How to Clean Washer Without Affresh? Easy Ways

Last Updated on July 5, 2022

Just like other machines, a washing machine also requires proper cleaning and maintenance. If you find rust inside your washer or it is giving out musty smells, cleaning the washer is the only way to avoid it.

Many factors play a role in making the machine dirty such as grease, dust, debris, and detergents that are sometimes left to accumulate inside different parts. When there is so much junk inside a washer, its cleaning becomes unavoidable.

Some washer manufacturers recommend using affresh for cleaning, but most oppose it to safety concerns. In this article, we will describe how to clean the washer without Affresh.

How to Clean Washer Without Affresh: Some Most Ways

We all depend on washing machines to clean the piles of dirty clothes, blankets, and bed sheets, but what about the machine itself. Your washer also needs proper cleaning to run efficiently to deliver better performance.

It might be confusing to clean a washer as each type of machine varies from the others, and different methods are applicable for their cleaning. Keep reading this post to learn how to clean the washer without affresh by a general method.

Required Items

The following items are required to clean the washer without affresh:

• Baking Soda
• White Vinegar
• Spray Bottle
• Microfiber cloth
• Toothbrush

Cleaning the Softener & Detergent Drawer 

The process of cleaning starts with cleaning the drawers for detergent and softener. As with time, detergents start accumulating in the machine to cause damage. A few ways to clean the drawers containing detergents are:

• Add distilled white vinegar to the spray bottle.
• Use the spray bottle to spray the solution inside the drawer.
• Wait for 10 minutes till the solution sits in place.
• To remove residual substances, use a toothbrush for scrapping and then a soft cloth to clean it off.

If you can remove the drawer, it’d be better to pick it from the place to soak it in warm water and white vinegar for at least 15 minutes.

How to Clean Gasket

When you are done cleaning the drawers, you must focus on the gasket. Its cleaning simply involves spraying vinegar solution into the gasket and then wiping it down to get everything cleaned.

Run Regular Cycle With White Vinegar

• First, you need to add two cups of white vinegar inside the drawer in place of detergent. That vinegar must be added to the detergent dispenser. 
• Turn on the hot water cycle of the machine. The hot water and vinegar will eliminate any bacterial or fungal growth inside the washer.
• If any bad smell comes out of the washer, vinegar will act as a deodorant to remove that smell.

Note: You shouldn’t worry about using vinegar inside the washer as you may consider it will harm the interior. White vinegar is completely safe for clothes and washers.

Clean the Interior & Exterior of the Washer

• To wash out the interior and exterior of the washer, you need to add one-fourth cup of vinegar with hot water to make a solution.
• Apply that mixture inside the machine and use a sponge and a toothbrush to clean all the debris.
• Wash the machine’s dispenser, door, and surroundings with great care.
• If a removable dispenser is present in the washer, detach and soak it inside the solution to get rid of stubborn stains.
• Wipe down the exterior of the machine also to make it look better.

Inspect the Hoses

• It is also good to check the machines’ hoses supplying hot and cold water. If there is any obstruction, remove it quickly. 
• Place a filter at the entrance or exit of hoses to block the passage of any wasteful material.
• You can get a rubber hose with a stainless steel mesh to capture dirt. This material is reliable and highly durable.
• To avoid the bursting of hoses, keep both the valves shut whenever you go outside of the home for a longer period. It will also prevent flooding your home with water leakage if you go out for a whole week without noticing the hoses.

Run Another Regular Washer Cycle

• Turn on another hot water cycle of the washer without adding any ingredient or cleaning agent such as vinegar or any detergent to it.
• Now add baking soda to clean any material left after the first cycle.
• When you are done with the second regular cycle, clean the interior by using a microfiber cloth to wipe off all the junk.

How to Clean A Top-Loaded Washer

Different cleaning methods are applicable for cleaning a top-loaded washer. As you need to load the items from the top position, it allows the vinegar to soak better. A number of supplies are required for this purpose, including white vinegar, microfiber cloth, rubber band, toothbrush, toilet brush, and baking soda. Follow these steps for better cleaning output:

• Fill the tub of the washer and turn on the settings at maximum range.
• Add four cups of white vinegar to it.
• Let the vinegar soak for at least an hour.
• Now turn on the washing cycle.
• Add baking soda when the cycle is complete.
• Turn on another cycle and clean the machine with a microfiber cloth at the end.

Note: If you find it difficult to reach the interior of the top-loaded machine, you can use the toilet brush covered in a cloth to rub at all surrounding areas of the washer.

How to Clean A Front-Load Washer

The front-loaded washers easily develop smell due to the collection of water and micro-organisms. These bacteria can grow fast at the rubber seal, so clean it dry after every use. Cleaning a front-loaded washer involves the following steps:

• Clean the gasket or the area surrounding the rubber paddle present on the front side. 
• Spray a solution of water and vinegar in that space to get it clean. Or you can also apply baking soda by using a sponge.
• Add three cups of white vinegar and a half cup of baking soda to clean the basin.
• Now turn on all the settings to the maximum to remove any residual particle.
• Rinse the washer and let it dry for some time.

How often should you clean your washer?

The experts recommend cleaning a washer’s interior and exterior at least once a month. By using natural cleaning, you won’t be burdened on the pocket and the machine’s system. However, other than natural methods, many other techniques help clean. If there is a white washer in your home, use it to locate the germs. As you might notice, dark streaks running along the edges, these streaks build up due to the growth of germs, and you must remove them as soon as possible.