3 Best Washing Machine Cleaners

We tested seven store-bought washer cleaners, plus plain old bleach, to find the best options for removing stubborn odor and stains on the seal

Consumer Reports Home & Trends Writer, Jodhaira Rodriguez.

By Jodhaira Rodriguez
Home & Trends Writer

September 18, 2026

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Hand pulling the rubber gasket back on a washing machine door on left, Clorox bleach, Truly Free and Tide washing machine cleaners — We tried seven washing machine cleaners—by Affresh, Glisten, Tide, and other brands—to help remove nasty black gunk from the gasket, as well as stains and odors.

Washing laundry is a never-ending household chore. Depending on how many people you have at home, it can be a multiday process or a once-a-week affair. One thing that is true for most is that regardless of how often you’re using your laundry appliances, without regular maintenance, they get gross fast.

Detergent residue and pet hair buildup can make washers look and smell unpleasant. Because most of the time a washer remains closed, damp, and dark, it creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.

In this article

Washing Machine Cleaners We Tried: Affresh Carbona Clean People Clorox Bleach Glisten OxiClean Tide Truly Free
More on Cleaning your Washing Machine: Our Panel of Testers Can I Use Vinegar and Baking Soda to Clean a Washer? How We Evaluated Washing Machine Cleaners

Our Testers and Their Washing Machines

Angela Lashbrook is a writer at CR. Six months ago, she called a professional to diagnose a mildew smell in her washer. She used a cleaning pod a week after the diagnosis, but has not cleaned her washer since then.

Jodhaira Rodriguez (me) is a writer and tester at CR. She cleans her washing machine very infrequently, really just once or twice a year when she’s grossed out by the black gunk on the door seal.

Sharon Seidl is a data visual designer at CR. She has never cleaned her washing machine.

Neal Shah works on our data intelligence team. He says he cleans his washer about once a month, but buildup at the bottom of the rubber gasket has been an issue he has not been able to remedy with his monthly cleanings.

Melissa Garber is a user experience researcher at CR. She cleaned her washing machine one time two years ago.

Laurie Donato is a selection specialist at CR. She says she cleans her washer when she remembers—about once a year.

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Jodhaira Rodriguez

Jodhaira Rodriguez is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports. Before joining CR, she tested and wrote about cleaning and organizing products and major appliances like washing machines and dishwashers at Good Housekeeping. In her free time, you’ll find her reading, listening to true crime podcasts, or working on her latest hobby of the month.