I cleaned my washing machine with baking soda and vinegar once a week for a month.

Over the course of the month, I noticed a consistent improvement in the freshness of my laundry. Each subsequent cleaning cycle seemed to enhance the machine’s ability to remove odors from clothes. By the end of the month, the musty smell had completely disappeared, and there was a noticeable difference in how fresh the laundry smelled right out of the machine.
These improvements also seemed to extend the freshness of clothes between washes, which was a pleasant surprise and a testament to the effectiveness of this simple cleaning hack.
5. Visible Differences Inside the Drum, Door Seal, and Dispenser
Visually, the inside of the washing machine looked cleaner after each weekly cleaning. The stainless steel drum appeared to regain some of its original shine, and the persistent soap scum around the door seal was significantly reduced.
The detergent dispenser, which had accumulated a fair amount of residue, also benefited from the weekly cleanings. It was gratifying to see the buildup diminishing, making the dispenser look almost new by the end of the month.
6. The Impact on My Laundry: Cleaner Clothes or Just Hype?
One of the main reasons I embarked on this experiment was to see if it would lead to cleaner clothes. Throughout the month, I consistently noticed that clothes came out of the wash smelling fresher and feeling softer. The reduction in detergent residue in the machine seemed to improve the overall cleaning efficiency.
While it’s hard to quantify the exact level of ‘cleanliness’, the subjective experience was definitely positive. Clothes appeared brighter, and there was less need for fabric softeners to achieve the desired freshness.
7. Surprising Side Effects: Noise, Vibration, and Cycle Performance