your washing machine.

Excess soap suds found inside a washing machine at the end of a cycle transfer onto clothing items, making the clothes feel somewhat sticky and less comfortable than normal. The soap suds also remain on the inside surface of the machine, causing the problem to get worse in time. Rinsing out the inside of the washing machine with a common household liquid eliminates the unwanted suds, and also removes any unwanted odors from the machine.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar

Instructions

1. Empty all items from the washing machine.

2. Set your machine for a "Hot" cycle.

3. Turn the machine on. Wait until it gets to the "Rinse" cycle, and then stop the machine.

4. Add approximately 2 cups of white vinegar directly into the machine. Turn the machine back on until the cycle completes. The white vinegar eliminates any leftover soap suds, as well as unwanted minerals, from the machine.

5. Inspect the inside of the washing machine. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 if you notice any suds inside the machine.

Tips & Warnings

• The Repair Clinic website recommends cutting the laundry detergent you use by half to prevent excess soap suds. Then, increase the amount of detergent you use slightly, if necessary, until you find the proper amount of detergent to use with that particular machine.

References

• Diaper Jungle: Cleaning Your Washing Machine
• Repair Clinic: Washing Machine Answers to Common Questions