Never Put Baking Soda in Your Washing Machine! Expert Uses a Cheap Item to 'Flush Out Black Slime,' Making Mold and Grime Automatically Rise to the Surface

Do you also save money by using kitchen bleach or baking soda from home to clean your washing machine? Be careful—this habit may not only make your clothes dirtier over time, but could also significantly shorten your washing machine’s lifespan! Washing machines, which run daily, easily accumulate grime, mold, and odors inside their drums. Yet, many people, seeking convenience, mistakenly believe that cleaning products designed for bathrooms or kitchens can be safely used in washing machine drums. Japanese cleaning expert Chinami Miki strongly warns, 'The consequences of using the wrong cleaning agents are worse than not cleaning at all!'

Getting Dirtier with Every Wash? Experts Reveal the '3 Destructive Cleaners' That Can Ruin Your Washing Machine

Common household cleaning products, often kept on hand, can turn into appliance killers when placed inside a washing machine drum:

1. Kitchen Bleach: Corrodes metal inner walls and plastic parts

Kitchen bleach is effective at stain removal and deodorizing, leading many to use it against deep mold. However, experts emphasize it is the 'one cleaner you should never put in a washing machine.' Its chemical composition is designed for ceramics, sinks, and stainless steel, and lacks protection for the special coating on washing machine drums. Long-term use can corrode inner walls, cause rust, and make plastic components brittle and prone to cracking. Many well-known Japanese home appliance manufacturers explicitly state in their manuals: 'Do not use kitchen bleach.'

2. Oxygen-Based Bleach: Foam overflow may short-circuit circuit boards

Although oxygen-based bleach is marketed as eco-friendly and low-irritant, a washing machine is not an ordinary bucket. In its relatively sealed rotating environment, oxygen-based ingredients easily generate large amounts of dense foam. If bubbles overflow from the machine, they not only wet the floor but may also seep into internal electronic parts and circuit boards, potentially causing malfunctions or even burnout. Even products labeled 'low-foam' require strict dosage control.

3. Baking Soda: Incomplete dissolution leads to clumping and clogged drain pipes

Despite being a household cleaning all-rounder, baking soda poses a major hazard when used in washing machines. Baking soda dissolves poorly in cold water, and residual powder gradually clumps in pipes and filters. Over time, this leads to poor drainage or complete blockages. If water cannot drain properly, clothes won’t be cleaned thoroughly, and standing water may overflow, causing cascading damage.

Expert Guide: Correct Cleaning Steps and Daily Mold Prevention Tips

So, how can you safely and effectively clean your washing machine? Home care expert Chen Anqi recommends a deep clean every three months to maintain clothing hygiene and cleanliness.

[Vinegar + Sodium Percarbonate] Safe Stain and Odor Removal Method

- Soften with vinegar: Soak a large bath towel in vinegar, place it in the washing machine, and run a spin cycle. Then start a normal wash cycle.

- Fill and soak: Once the drum is full of water, add an appropriate amount of sodium percarbonate (be careful with dosage). After the powder dissolves evenly, turn off the power and let it soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

- Drain and rinse: After draining the water, run one standard wash cycle to effectively remove stains, kill bacteria, and eliminate musty odors.

Daily Habits for a Longer-Lasting Washing Machine

- Ventilate immediately after washing: After each cycle, do not close the door right away. Leave it open for several hours to let internal moisture escape, cutting off the mold growth environment at its source.

- Regularly clean the lint filter: Accumulated lint and grime severely affect drainage and cleaning performance. It’s recommended to remove and clean the filter weekly.

- Control detergent dosage: Excess detergent cannot be fully rinsed away and tends to stick to the outer walls of the drum, becoming a nutrient source for bacteria and mold.

- Pre-treat dirty clothes: For clothes exposed to heavy mud, sand, or oil at work, pre-rinse them in a bucket before placing them in the washing machine to avoid clogging internal pipes.