Can you use vinegar instead of affresh?

Author: Sim Boyer  |  Last update: Sunday, January 25, 2026

You can't go wrong with vinegar and baking soda - it's probably the most popular alternative to Affresh, and for good reason. Here's what you do: grab a cup of baking soda and two cups of white vinegar, then put them right in your washing machine's drum. Run it on hot water, and these two ingredients will get to work.

Can you clean washing machine with vinegar instead of affresh?

For a super quick washing machine refresh that will take you less than 30 minutes, add white vinegar to a spray bottle and spritz the inside of the drum. Wipe all around the washer drum with a microfiber cloth, leaving no surface untouched. Next, wipe down the rubber gaskets—also known as the seals around the door.

What is a good substitute for affresh?

White vinegar and baking soda: A mixture of white vinegar and baking soda is a popular and effective alternative to Affresh. Simply add 1 cup of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser or directly into the drum, and then add 1/2 cup of baking soda.

What is a homemade version of affresh?

As an alternative to a formulated washer tub cleaning product like Affresh, you can use a DIY washing machine cleaner to clean and sanitize the inside of the tub with a combination of white vinegar and baking soda, or liquid chlorine bleach (be aware that vinegar and bleach should never be used together).

Is it OK to clean washing machine with vinegar?

The washing machine and your dishwasher are two appliances you should never use vinegar in. Vinegar is very hard on the seals and the rubber hoses, it causes them to become brittle, and they will eventually crack.

Put VINEGAR Into Your WASHING MACHINE and WATCH WHAT HAPPENS! 💥

What is the best thing to clean a washing machine with?

For a homemade option, you can try cleaning your washing machine with vinegar. Just pour two cups of distilled vinegar into your detergent drawer. You can also use soda crystals (or baking soda) to clean your washing machine. Sprinkle half a cup into your drum and then let your washing machine run on a hot setting.

What are the disadvantages of cleaning with vinegar?

However, for cleaning around the home, vinegar does have some surprising drawbacks to keep in mind.
  • DIY Cleaning Products With Vinegar: The Drawbacks.
  • Vinegar doesn't sanitize or disinfect. ...
  • You have to be careful about concentrations. ...
  • Always, always rinse. ...
  • Vinegar can damage some of the surfaces in your home.

What is the main ingredient in affresh washing machine cleaner?

Although every formula is different, the main active ingredients in affresh® tablets are sodium carbonate (washing soda) and sodium percarbonate (oxygen-based bleach).

Can you run a clean washer cycle without affresh?

If you don't have affresh® tablets you may be able to use liquid chlorine bleach, but check your use and care guide first. Close the door and select your washer's cleaning cycle or a normal cycle with hot water setting.

What to use instead of affresh in the dishwasher?

After the cycle with vinegar is complete, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run a hot water cycle. That's all it takes for a clean, fresh-smelling dishwasher!

What is the best thing to run through a washing machine to clean it?

Use a combination of white vinegar and baking soda to naturally clean your washing machine; pour half a cup of baking soda into the drum followed by two cups of vinegar in the detergent dispenser, then run a hot wash cycle. For stubborn grime and odors, consider commercial washing machine cleaners.

Can I use bleach instead of affresh to clean my washing machine?

Step 3: Run a Clean Washer cycle

Place washing machine cleaner into your washer according to the package instructions, then select a Clean Washer cycle on the washer's control panel. Let the cycle run until it is complete. If you are out of affresh® washing machine cleaner, you can use liquid chlorine bleach.

What can you use instead of washing machine tablets?

Use Laundry Borax or Baking Soda

Place the dry product directly in the washer drum before adding detergent, soiled clothes, and water. If you have no detergent at all, use 1 cup of borax or baking soda for a normal load.

What to use if you don't have affresh?

#1 Vinegar And Baking Soda

You can't go wrong with vinegar and baking soda - it's probably the most popular alternative to Affresh, and for good reason.

Is vinegar or affresh better for dishwashers?

Affresh cleaning tablets work great for removing built-up calcium deposits and limescale that vinegar wasn't able to remove. If your dishwasher is looking extra dirty, then toss a second Affresh tablet in the bottom of the machine.

How do I clean my Maytag washer without affresh?

If you don't have affresh® tablets, you may be able to use liquid chlorine bleach. Check your owner's manual as bleach should not be used in certain front load models. Close the door and select your washer's cleaning cycle.

How to bypass the affresh cycle?

You can run the washer without any Affresh inside, and when it's down, the washer will think you ran an Afresh cycle and it'll reset back to normal. The other option is to start the cycle and then press and hold the start button for 3 seconds. That should cancel and reset the cycle.

Can you run vinegar through your washing machine to clean it?

Run an empty, regular cycle on hot, using two cups of distilled white vinegar instead of detergent. Add the vinegar to the detergent dispenser. (Don't worry about harming your machine, as white vinegar will not damage clothes.) The hot water-vinegar combo removes and prevents bacteria growth.

What is the best cleaner for washing machines?

Our top choice for the best washing machine cleaner is OxiClean Washing Machine Cleaner With Odor Blasters for its fresh scent, inexpensive price, and overall cleaning power. If you prefer a powder cleaner with eco-friendly ingredients, we recommend Lemi Shine Washing Machine Cleaner.

Can I use vinegar with affresh?

It doesn't change the effectiveness of it if that's what you're wondering :) A: Yes, but since you will use more water you might have to double up on the Affresh. Good luck! May be less expensive to just use vinegar and baking soda.

What happens if you don't clean your washer with affresh?

Without proper care, this buildup can create a moldy or mildew smell. That grime and buildup in your washer can also get left behind on your clothing and lead to that musty smell. It's hard to get clean clothes from a dirty washer.

Is affresh worth it?

Customers say that the Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner is easy to use and effectively removes odors and residue from washing machines, leaving them smelling fresh. Many users appreciate its convenience, as it requires minimal effort—simply placing a tablet in the washer and running a cycle.

When should you not use vinegar to clean?

But eight places you should never use vinegar include:
  1. Stone Countertops. Surfaces that often get ruined by vinegar are stone countertops, like marble and travertine. ...
  2. Dishwashers/Washing Machines. ...
  3. Clothes Iron. ...
  4. Tile Grout. ...
  5. Knives. ...
  6. Small Appliances. ...
  7. Hardwood Floors. ...
  8. Electronic Screens.

Is distilled vinegar the same as white vinegar?

White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.

When to put vinegar in the washing machine?

Using vinegar in laundry is simple. You can add it to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine or pour it in during the final rinse cycle. When adding vinegar towards the end of the cycle, manually pause your machine right before the final rinse cycle and add a 1/2 cup of diluted white vinegar to the load.

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