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

Author: Lorna Nicolas  |  Last update: Wednesday, June 25, 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 can I put in my washing machine to clean the pipes?

You can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to clean the interior of the washing machine and remove any buildup. In conclusion, cleaning a clogged washing machine drain pipe may require some effort, but it's essential to keep your washing machine running smoothly and prevent damage to your home.

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.

What is best to unclog a 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.

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

Cleaning a washing machine can be done in a few simple steps. First, add one cup of white vinegar to the machine. Run the washer on the hottest cycle. Next, add one cup of baking soda to the machine. Run the washer on the hottest cycle again. Finally, wipe down the inside of the machine with a damp cloth.

SECRET Plumber Trick: Unclog Drain in SECONDS 💥 (Extremely simple) 🤯

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.

Is bleach or vinegar better to clean a washing machine?

“For removing odors, I would say vinegar.” Some people, however, prefer white vinegar because it's not as harsh as bleach. Unless, of course, your washing machine has been completely neglected, and is now a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, and you want a power cleaner.

How do you clean a washing machine waste pipe blockage?

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.

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.

What is the best drain cleaner for PVC pipes?

When looking for safe drain cleaners for PVC pipes, consider the following options:
  • Baking Soda and Vinegar: A DIY remedy that is gentle yet effective.
  • Enzyme-Based Cleaners: Break down organic matter without harming PVC durability.
  • Hot Water Flushing: Simple and safe method to prevent clogs.

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.

Why is my washing machine drain pipe backing up?

Washing machines overflow for a variety of reasons—the leading culprit, though, is a clog in the drain pipe. Lint and other debris come off of clothing during the wash cycle and are drained from the unit alongside the dirty water, potentially leading to clogs that can wreak havoc on your drain pipe.

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

If there is standing water in the washer tub following the final spin cycle, or there is water leaking from the bottom of the washer cabinet, the washer's drain pump or drain hose could be clogged or broken and preventing the water from being emptied from the appliance into a laundry tub or standpipe.

What is the best thing to clean drain pipes with?

With time, baking soda and vinegar may work as a natural drain cleaner on weaker drain clogs, and the benefits of regular drain cleaning can help keep your drains free of clogs. But for tough drain clogs that need to be dissolved right away, you may want to use a stronger drain cleaner, like Liquid-Plumr ®.

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.

What is best to unclog washing machine drain?

Use Hot Water and Baking Soda

Hot water and baking soda make for a simple, powerful, and low-cost solution here. This combination is one of the best homemade solutions for unclogging a drain.

How do I stop my drain from clogging?

Preventing Drain Clogs
  1. Use a Mesh Drain Strainer.
  2. Eliminate Grease.
  3. Don't Flush Food Scraps Down Your Kitchen Sink.
  4. Use Your Garbage Disposal Properly.
  5. Rinse Kitchen Drains with Hot Water.

Do tide pods clog drains in a washing machine?

A: Yes they will speaking from personal experience. The granular part of the pod does not fully dissolve and will eventually build up in the sewer pipe.

How to deep clean a washing machine?

How to Deep Clean and Sanitize Your Washing Machine
  1. Remove the bleach/fabric softener dispensers. ...
  2. Add a cup of bleach to the washing machine. ...
  3. Run an entire rinse cycle. ...
  4. Clean the rubber seal. ...
  5. Wipe down the exterior. ...
  6. Unplug the dryer. ...
  7. Clean out the lint drawer. ...
  8. Vacuum.

How do I stop washing machine waste pipe smelling?

You should also give your washing machine a cleaning every month. If the smell is coming from a clogged drain or standpipe, you'll need to clear the blockage. You can do this by using a plunger or a drain snake. If the drain hose is the problem, you'll need to straighten it out or replace it.

What happens when you put white vinegar in your washing machine?

"Vinegar softens clothes by breaking down excess detergent that makes clothes feel stiff," says Patric Richardson of The Laundry Evangelist. Never mix vinegar with bleach or chlorine bleach, as the combination is highly toxic.

What is the best chemical to clean a washing machine?

Start with an empty tub. For a front-load washer, put 2 tablespoons of borax or oxygen bleach and 2 tablespoons of washing soda in the tub of the washing machine. For a top-loading machine, put 1/2 cup of each of the powders into the wash tub. Run at the hottest temperature or use the “clean tub” setting on the washer.

Can I run my washing machine empty to clean it?

Running your washing machine empty can be particularly beneficial under certain conditions. For instance, if you're transitioning from washing heavy fabrics, like towels, to lighter items, an empty cycle can help prepare the machine and eliminate any residue.

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