Where to put vinegar in your washing machine to clean it vs a boost for your laundry items

White vinegar is one of the best secret weapons when it comes to doing laundry. Not only does it help to brighten whites and colors without bleach, but it can clean the inside of your machines without any elbow grease needed.

However, putting it in the wrong place could end up cleaning a washing machine when you really want to freshen laundry and vice versa. This begs the question, where do you put vinegar in a washing machine?

Here, top laundry and cleaning experts reveal all the places you can put vinegar in a washing machine, and which effect it has so you can get the result you want.

Where to put vinegar in a washing machine  

Cleaning with vinegar is extremely effective for a whole range of household cleaning tasks, but using it in the wrong part of your washing machine will not bring you the results you're hoping for and can even damage your clothes.

Putting vinegar in the wrong compartment means it may not be distributed properly and effectively, says Karina Toner, cleaning expert at Spekless Cleaning. This mean ultimately, it will not work as well for laundry or for cleaning the machine.

More worryingly, putting vinegar in the wrong compartment can damage your clothes when doing laundry, cautions Matthew Connelly, CEO and laundry expert at ihateironing dry cleaners in New York. ‘When you add vinegar to your fabric softener compartment, your machine will dilute it with water so that it isn’t too harsh or overpowering on your clothes. Skipping this step and adding vinegar straight onto clothes can cause discoloration, especially for delicate materials.’

Here's how to get it right depending on if you want to clean a washing machine that smells, or use white vinegar in laundry.

Where to put vinegar for laundry

How you use white vinegar for laundry will depend on the type of machine you have, advises Matthew Connelly, a laundry expert.

Front-load washer: Vinegar is usually used as a fabric-softener alternative when it comes to laundry, and for that reason, should be put in the fabric-softener compartment of your washing machine.

Top-loader washer: If you have a top-loader washing machine, Matthew recommends waiting until your clothes cycle reaches the ‘rinse’ step of the cycle. Open your machine and add half a cup of vinegar straight into the dispenser before allowing the machine to run through the full wash cycle.

Where to put vinegar to clean a washing machine

When cleaning a washing machine or washing machine seals to remove mold, putting the vinegar in the right spot will ensure you get a deep clean and deodorize your machine. It also helps to know how much vinegar to add to a washing machine.

Laundry expert Matthew Connelly explains how excess vinegar can lead to corroded plastic and rubber parts on your machine, creating long-term damage. He says, ‘We recommend one cup or so for cleaning but do not use it too frequently to avoid corrosion to your appliance.’

Regardless of your washing machine type, you can add the vinegar directly to the drum and run it on a hot cycle. This will help remove any soap or odors from your machine.

For extra odor-busting power, consider also cleaning with baking soda. Placing half a cup of baking soda into the drum with the vinegar before running the hot cycle makes a great DIY washing machine cleaner that will further break down tough odors. You can even add a few tablespoons of lemon juice for a fresh fragrance.

It is worth remembering that putting vinegar straight into the drum misses the detergent drawer. To clean a washing machine detergent drawer, wait for the cycle to be complete before removing the drawer and spraying it and the housing (where it slides into the machine) with undiluted white vinegar. Allow this to sit for 15 minutes before washing away with warm soapy water and letting fully dry.

While vinegar is a great way to stop musty odors and get rid of black mold in a washing machine, it is always a good idea to leave your washing machine door open after every cycle to allow good air circulation. This helps to prevent mold from growing back and prevents musty odors in the first place, making cleaning your appliance easier every time.