The Best Washing Machine Cleaners for a Fresh Laundry Routine

Best Overall: Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner

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Our favorite washing machine cleaner is the Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner in tablet form. It's affordable, will get into all of the nooks and crannies of your washing machine, and it works for a variety of machine types. To use, simply put a tablet into the washing machine drum and run the machine. Affresh works with top-loaders, front-loaders, and high-efficiency machines, and the company is owned by Whirlpool, a trusted appliance maker in its field.

The cleaning power of the Affresh tablet is designed to get into the washer pump, valve, basket, drum, wash tub, agitator/filter, and drain hose. Take note that if any residue is left after the clean cycle is complete, you should wipe it out before running a load of laundry. We recommend running at least one or more cycles to make sure all residue is rinsed away, especially from the areas that are hard to see. This can increase your water usage if you need to clean your washing machine often, but it will ensure that your dirty clothes become sparklingly clean when it's time to do laundry.

The Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner Value Pack includes six tablets, so you can purchase a pack and not have to think about it again for several months. This cost-effective cleaner is easy to use (just throw it in) and works for just about every machine. This versatility and ease make it a great choice for any household.

Best Budget: Eco-Gals Eco Swirlz Washing Machine Cleaner

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The Eco-Gals Eco Swirlz Washing Machine Cleaner is as friendly to your budget as it is to the environment. They're also very easy to use. The cleaners come in tablets that you can put directly in your washer’s drum. They foam up during the hot cycle and get into the drum and drainage components of your washer to ensure a deep clean. The tablets are made of non-toxic sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium percarbonate. However, the tablets come wrapped in plastic, so if you're trying to reduce your plastic footprint, be mindful of that.

Each box comes with 24 tablets, which is enough to last an entire year. The tablets themselves are quite small so you will likely need to use two each time you clean your machine, but even with this slight inconvenience, this pack will still likely last you through the year. These tablets don’t have a strong smell, which is also a nice change from other chemical-based cleaners.

Best Liquid: Lysol Washing Machine Cleaner + Sanitizer

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Lysol is known for its effective cleaning products so it’s no surprise that its liquid washing machine cleaner is a top performer. This cleaner sanitizes and removes up to 99.99% of bacteria in your machine. This is an excellent cleaner if you want to deep clean your machine or if you have recovered from an illness and laundered contaminated clothes or towels. Because it sanitizes, you can be sure that any extra germs left behind in your machine are removed. On top of that, it also removes soap scum and grime.

Liquid washing machine cleaners are a bit trickier to use than tablets. The Lysol container has a twist-top lid to help with easy pouring, but if you're prone to spilling laundry ingredients, take extra caution. It may require two hands and careful measuring. One bottle is enough for two cleanings, which is a bit pricier than some of the other options on our list. Also if you have a septic system, you may want to opt for a different cleaner since it isn’t specifically listed as safe for septic systems.

Best Tablet: Plink Washer & Dishwasher Freshener & Cleaner Tabs

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Want a cleaning tablet that can do double duty? The Plink Clothes Washer and Dishwasher tablets work for both washing machines and dishwashers, leaving behind a clean machine and a lemony-fresh scent. To use, place one tablet in either the washing machine or dishwasher (or both!), and run it through a hot water cycle. This cleaner gets into the inner parts of the washing machine and removes build-up that can cause odors. The lemon scent then freshens the washing machine or dishwasher. If you are sensitive to chemical scents, this may not be the right cleaner for you.

However, for the convenience of a toss-in tablet that can be used for multiple appliances in your home, this cleaner can’t be beat. It is septic safe and can be used on all types of washing machines, so its versatility makes it an excellent option for those short on cleaning supply space or anyone who loves a multi-tasking cleaner.

Best Powder: OxiClean Washing Machine Cleaner

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The power of OxiClean powder is specially formulated to target residue and buildup in your washing machine. OxiClean makes excellent clothing stain removers, so it makes sense that their washing machine cleaner is also top-notch. This powder comes in pre-measured pouches, making it super simple to use. Just tear one open, empty it into your washing machine, and run a hot cycle. The smell is quite strong, so take caution if you are sensitive to smells. OxiClean recommends using one pouch per month, which makes this a cost-effective solution to keeping your washing machine clean. If you subscribe for shipments through an online retailer, you may be able to save even more money.

The OxiClean powder is safe for all washing machines and septic systems, so you won’t need to worry about any damage to your existing setup. However, you should wipe out any extra residue from the washer drum before running a load with clothes to keep it from tarnishing your laundry. It’s best to have a towel designated for this purpose, as it might get stained or discolored by the powder. Also, be sure to keep the pouches away from kids and pets.

Best Wipes: Better Life Naturally Filth-Fighting All Purpose Cleaning Wipes

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Wipes are not the preferred method to clean a washing machine for most people because of the extra work that is involved. The benefit of using wipes, however, is that most can be used for other cleaning purposes around the home as well. The Better Life Naturally Filth-Fighting All-Purpose Wipes can be used to clean the inside of your washing machine drum as well as other household appliances such as microwaves, door handles, or countertops. These wipes are scented with essential oils, which might be preferred for those who are sensitive to chemical fragrances.

This cleaning solution is safe for septic systems but you should not flush the wipes. Instead, discard them in the garbage. These wipes can clean out the washing machine drum but can’t reach the inner workings of your machine, so you are limited by what you can reach. If you have a particularly big or deep washing machine drum, it could be difficult to reach all of the surfaces to clean them well. If this is the case, opt for a tablet or liquid cleaner.

Best Eco-Friendly: Lemi Shine Washing Machine Cleaner

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If you want an environmentally-friendly choice that has two cleaning options—powder and wipes—the Lemi Shine Washing Machine Cleaner is the cleaner for you. It's made of natural citric extracts, citrus oil, and sodium bicarbonate. This cleaner comes with four to eight pre-measured powder packets as well as wipes. The powder reaches all of the interior parts as well as cleans the drum itself. Just empty one packet into the drum and run a cycle on clean or hot. After you've cleaned the interior of the machine with the powder, the wipes do double-duty by cleaning door gaskets on front-loading machines or detergent trays.

This cleaner has a fresh lemon scent that might be strong for those who don't particularly love a citrus scent, and not suitable for feline friends living in your household. Katie Berry, The Spruce's Cleaning Review Board member, notes, "Citrus is harmful to cats, so they tend to avoid it." As a result, "they may start using other spots in your home as a restroom every time you clean your washer," if their litter box is located in the same room.

Like many washing machine cleaners, this pick also can leave a residue. You can use the included wipes to buff away residue left behind, though, or run extra cycles of water through the machine. You can use this on all washing machines as well, but Lemi Shine does recommend using two pouches per cleaning on non-HE machines.

Best Heavy-Duty: Renuv Washing Machine Cleaner

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For those who need something to really get in and clean a lot of build-up or dirt and grime, the Renuv Heavy Duty Washing Machine Cleaner will do the trick. These giant tablets are slow-release so they foam up over time for maximum cleaning power. They are also dye-free and scent-free so the ingredients in the cleaner are simply there to clean, resulting in less residue that you need to wipe or rinse away after the cleaning cycle is done.

These are a tad pricey for 6 tablets but considering the size, they are a great value. You won’t need to use more than one tablet per cleaning, even for non-HE washing machines. Renuv recommends using one tablet per 30 laundry cycles. Depending on the size of your household and how often you do laundry, this may be once a month, once every two months, or more.