How to Clear Washing Machine Buildup

Mix 2 tbsp. baking soda with 2 cups warm water in a bowl. Stir it up well to dissolve the baking soda.

Scrub the inside drum of the washing machine with a rag and the baking soda mixture. If you have a front loader, scrub the back of the door as well as around the door's rubber gasket.

Set the washing machine to “Rinse” and the water temperature to "Hot." Run the washer empty through a complete rinse cycle to get rid of the baking soda.

Set the washer to a regular wash cycle with hot water, again without any laundry inside. Add 2 cups white vinegar to the water. If you have a front loader, fill the detergent dispenser with white vinegar.

Let the washing machine run through the complete cycle. Follow this up with a hot water rinse cycle to get rid of the loosened grime.

Remove the filter from the washer. Refer to your owner’s manual for help locating the filter. Soak the filter for a couple of hours in a bucket of equal parts white vinegar and water. Rinse the filter and reinstall it.