Affresh tablets are highly effective at cleaning and deodorizing hidden areas in washing machines and dishwashers. They break down soap scum, mildew, body oils, and detergent residue that cause musty odors. While highly convenient and praised for their ease of use, they do not replace manual scrubbing of heavy mold in door seals.
The ingredients are septic safe and won't harm washing machine components. Each tablet has a mild, slightly citrusy detergent smell that is not too strong. While the tablets are EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Safer Choice Certified, Affresh recommends against getting the cleaner in your eyes or on your skin.
Affresh does well removing mold stains, especially the lighter surface-level ones. You'll still need to manually wipe the rubber gasket area afterward, but the tablet softens that buildup so it wipes off easier. Active has an edge on the descaling side thanks to the citric acid.
Drum and internal components: Avoid using vinegar in the washer drum, as it can degrade rubber seals and hoses. Instead, use a dedicated washing machine cleaner, like affresh® Washing Machine Cleaner, which is formulated to remove residue and grime without damaging components.
Use affresh® washing machine cleaner monthly or every 30 wash cycles for best results and a consistent clean. Staying on top of cleaning your washer with affresh® tablets means you don't give residues a chance to take up residence in your machine.
Substitute Affresh tablets with common household items or alternative store-bought cleaners:
It is generally better to use Affresh without dishes, though you can do either depending on your needs.
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.
Using affresh® washing machine cleaner on a regular basis can help keep your washing machine clean and free of odor-causing residues and grime that can lead to mold growth over time.
Top-rated washing machine cleaners generally fall into three categories: tablet, powder, or liquid. Based on recent home testing and user reviews, the most highly recommended options for deep cleaning, odor elimination, and residue removal are:
The best washing machine cleaner tablets include affresh Washer Cleaner, the top industry recommendation, and ACTIVE Washing Machine Cleaner, a popular eco-friendly bulk option. They penetrate, dissolve, and remove odor-causing residues, preventing bacteria and musty smells from transferring onto your clothes.
Vinegar should not be placed directly in the washing machine. However, it can be beneficial to use it to treat stains and odors prior to washing. Just make sure you thoroughly rinse the items before placing them in the washing machine.
Both Affresh and Tide Washing Machine Cleaner are highly effective at eliminating odor-causing residue, but they cater to different preferences. Affresh uses slow-dissolving, milder tablets with a light citrus scent and is highly recommended by major appliance brands. Tide uses a heavily perfumed powder that produces a stronger, deeper clean but can sometimes cause excessive suds.
If your washer still smells after using Affresh, you likely have trapped biological residue or mold hidden in areas the tablet didn't reach. The most effective next steps are to manually clean the filter and the rubber door seal, and then run an empty cycle using white vinegar and hot water.
OxiClean Washing Machine Cleaner and Affresh are both highly effective, but they differ primarily in format and formulation. OxiClean uses a granular powder with "Odor Blasters" that targets deep-seated grime and has a noticeable fresh scent. Affresh comes in easy-to-drop tablets and uses surfactant chemistry to specifically break down and remove residues.
Yes, you can wash clothes immediately after using Affresh. Just be sure to wipe down the inside of the drum with a damp microfiber cloth to remove any lingering tablet residue before loading your laundry.
Add chlorine bleach.
Pour liquid chlorine bleach into the detergent compartment and fill it to the max line. Do NOT use the bleach compartment. Never run a Self Clean cycle with laundry in the tub because this can damage the washer and the contents of the tub.
Affresh washing machine cleaner tablets are designed to deeply clean, descaling, and remove odor-causing residues from your washer, but they do not technically "sanitize" (kill 99.9% of bacteria) the machine. They break down biofilm and mold, making them highly effective for cleaning and maintaining machine freshness.
The best substitutes for Affresh are common household staples like white vinegar and baking soda, liquid chlorine bleach, or citric acid. These alternatives are highly effective at breaking down detergent buildup, neutralizing odors, and killing mold.
“For a deep clean, use a washing machine cleaner,” says Carly. “Many washing machine descalers come as sachets or tablets — simply pop one into the drum and run your machine on a hot cycle.” “White vinegar works wonders as a natural alternative. Add around two cups to the machine's drum and run a hot wash.”
You should use Affresh Washer Cleaner once a month or every 30 wash cycles to maintain a consistently fresh machine. This simple habit prevents soap scum, detergent buildup, and mildew from taking over.
To remove black mould from a washing machine seal, create a cleaning solution using either liquid bleach (mixed 1∶32 with water) or a DIY mix of 111 cup white vinegar, 111 cup water, and 111 tsp dish soap. Liberally apply the solution to the seal, soak paper towels in the liquid and pack them into the crevices to break down stubborn stains, let sit for 10–30 minutes, scrub with an old toothbrush, and wipe thoroughly.
People put crumpled aluminum foil in the dishwasher primarily as a hack to make silver or stainless steel utensils and cutlery look shinier.
Choose the Clean Washer cycle if your washing machine has one. If not, you can choose a Normal or Heavy cycle with hot water temperature. Refer to your model's Use and Care Guide for the proper cycle selection.
There are a few reasons why your dishwasher might not be cleaning effectively, including a dirty filter, incorrect detergent, improper loading, or the wrong cycle or water temperature.