How do I clean a washing machine drain pipe?

Author: Fabian Senger II  |  Last update: Monday, May 5, 2025

Baking Soda and Vinegar First, make sure your machine is unplugged and turned off. Mix 1/3 cup baking soda with 1/3 cup vinegar (1:1 ratio), locate your drain pipe and pour the cleaner product into the drain. Let it sit for half an hour before flushing the pipe with water.

What is the black stuff in my washing machine pipe?

What Is That Black Stuff In Your Washing Machine? Basically, it's bacteria, grease and mold. According to the website White Goods Help, this build up of grime can be the result of multiple issues occurring when you wash your clothes.

Can I put baking soda and vinegar in my washing machine drain pipe?

For Minor Clogs

Now if hot water won't solve the problem, you may also use the popular duo, baking soda and vinegar. Pour a box of baking soda into the washing machine drain pipe. After that, follow through with 2 to 3 cups of vinegar. Plug the drain pipe immediately and let the fizzing reaction take place.

How do I know if my washing machine drain pipe is clogged?

How to Tell if Your Washer's Drain Hose is Clogged
  1. Gurgling and bubbling noises coming from the hose and drain pipe.
  2. Bad odors emanating from the drain.
  3. Cycle ends with the tub filled with water and clothes are still wet.
  4. Water is leaking onto the floor near the washing machine.

How do I get algae out of my washing machine pipe?

The simplest thing to do is replace it. You can find drain hoses in the plumbing section of most hardware stores. Otherwise, you can remove it, put it in a large bucket, add a cup or more of bleach, then fill the bucket with water. Let it sit for an hour or so. Drain, rinse, and replace.

🔧✨ How to Clean Your Washing Machine Drain Hose | Easy Maintenance Tips! ✨🔧

How do you clean sludge out of a washing machine drain pipe?

Use a funnel to pour about a quarter of a cup of baking soda into the pipe. Next, empty a baster full of vinegar into the drain hose. Top tip: If the blockage is not completely gone, you can repeat the above process. Once you have cleared any debris from the hose, pour hot water in to flush everything out.

What kills algae in pipes?

Clean the Line with Vinegar: Using a funnel, pour ¼ cup of distilled vinegar into the drain and let it sit for about 30 minutes. You can add more vinegar if necessary and/or wait longer to flush out the line. The vinegar will break down algae that's built up in the drain pipe. Then flush out the pipe with water.

How do I unblock my washing machine pipe?

A plunger can be an effective tool to unblock a washing machine drain.
  1. Fill the washing machine with enough water to cover the plunger.
  2. Place the plunger over the drain and push down firmly.
  3. Pull up quickly to create suction and dislodge the blockage.
  4. Repeat this process a few times until the water starts to drain.

What is best to unclog washing machine drain?

Clear things out by mixing equal parts of hot water and vinegar and pouring the mixture through the drain pipe. Wait half an hour, then reconnect the drain pipe, plug in your machine and run a wash cycle.

Will Drano unclog a washing machine drain pipe?

Drano® Snake Plus Tool + Gel System was designed to unclog a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, bathtub and even a laundry drain.

What is the best cleaner for washing machine drain pipes?

Baking Soda and Vinegar

First, make sure your machine is unplugged and turned off. Mix 1/3 cup baking soda with 1/3 cup vinegar (1:1 ratio), locate your drain pipe and pour the cleaner product into the drain. Let it sit for half an hour before flushing the pipe with water.

Why you should never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.

What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

Baking Soda + Vinegar
  • Pour 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down drain.
  • Plug drain and let sit for one hour.
  • Then, pour a pot of boiling water down drain. Repeat if necessary.

What is the black gunk in my drain pipe?

Black sludge and clogged sink drain

In the bathroom, it's a mix of soap, shaving cream, toothpaste, phlegm, hair, and dirt. In the kitchen, it ranges from food matter to grease. When this debris is left inside the pipes for too long, bacteria forms and the black sludge will appear in the drains.

How do I get rid of black sludge in my washing machine?

For general maintenance, a great way to clean your washing machine drum effectively and cheaply is to place 200g of Bicarbonate of Soda inside the empty machine. Run it on a long cycle above 60℃. Bicarbonate of Soda is a mild abrasive. It is biodegradable, relatively cheap and naturally occurring.

How to clean mold from washing machine drain hose?

Add Chlorine Bleach and Start the Washer

Start the washer and allow it to complete a full cycle with just hot water and bleach to take care of any mold issues in drainage lines.

How to prevent washing machine drain from clogging?

Use a Lint Filter

However, the majority of the lint is washed out and ends up going down the drain, and all of this lint has the potential to quickly lead to a clog. This is why we always recommend attaching a lint filter to the end of the washing machine drain hose.

How to clean a clogged drain pipe?

Follow these easy steps to unclog your drain:
  1. Start by pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain.
  2. Next, pour a cup of baking soda and 1 cup water/1 cup vinegar solution.
  3. Cover with the drain plug and wait 5 to 10 minutes.

How do you clean sludge out of a washing machine drain?

Shut off the water and disconnect the drain hose from the back of the machine to inspect it. Remove any blockages you find with a drain auger or commercial drain cleaner. For filter blockages, pop the compartment on the front of your machine open and wash the mesh filter.

How do I get a blockage out of my washing machine?

There are three recommended methods of unblocking a washing machine drain yourself. These are to use baking soda and vinegar, a chemical drain cleaner, or do it manually. You can also potentially fix the issue by straightening out the washing machine drain hose if it has become twisted.

How do you unblock a clogged drain pipe?

#1: Use baking soda and vinegar

Let it sit for an hour or more (or overnight if you suspect the blockage is really bad) and then flush with hot water. In theory, the blockage should be gone but repeat the process if you experience further problems.

How do you remove sludge from drain pipes?

Use a Natural Cleaner

Begin by pouring up to a whole box of baking soda down the drain, depending on the severity of the slime. Then pour in the vinegar, up to half a bottle. You should hear or see the fizzing. Let it react for about five minutes, then slowly pour the boiling water down the drain.

How to remove algae from a water pipe naturally?

Flushing with Vinegar and Baking Soda

One effective and environmentally friendly method to clean water pipes involves using a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Here's how to do it: Turn off the water supply: Locate the main water valve and shut it off to prevent water flow during the cleaning process.

How to remove algae in a washing machine?

Washing machine has a mildew smell or visible mold
  1. Run a Spin-only cycle. ...
  2. Add chlorine bleach. ...
  3. Choose a Self Clean cycle. ...
  4. Wipe down the tub. ...
  5. Run a Rinse+Spin cycle. ...
  6. Allow the washing machine to dry. ...
  7. Clean the pump filter (front load models only). ...
  8. Request service.

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